A bird on the hook

**Gaitshi Gubib** · 2009/10/26, 05:35 PM

My Vaal dam camping neigbour this weekend had an unusual catch – a bird …

….well, actually a bird and a fish !

He was pulling out the fish when this bird decided he’ll have the fish and promptly dived after the fish …. and got hooked as well.

I managed one pic and then ran to help save the screaming bird. Neighbour had already unhooked the fish, but it was a bit more difficult with the bird, it was attacking us and frantically flapping its wings …. eventually a towel over its eyes made it calm down.

Swambo promptly supplied an assortment of pliers, nail cutters, side cutters and I cut the hook with a pair of pliers - it came out nicely, the poor bird was hooked in two spots around the beak, but it had another go at us before realising it was freed.

On the first pic you can see the fish lying in the water and neighbour’s hand holding the line on the left.
The second pic was taken earlier of one of these birds – ID anyone ?

**MikeAG** · 2009/10/26, 05:45 PM

Johan,

I think that this is a white throated cormorant.

Mike

**Frans Reichert** · 2009/10/26, 05:46 PM

Gelukkig het Oom foto's as bewys! Anders was hierdie net nog 'n "vissermans storie"

**hbannink** · 2009/10/26, 10:09 PM

White breasted cormorant. Beware those outjies will take your eye out. Part of their natural defense is to go for the eye. In the east they are tamed and used to fish for their owners. Apiece of string is tied around the neck so that they can not swallow the fish all the way. When they have caught one they come back to the boat and the fisherman takes the fish out of the throat and sends it back to find more.