This is the story of an unlucky bird who caught a fish. Sadly, it is one I see played out too many times at Sebastian Inlet State Park. Mainly because with the large number of fishermen and the large number of birds the probability of this occurring is high. For the fishermen it is just an annoyance, for the bird it could mean serious injury or death.

A Tern dives deep into the water near a boat filled with fishermen. The problem is already apparent. Look closely and you can see the fishing line against the bird’s wing.

The Tern has mistakenly grabbed a fisherman’s bait fish. Note the fishing line wrapping around the unsuspecting bird.

The bait fish sports a large hook and the fishing line is wrapping around the bird as it flies away.

The bird is violently jerked backwards as the fishing line goes taut.

The bird plunges back into the water where the bird is unable to right itself or fly away since it is still wrapped in fishing line. The fisherman reels the bird in and, lucky for this bird, as the Tern is drawn out of the water it slips out of the fishing line and is able to fly away, apparently unharmed.

I have seen much worse and it makes for jarring scenes at Sebastian Inlet.