27th July 2003
For more than eighteen months we have regularly sighted and recorded an Australian Magpie with what has appeared to be a club foot and some form of leg paralysis, still being fed by its parents at nearly two years of age.
On observing the bird this morning this time with the spotting scope it appeared to be hobbled by some form of string or twine.
I decided to try to capture and if possible remove the material which was disabling it. To do this I set up a 36 Metre square of nets with a bal chatri mat baited with cheese at the centre. It was caught in less than five minutes after leaving the nets.
The bird turned out to be severely hobbled by fishing line which had already severed two toes from the look of the scarring at least some weeks earlier and was deeply embedded into all but one of its remaining toes. I removed all of the line which totaled over two metres in length, bathed the birds feet in disinfectant and released it.
Apart from the obvious damage and disability the fishing line had been causing the bird was in excellent condition weighing 293gm (the normal range for females in this area being 250-310gr). The bird while unable to walk flew freely and strongly.
2nd August 2003 - Maggie observed now walking (gingerly) and taking grubs or worms from ground itself still begging.
30th August 2003 - Observed foraging on its own and in company of a juvenile from last year.
22nd November 2003 - Observed hanging about, flying and walking freely and no longer being fed by it parents which now have two begging offspring from this season.

Total net time -97.2 M2 Hrs