Livecam osprey chick rescued after getting ensnared in fishing line
An osprey chick’s star status may have just saved its life.
PSEG LI and a wildfire rescue specialist worked together Thursday to rescue a chick which had fishing line wrapped around its leg.
The chick was one of two remaining young osprey at the nest in East Marion, which has been filmed 24/7 by a popular livestream called “OspreyZone” since June.
The line could have proved dangerous for the bird, who could be seen on camera picking at the line to try to get it off.
But despite hundreds of viewers watching on and the owner of the webcam ready to send in rescue specialists, there was little that could be done to help the bird since the nest is perched on a 85-foot steel antenna, according to PSEG LI.
That’s where the energy company stepped in.
PSEG LI deployed a bucket truck to the nest Thursday evening and used it to bring Jim MacDougall from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays up to the birds. There, Mr. MacDougall managed to untangle the fishing line from around the chick.
It wasn’t the first time some of the osprey chicks were in danger.
A third chick had been born at the nest, but died after not receiving enough food and being pecked at by its siblings. Though some commenters on the livestream begged for intervention, bird experts on the site said the death of the chick was a normal part of nature.
The fishing line wasn’t.
To watch a short video of the rescue, visit the livestream’s website.
Photo caption: Jim MacDougall from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center helps rescue a osprey from a PSEG bucket truck. (Credit: PSEG LI)
