Plastic Peril!
February 4, 2018
On one of my frequent walks around the reserve this weekend, I was alarmed to see something hanging down from a tree near to one of the heron nests.
I was very relieved upon closer examination to find it was the remnents of a helium balloon rather than an injured or dead heron. Whether it had been released and snagged on the tree of its own accord, or worryingly been brought back by one of the birds as nesting material we have no way of knowing.
Just as the dangers of plastic waste and its effect on the environment are much in the news at present; we found our own dilemma here on the Home Reserve at Rochdale. Thankfully we got it safely down, and bagged up with the rubbish before the baby herons hatched out and were at risk of trying to eat it.
On this occasion, the 'J' clearly stood for "Just in time".
If you were thinking of releasing balloons or lanterns; please consider they can be deadly to wildlife and farm animals long after the few minutes that you can see them.
Nigel
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