Loon in Need 2005

Boy looking through these old shots has been really something for me. Lighting issues,old camera gear,made for not great shots. But using a flash on already stressed animals is not what I do. It is after all for documentation purposes.Not National Geographic. This is the story of one of many loons this year 2005 that needed help. A big year for emerald shiners. Tiny little fish that draw in fishermen and birds.Leading to confrontations like this. I am not against fishing. But I am against littering the shores with fishing line and lures. And that is what this is about. To teach people what can and does happen when you leave it behind. It doesn't break down. And it is deadly. This loon was lucky. Others were not. Today is very different on the wildlife rescue area. Loons are rescued now. Everything is rescued. I am thankful to all the wildlife rehabilitaters out there who dedicate their all into saving lives.I know a few of them and have worked with them as well. I have rescued alone and with help. I cant stress how important it is to look up those numbers and keep them handy. If you need help. You don't always have a lot of time. A life or lives may depend on you. Pictured below is 2 loons. One healthy and our loon in distress. It is easy to see the difference. 2 weeks of monitoring and phone calls and eventually getting enough info and equipment to pull it together ourselves was put into this life. Not all rescues come out this way. This one was amazing. People coming together. But the right people on hand made it successful. Experienced wildlife rehabber on board. A young man who came on his time off to help out this bird and these 11 people. Last 2 photos as bad as they may be are of the actual release at the end of  a stressful night for all. He reared up stretched his wings and called to us and then disappeared.A moment of silence and a big sigh. And we celebrated a life saved. In the article I have included in this posting,it explains more on this rescue. No words can describe how it feels when everything goes as planned. And that life goes free. All wildlife rehabilitation facilities can not run without your help. Please give. Any little bit helps. 

After this loon went off into the darkness. We planned to meet in the morning to make sure he was okay. Call it our last good buy if you will. He was fine. Then the second night hundreds of migrating loons came into the bay as we did another check. Hundreds of bobbing loons calling and fishing. Stopping over for a feed on their journey south,  Among them. Our beautiful loon. Next day, 2 days after the rescue. They were all gone. How amazing is that!!