Birder calls for rescue of gull entangled in marine debris in Taitung

Taipei, Feb. 1 (CNA) A local birdwatcher on Sunday urged relevant authorities to rescue a black-tailed gull recently spotted at the mouth of the Beinan River in Taitung that appeared to be entangled in fishing line and Styrofoam.

The black-tailed gull is a common migratory bird in Taiwan, stopping over or wintering on the island. An omnivorous, medium-sized gull, it often flies in large flocks that create a striking sight.

Since the start of winter, flocks of black-tailed gulls have been observed foraging at the Beinan River estuary in Taitung City. During one such sighting, a birdwatcher noticed that one gull had a foreign object attached to its chest.

From a distance, the object appeared to be a cup, but closer observation suggested the bird was likely ensnared by fishing line and Styrofoam. The materials caused a piece of Styrofoam to dangle from the gull's body while in flight, the birder said, declining to be named.

"Without rescue, this black-tailed gull may not survive," the birder added, suspecting the object likely came from marine debris or items left behind by anglers.

He said prolonged entanglement can cause wounds and infections, posing serious threats to the bird and impairing its ability to fly and feed. He urged relevant authorities, such as animal protection agencies or wildlife rescue groups, to intervene as soon as possible to assess whether the gull can be safely captured and freed from the debris.

Due to a holiday, no relevant agencies or organizations were available for comment as of press time.