A down side to the hand of man

[Jim Poor]

This Tern was trying to cough up the line it had swallowed while it flew around the pier we were on. It landed at one point and I was very close to catching it to at least cut the hook off and hopefully get the bird to a rehabber when some idiot saw what I was doing and scared it off on purpose.

I have dozens of 'better' images of this bird with nice eye contact and such, but I think the head bent over, hacking pose is a more powerful message.


D3, 70-200VR with TC 1.4. Fill flash with Better Beamer at -3

Camera Make: NIKON CORPORATION

Camera Model: NIKON D3

Image Date: 2008:03:20 00:00:00

Flash Used: Yes (Manual, return light detected)

Focal Length: 280.0mm (35mm equivalent: 280mm)

Exposure Time: 0.0005 s (1/2000)

Aperture: f/4.0

ISO equiv: 200

White Balance: Auto

Metering Mode: Matrix

Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

Comment: (C)JIM_POOR

[David Kennedy]

Good grief, that's enough to make you feel awful. A powerful image...some sharpening on the fishing line might make it show a little better. Yikes.....thanks for sharing, Jim!

[Fabs Forns]

Yes, I remember this bird, it made me sick to see its pain. I must admit, though that it was looking to get another hook, going aggressively after the man fishing there...

[Lana Hays]

Jim
An image that certainly makes an impact......and one that could be used in a poster warning the vices of line/hooks out there. I don't know what's more amazing some time.....people's cruelty....or stupidity.

[James Salywoda]

Nice shot Jim its a shame that this Tern has this fishing line and hook stuck like this hopefully it will survive.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Hate seeing things like this and just knowing that they happen all too often. Sure would like to see images like this used - prolifically - to help remind people to be caring and careful!

[Jim Poor]

I saw some posters with instructions on what to do if you hook a bird (it is amazing that more don't get hooked the way they go after the bait). There was also a news story on pelican first aid kits.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Glad to hear there is some stuff out there, Jim, thanks for posting that.

[Glenn Ehmke]

This is a wonderful and terrible image all at once Jim - one of the most powerfull things I've seen! Thanks for sharing it (despite the fact I'll be be finding it hard to sleep for a while).