This young gull has a fishing lure hooked through its bill and monofilament line over its back and around its legs. I saw it at IR Inlet yesterday just before sunset and a few minutes later it was gone. The poor bird was in obvious pain. Fooled by the lure it now is severely hindered in its ability to survive winter days on the beach. Fisherman often snag their lines on the rocks as they fish in the inlet and it is likely that this bird saw what it thought was a tasty treat but now has a life threatening injury. Survival in nature is tough enough but this sad sight is a reminder that for so many animals debris in the marine environment can make it that much tougher.
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Tony Pratt is the administrator of the Shoreline and Waterway Management Section of Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. He is a scientist and naturalist, well versed in nature study.
Pratt is a lifelong photographer who has worked closely with Kevin Fleming since 2007. His interests in photography range from wildlife and landscapes to portraiture work.
His photography can be seen at www.tonypratt.com and at the Kevin Fleming and Friends Gallery, 239 Rehoboth Ave. in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
