Tangled, upside down blue heron rescued from tree by good Samaritans

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — What began as a fun day out on the water at Meritt Island turned into a rescue mission for one couple and their friend.

A blue heron was found tangled in a fishing line, hanging upside down in a tree. The bird had nylon wrapped around its foot and beak, leaving it in distress.

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“We were just out to bird watch and see some manatees,” Howie Brown told NBC affiliate WESH. “And actually when Javed called our attention to the bird in the tree, we were actually looking at a manatee a little ways away.”

Brown was with Nichole and Javed Palmer, and all three were traveling on flat, inflatable boats, which assisted them in their rescue.

“The GoBoat is a flat platform. There are no sides to it, does not take on water,” Brown said.

Although the trio said they were happy to have helped the animal in distress, they urged others to clean up after themselves, especially regarding the fishing line.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said threats to blue herons include coastal development, disturbance at foraging and breeding sites, environmental issues, and degradation of feeding habitat. They are commonly found hanging around in swamps, estuaries, ponds, lakes and rivers.

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