A Fisherman’s Landing couple has warned of the dangers of discarding fishing line carelessly after a distressed magpie became trapped up a tree.
John and Grace Whadcoat have lived on their five acre bushland property at the edge of Fisherman’s Landing Arm for decades and regularly keep an eye out for the plethora of wildlife that frequent their oasis.
The couple has been putting out some bread for a trio of magpies - a mother, father and baby - when they noticed the mother had fishing line attached to one of her feet.
Mr Whadcoat had tried to catch the mother to remove it but she was wary and he was never able to free her of the bright green line.
Last week, the Whadcoats woke to a commotion of squawking outside and could only see two magpies on the back verandah.
“So I got the telescope out and I spotted her caught up in the gum tree, sitting on a branch about 15 metres from the ground,” Mr Whadcoat said.

IMAGE: John Whadcoat and his daughter, Ruth, give the dehydrated magpie some water after its ordeal. K405-8635