MISSOULA, Mont. — Something that may seem harmless to us can cause major issues for our wildlife.
This edition of A Wilder View features a heartbreaking story that has turned into success through a communal effort of residents and researchers.
Unique among raptors for their live fish diet in North America, ospreys are a familiar sight flying over rivers and lakes and standing on their massive nests.
These large birds were once on the verge of vanishing due to pesticides, specifically DDT, from the 1950s to the 1970s. DDT was banned in the U.S in 1972, allowing their numbers to rebound to much healthier populations that we see today.
But the osprey now faces a threat caused by bailing twine.
“Bailing twine is a huge problem. A lot of people don’t realize this, but most people are good about cleaning up their fields. But it occasionally gets left out into the field and for whatever reason, we don’t know, but ospreys love to pick up bailing twine. - ” University of Montana professor of Wildlife Biology Erick Greene.
Fortunately, other raptors don’t do this, so birds like bald eagles and hawks don’t bring back the twine.
Katie Steinbrenner and her family have watched an osprey nest in their backyard since the mom and dad first started on the nest.
“We have only really fallen in love with the osprey in our backyard because they are like pets to us for like five months out of the year.”
They got to watch an osprey chick grow right from their kitchen window as the months went by.
“We tracked it through the whole egg process, through them getting hatched, and them feeding it, through flying lessons,” Steinbrenner said.
But something didn’t seem right as the chick began to grow
“Then we noticed the little chick was stuck in there. I could see a little bit of bailing twine stuck from its wing down to the nest,” Steinbrenner recalled.
She quickly educated herself about the danger of bailing twine and enlisted help from Greene and Rob Domenech with the Montana Osprey Project.
“Every time we turn around these days...on social media...I see someone cutting a sea turtle of monofilament or drift nets trapping whales and seals in the aquatic system we hear about it and the terrestrial system we hear about it,” Domenech said.
Greene and Domenech successfully retrieved the chick from the Steinbrenner’s backyard, now nicknamed Macclay.
They took it to Brooke Tanner at Wild Skies Raptor Rehabilitation Center to start the healing process and get it ready to be released back into the wild.
In the meantime, the osprey parents had an empty nest in the Steinbrenner’s backyard, but they would soon regain a chick but not their own.
“We are doing a really interesting experiment. Almost three weeks ago, we went up to band another chick at Kona Bridge. There was this poor chick that was in really bad shape. It had bailing twine embedded and almost cut down to the bone,” Greene told MTN News.
“We have never done this in over 600 ospreys banded. With the work with the University of Montana, we have never had to come up with a foster family,” Domenech noted. "So now, fingers crossed, this youngster has a fresh start, and we will bring back their original chick, and the family will grow by one.”
The new chick called Kona was expertly rehabilitated by Tanner and was ready to meet its new parents.
Thanks to the collaborative effort of the Steinbrenner and the owner of Mowzilla, a bucket lift was placed below the nest to bring Kona to its new home, and an anxious family was watching their newest member be placed in the nest.
“There’s Kona, the chick from Kona Bridge,” Greene said. But we have, but we’ve put it back in another nest.”
Osprey is really good at adopting chicks that are not their own. “We are hoping if it’s like lots of other places is that the mom and dad will just instantly adopt,” Domenech stated.
“We heard these nice low vocalizations but clearly non-hostile. It was a feel-good sound,” Greene added.
Kona’s adoption was a success, but the race for survival didn’t stop there. Tanner was still working diligently to rehabilitate Macclay, the original chick in that nest. She did this as Greene and Domenech worked tirelessly on calls about other ospreys needing assistance.
A week after Kona’s success, Macclay was ready to be released and join its adopted sibling. Domenech met up with Tanner to prepare it for release and transport it back to Steinbrenner’s nest.
Macclay was processed and banded to identify and keep track of the chick. During this, a call came in about an injured bald eagle.
Efficiently finalizing Macclay’s rehab process, Tanner then switched focus and assessed her newest patient -- an emaciated bald eagle with a severe wound on its lower back that went to the bone. She cleaned the wound and gave the mature eagle fluids to start it off on its road to recovery.
Then Domenech was off driving Macclay back to its home. During this drive, another call came in about an injured osprey in which Greene then set out to capture and bring back to Tanner to rehabilitate, adding to the chaos of the day.
Greene then met Domenech back at the Steinbrenner's, each with an osprey in their vehicle -- one to be released and rehabilitated.
Tanner’s incredible work allowed Macclay to be strong enough to fly right out of its crate.
But as the second chick was released, a new long thread of bailing twine hung from the nest, a constant reminder of the hardships the osprey face daily.
Greene had a great visual reminder of the dangers of bailing twine.
“This is from one osprey nest. It keeps going and going and going,” he explained. “This is pretty scary. Ospreys, for some reason, really love bailing twine.”
The enormous piece of bailing twine was stretched out and was nearly a mile long, and that was from just one osprey nest. “So, you can see this is a huge issue,” Greene said
Most farmers and ranchers are really good at cleaning twine up, but all it can take is one strand, and it can kill an osprey.
“Please, if you’ve got hay and you are feeding horses or cows, make sure you pick up your bailing twine because it’s a real problem for our ospreys here,” Greene said.
What can you do to conserve ospreys?
- Pick up all bailing twine on your property.
- Unused store twine
- Let others know the dangers bailing twine has on ospreys
Tanner Saul with KPAX first reported this story.
MISSOULA, Mont. <unk> Kitu ambacho huenda kikaonekana kuwa kisichoharibu kwa sisi chaweza kusababisha matatizo makubwa kwa wanyama-pori wetu. Toleo hili la A Wilder View lina hadithi ya kuvunja moyo ambayo imegeuka kuwa mafanikio kupitia juhudi za pamoja za wakazi na watafiti. Kwa kuwa samaki hao ni wa pekee katika Amerika Kaskazini kwa sababu ya chakula chao cha samaki walio hai, ni kawaida kuona samaki hao wakiruka juu ya mito na maziwa na kusimama juu ya viota vyao vikubwa. Ndege hao walikuwa karibu kutoweka kutokana na matumizi ya dawa za kuua wadudu, hasa DDT, kuanzia miaka ya 1950 hadi 1970. DDT ilipigwa marufuku nchini Marekani mwaka 1972, na idadi ya wanyama hao ikaongezeka hadi kufikia idadi ya watu wenye afya bora. Lakini sasa samaki huyo anakabili tisho linalosababishwa na kamba inayotembea. <unk>Kufunga kamba ni tatizo kubwa. Watu wengi hawatambui hili, lakini watu wengi ni wazuri kuhusu kusafisha mashamba yao. Lakini mara kwa mara huachwa nje katika uwanja na kwa sababu yoyote, hatujui, lakini ospreys upendo kuchukua bailing kamba. - <unk> Chuo Kikuu cha Montana profesa wa Biolojia ya Wanyamapori Erick Greene. Kwa bahati nzuri, ndege wengine wa kuwinda hawafanyi hivyo, kwa hiyo ndege kama tai na vipepeo hawawaleti nyuzi hizo. Katie Steinbrenner na familia yake wamekuwa wakitazama kiota cha samaki aina ya osprey katika bustani yao tangu mama na baba walipoanza kufanya kiota hicho. "Tumeanguka katika upendo na osprey katika bustani yetu ya nyuma kwa sababu wao ni kama pets kwetu kwa kama miezi mitano nje ya mwaka. ""Walipata kuangalia osprey chick kukua haki kutoka dirisha la jikoni yao kama miezi ilipita. """ "Tulifuatilia mchakato mzima wa mayai, kupitia kuanguliwa kwao, na kuwalisha, kupitia masomo ya kuruka", Steinbrenner alisema. Lakini kitu hakikuonekana haki kama chick alianza kukua <unk> Kisha tuliona chick kidogo alikuwa amenaswa huko. Ningeweza kuona kamba kidogo ya kuunganisha iliyokuwa imefungwa kutoka kwenye mrengo wake hadi kwenye kiota, Steinbrenner alikumbuka. Alipata msaada wa Greene na Rob Domenech katika mradi wa Montana Osprey. "Kila wakati tunapogeuka siku hizi... kwenye mitandao ya kijamii... ninaona mtu akikata kasa wa bahari wa monofilament au wavu wa kuelea unaowashika nyangumi na sili katika mfumo wa majini tunasikia juu yake na mfumo wa nchi kavu tunasikia juu yake, "Domenech alisema." Greene na Domenech walifanikiwa kumtoa chick kutoka bustani ya nyuma ya Steinbrenner, sasa jina la utani Macclay. Mnyama huyo alipewa matibabu na kituo cha Wild Skies Raptor Rehabilitation Center, ambapo alipewa matibabu ya kutosha ili aweze kurudishwa katika mazingira ya asili. Wakati huohuo, wazazi wa mbwa-mwitu walikuwa na kiota tupu katika bustani ya nyuma ya Steinbrenner, lakini punde si punde wangepata tena mtoto lakini si wao wenyewe. <unk>Tunafanya jaribio la kuvutia sana. Karibu wiki tatu zilizopita, tulikwenda kwa bendi ya kike mwingine katika Daraja la Kona. Kulikuwa na msichana huyu maskini ambaye alikuwa katika hali mbaya sana. Ilikuwa na kamba ya kuokoa iliyoingizwa na karibu kukatwa hadi kwenye mfupa, Greene aliiambia MTN News. "Hatujawahi kufanya hivyo katika zaidi ya majira ya joto ya 600.""" Pamoja na kazi na Chuo Kikuu cha Montana, hatujawahi kuwa na kuja na familia ya kulea, <unk> Domenech alibainisha. "Kwa hivyo sasa, vidole vilivyovunjika, kijana huyu ana mwanzo mpya, na tutamrudisha mtoto wao wa awali, na familia itakua kwa moja. "" Kona mpya aliitwa Kona alirekebishwa kwa ustadi na Tanner na alikuwa tayari kukutana na wazazi wake wapya." Kwa sababu ya ushirikiano wa Steinbrenner na mmiliki wa Mowgli, lifti ya ndoo iliwekwa chini ya kiota ili kumleta Kona nyumbani kwake mpya, na familia ya wasiwasi ilikuwa ikitazama mwanachama wao mpya kuwekwa ndani ya kiota. "Hapo ni Kona, kike kutoka Kona Bridge", Greene alisema. Lakini tumefanya hivyo, lakini tumeirudisha katika kiota kingine. Osprey ni mzuri sana katika kupitisha vifaranga ambao si wao wenyewe. "Tunatumaini ikiwa ni kama maeneo mengine mengi ni kwamba mama na baba watazalisha mara moja", Domenech alisema. <unk>Tulisikia sauti hizo nzuri za chini lakini kwa wazi hazikuwa za uhasama. Ilikuwa sauti ya kujisikia vizuri, <unk> Greene aliongeza. Kupitishwa kwa Kona kulikuwa na mafanikio, lakini mbio za kuishi hazikukoma hapo. Tanner alikuwa bado akifanya kazi kwa bidii ili kumrekebisha Macclay, kifaranga cha awali katika kiota hicho. Alifanya hivyo wakati Greene na Domenech walipokuwa wakifanya kazi bila kuchoka kwa ajili ya simu kuhusu samaki wengine wenye kuogopesha waliohitaji msaada. Juma moja baada ya mafanikio ya Kona, Macclay alikuwa tayari kuachiliwa na kujiunga na ndugu yake aliyemteuliwa. Domenech alikutana na Tanner kuitayarisha kwa ajili ya kutolewa na kuipeleka nyuma kwa kiota Steinbrenner ya. Macclay alichunguzwa na kufungwa mikanda ili kumtambua na kumfuatilia yule kike. Wakati huohuo, simu ilikuja kuhusu tai mwenye manyoya meupe aliyejeruhiwa. Baada ya kumaliza mchakato wa Macclay wa kupona, Tanner alibadilisha mtazamo wake na kumchunguza mgonjwa wake mpya - tai mwenye ngozi nyeupe mwenye jeraha kubwa kwenye mgongo wake wa chini ambayo ilifikia mifupa. Alisafisha jeraha hilo na kumpa tai huyo aliyekomaa umajimaji ili aanze kupata nafuu. Kisha Domenech akaenda kumrudisha Macclay nyumbani kwake. Wakati wa safari hiyo, simu nyingine ilikuja kuhusu osprey aliyejeruhiwa ambayo Greene kisha aliamua kukamata na kumrudisha kwa Tanner ili kurejesha, akiongeza kwenye machafuko ya siku hiyo. Greene alikutana na Domenech huko Steinbrenner, kila mmoja akiwa na samaki wa aina ya osprey katika gari lao - mmoja ili aachiliwe na kurekebishwa. Kazi ya ajabu ya Tanner ilimruhusu Macclay kuwa na nguvu za kutosha kuruka moja kwa moja kutoka kwenye sanduku lake. Lakini wakati mtoto wa pili alipowekwa huru, kamba mpya ndefu ya kamba ya kuunganisha ilining'inia kwenye kiota, ikikumbusha daima juu ya magumu ambayo samaki huyo hukabili kila siku. Greene alikuwa na ukumbusho mkubwa wa kuona wa hatari za kuunganisha kamba. <unk>Hii ni kutoka kiota kimoja cha osprey. Inaendelea na kuendelea na kuendelea, <unk> alielezea. <unk>Hii ni pretty ya kutisha. Kwa sababu fulani, nyigu hupenda sana kufuma kamba. <unk> Kipande kikubwa cha kamba kilikuwa kimeinuliwa na kilikuwa na urefu wa karibu maili moja, na hicho kilitoka kwenye kiota kimoja tu cha nyigu. "Kwa hiyo, unaweza kuona hii ni suala kubwa, "Greene alisema Wakulima wengi na wakulima ni nzuri sana katika kusafisha kamba juu, lakini wote inaweza kuchukua ni kamba moja, na inaweza kuua osprey. "Tafadhali, ikiwa una nyasi na unalisha farasi au ng'ombe, hakikisha unashika kamba yako ya kuunganisha kwa sababu ni tatizo halisi kwa ospreys zetu hapa", Greene alisema. Unaweza kufanya nini ili kuhifadhi samaki hao? - Kuchukua wote bailing kamba juu ya mali yako. Tanner Saul na KPAX kwanza aliripoti hadithi hii.