Injured Great Blue Heron

See below for the history of the Heron. A special thank you to David Burg of WildMetro for all his help.

Injured Great Blue Heron Rescued by Urban Park Rangers

November 12, 2003

Yvonne McDermott (Wildlife Manager for the Urban Park Rangers sent the following e-mail to David Burg.)

Hi Dave,

I'm happy to give you good news about our friend from the Harlem Meer.

Late last week, we set out a "mat trap" for the bird in it's favorite locations at the Meer and it took all of 5 minutes to capture the bird. We took the monofilament line off him immediately and took him up to the rehab place we work with closely up in Brewster, N.Y. called Green Chimneys. A vet took the hook out and dealt with the wound. The heron was in surprisingly good weight and good health. We released the bird back into the Harlem Meer today, since they usually do not do well in captivity.

It's good to have a happy ending to an animal rescue, it doesn't always work out that way. But with the proper communication and intervention good things are possible. I want to thank you for being so involved and tracking me down for this matter. With only 20 Rangers citywide, we really need the cooperation of the public to be our eyes and ears out there. Despite our small numbers we still managed to do hundreds of animal rescues in NYC Parks this year, with close to 60 of them in Central Park alone, and a good number of those were non-domestics.

Anyway, thanks again, and I'm sure we'll talk soon.

Yvonne

Yvonne McDermott
Wildlife Manager
Urban Park Rangers
1234 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10029
(212)360-2771 telephone
(212)360-2791 fax
yvonne.mcdermott@parks.nyc.gov

Injured Heron at Harlem Meer

Friday, October 3, 2003

Sometime in early September my friend Karen discovered that the Great Blue Heron that had been hanging out at the Harlem Meer all summer had some monofilament wrapped around its legs. On closer observation it was determined that the Heron also had a lure stuck in it's lower body and the monofilament attached to that was wrapped around its legs.

Karen called the Parks Dept. and seemed to get their agreement that they would do something about the situation but weeks passed and nothing happened.

On Friday, October 3rd (around 1 pm while photographing in the Ravine) I saw it fly through the Ravine and land in a tree nearby. It then flew off and I did not see it again until I was leaving the park when I observed it sitting on a rock on the Northwest end of the Pool.

Apparently Urban Park Rangers had attempted to capture the Heron from a small boat on the Meer. More on this later.

I got within 25 feet of it and the bird was clearly in distress. It could no longer put any weight on its foot and I noticed a large growth on one toe where the monofilament had (apparently) caused an infection.

I tried calling the Urban Park Rangers since a ranger I had spoken with the week before told me they had plans to capture and treat the bird.

When you call the number for the Urban Park Rangers that you get by calling the 311 operator there is an answering machine with seven choices. None of these choices take you to an actual human being and when you press the choice that seems like it might lead somewhere ...."for "Nature Center locations, hours and phone numbers press ....." you get a message that says "Sorry. This service has not yet been instituted."

So I called my friend David Berg and he spent over an hour trying to get someone at the Parks Department on the phone but to no avail. And he has their private numbers. Apparently they were all in the same meeting. I can confirm this because I called the Parks Dept. main number three or four times and it just rang and rang and rang.....

I stayed until the sun went down. By that time a leashless dog had chased the poor Heron into a tree. David never heard back from anyone and all those guys that go whizzing around in their green trucks, jeeps and little motorized carts were nowhere to be seen that afternoon. Must have all been at that same meeting.

Is there any reason why the Parks Dept. can't just call a rehabilitator to do the job? This bird isn't going to last too much longer. Here is Adrian Benape's e-mail if you want to ask him to help.

By the way, judging from my only experience with the 311 service, it's pretty useless--at least when it comes to dealing with injured birds and/or the Parks Dept.

On the right are some pictures I took of the bird's injury. You can click on each picture for a larger view.

Heron Update (10/16/03)
I spoke with someone from the Nature Conservancy yesterday who says the Parks Dept. has no plans to mount a rescue effort. They feel, as long as the bird can fly and feed itself it is not in grave danger. In fact, they feel that any attempt to subdue the bird may injure it and don't want to take the risk.

I have not observed the bird feeding itself but have seen it being fed by fisherman at the Meer. Except for the lure and monofilament wrapped around its legs it seems in relatively good shape.

Heron Update (10/17/03)
I received this e-mail today from Yvonne McDermott. It was sent to my friend, David Burg, who I asked to help me contact a person in the Parks Dept. who could help the Heron. I was also sent a copy of the e-mail by Yvonne:

Hi Dave,
I just wanted to give you an update on that heron you called me about a couple of weeks ago. I have taken a few trips over to the Harlem Meer, alone, with my Rangers, and with the Asst. Curator of the Central Park Zoo. Unfortunately we don't think there's anything anyone can do until the bird can stop flying away from us. Though injured, the bird is still entirely capable of flying, especially flying away from us. The impact of a dart gun would kill it, cannon nets would be extremely stressful and tricky (to say the least). Those kinds of wading birds become entangled very quickly, and it's difficult getting them out without them harming themselves, or drowning if they are near water. All said, it's a waiting game. The Rangers will be as vigilant as possible, and when that animal finally slows down and we can catch him, we will try to do so, with the aid of the curators at the central Park zoo, which have the experience you need to handle these birds safely. If I can answer any other questions or if I can help you in any other way please don't hesitate to call my office.
take care,
Yvonne

P.S.
I have also spoke at length to everyone at the Central Park Conservancy, and they know how to reach me if anything comes up.

Yvonne McDermott
Wildlife Manager
Urban Park Rangers
1234 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10029
(212)360-2771 telephone
(212)360-2791 fax
yvonne.mcdermott@parks.nyc.gov




Injured Great Blue Heron on Harlem Meer
See below for the history of the Heron. A special thank you to David Burg of WildMetro for all his help. Injured Great Blue Heron Rescued by Urban Park Rangers November 12, 2003 Yvonne McDermott (Wildlife Manager for the Urban Park Rangers sent the following e-mail to David Burg.) Hi Dave, I'm happy to give you good news about our friend from the Harlem Meer. Late last week, we set out a "mat trap" for the bird in it's favorite locations at the Meer and it took all of 5 minutes to capture the bird. We took the monofilament line off him immediately and took him up to the rehab place we work with closely up in Brewster, N.Y. called Green Chimneys. A vet took the hook out and dealt with the wound. The heron was in surprisingly good weight and good health. We released the bird back into the Harlem Meer today, since they usually do not do well in captivity. It's good to have a happy ending to an animal rescue, it doesn't always work out that way. But with the proper communication and intervention good things are possible. I want to thank you for being so involved and tracking me down for this matter. With only 20 Rangers citywide, we really need the cooperation of the public to be our eyes and ears out there. Despite our small numbers we still managed to do hundreds of animal rescues in NYC Parks this year, with close to 60 of them in Central Park alone, and a good number of those were non-domestics. Anyway, thanks again, and I'm sure we'll talk soon. Yvonne Yvonne McDermott Wildlife Manager Urban Park Rangers 1234 5th Avenue New York, NY 10029 (212)360-2771 telephone (212)360-2791 fax yvonne.mcdermott@parks.nyc.gov Injured Heron at Harlem Meer Friday, October 3, 2003 Sometime in early September my friend Karen discovered that the Great Blue Heron that had been hanging out at the Harlem Meer all summer had some monofilament wrapped around its legs. On closer observation it was determined that the Heron also had a lure stuck in it's lower body and the monofilament attached to that was wrapped around its legs. Karen called the Parks Dept. and seemed to get their agreement that they would do something about the situation but weeks passed and nothing happened. On Friday, October 3rd (around 1 pm while photographing in the Ravine) I saw it fly through the Ravine and land in a tree nearby. It then flew off and I did not see it again until I was leaving the park when I observed it sitting on a rock on the Northwest end of the Pool. Apparently Urban Park Rangers had attempted to capture the Heron from a small boat on the Meer. More on this later. I got within 25 feet of it and the bird was clearly in distress. It could no longer put any weight on its foot and I noticed a large growth on one toe where the monofilament had (apparently) caused an infection. I tried calling the Urban Park Rangers since a ranger I had spoken with the week before told me they had plans to capture and treat the bird. When you call the number for the Urban Park Rangers that you get by calling the 311 operator there is an answering machine with seven choices. None of these choices take you to an actual human being and when you press the choice that seems like it might lead somewhere ...."for "Nature Center locations, hours and phone numbers press ....." you get a message that says "Sorry. This service has not yet been instituted." So I called my friend David Berg and he spent over an hour trying to get someone at the Parks Department on the phone but to no avail. And he has their private numbers. Apparently they were all in the same meeting. I can confirm this because I called the Parks Dept. main number three or four times and it just rang and rang and rang..... I stayed until the sun went down. By that time a leashless dog had chased the poor Heron into a tree. David never heard back from anyone and all those guys that go whizzing around in their green trucks, jeeps and little motorized carts were nowhere to be seen that afternoon. Must have all been at that same meeting. Is there any reason why the Parks Dept. can't just call a rehabilitator to do the job? This bird isn't going to last too much longer. Here is Adrian Benape's e-mail if you want to ask him to help. By the way, judging from my only experience with the 311 service, it's pretty useless--at least when it comes to dealing with injured birds and/or the Parks Dept. On the right are some pictures I took of the bird's injury. You can click on each picture for a larger view. Heron Update (10/16/03) I spoke with someone from the Nature Conservancy yesterday who says the Parks Dept. has no plans to mount a rescue effort. They feel, as long as the bird can fly and feed itself it is not in grave danger. In fact, they feel that any attempt to subdue the bird may injure it and don't want to take the risk. I have not observed the bird feeding itself but have seen it being fed by fisherman at the Meer. Except for the lure and monofilament wrapped around its legs it seems in relatively good shape. Heron Update (10/17/03) I received this e-mail today from Yvonne McDermott. It was sent to my friend, David Burg, who I asked to help me contact a person in the Parks Dept. who could help the Heron. I was also sent a copy of the e-mail by Yvonne: Hi Dave, I just wanted to give you an update on that heron you called me about a couple of weeks ago. I have taken a few trips over to the Harlem Meer, alone, with my Rangers, and with the Asst. Curator of the Central Park Zoo. Unfortunately we don't think there's anything anyone can do until the bird can stop flying away from us. Though injured, the bird is still entirely capable of flying, especially flying away from us. The impact of a dart gun would kill it, cannon nets would be extremely stressful and tricky (to say the least). Those kinds of wading birds become entangled very quickly, and it's difficult getting them out without them harming themselves, or drowning if they are near water. All said, it's a waiting game. The Rangers will be as vigilant as possible, and when that animal finally slows down and we can catch him, we will try to do so, with the aid of the curators at the central Park zoo, which have the experience you need to handle these birds safely. If I can answer any other questions or if I can help you in any other way please don't hesitate to call my office. take care, Yvonne P.S. I have also spoke at length to everyone at the Central Park Conservancy, and they know how to reach me if anything comes up. Yvonne McDermott Wildlife Manager Urban Park Rangers 1234 5th Avenue New York, NY 10029 (212)360-2771 telephone (212)360-2791 fax yvonne.mcdermott@parks.nyc.gov		The injured foot. Click on image for a larger view The leg showing the lure stuck in the body and the bloody monofilament wrapped around the leg. Click on image for larger view The bird can only hop around one one foot. Click on the image for a larger view.
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