Monofilament Fishing Line as a Threat to American

Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) on the Texas Coast,

USA
Author(s): Susan A. Heath, Sabrina Dahlgren, Dana Simon and Daniel M.
Brooks
Source: Waterbirds, 40(sp1):123-126.
Published By: The Waterbird Society
https://doi.org/10.1675/063.040.sp101
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1675/063.040.sp101

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 Monofilament Fishing Line as a Threat to American Oystercatchers
(Haematopus palliatus) on the Texas Coast, USA
Susan A. Heath1,*, Sabrina Dahlgren2, Dana Simon3 and Daniel M. Brooks2
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 Highway 332 West, Lake Jackson, Texas, 77566, USA
1

Houston Museum of Natural Science, Department of Vertebrate Zoology,

2

5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas, 77030-1799, USA

Gulf Coast Wildlife Rescue, 316 County Road 605, Angleton, Texas, 77515, USA
3

*
Corresponding author; E-mail: sheath@gcbo.org
Abstract.—Over the course of a 6-year study of American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus), five cases of
entanglement in monofilament fishing line were encountered. Two cases resulted in confirmed death, one case
resulted in probable death, and two cases resulted in survival but required human intervention. Approximately
2-4% of the study population was represented in these events, which is cause for alarm as monofilament fishing
line is a hazard both to American Oystercatchers and other species. This report emphasizes the need for careful
responsibility by recreational users of fishing tackle, educational programs to stress this need, and signage to
reinforce this message. Received 16 June 2016, accepted 11 July 2016.
Key words.—American Oystercatcher, entanglement, Haematopus palliatus, monofilament, plastic pollution, Texas.
Waterbirds 40 (Special Publication 1): 123-126, 2017

Abiotic environmental hazards to birds Methods

include poisons, collisions, oil pits, and elec-
trocutions (Longcore et al. 2012; Dwyer et al.
2013; Loss et al. 2014). Monofilament fish-
ing line is another common abiotic environ-
mental hazard that can and often does lead
to avian mortality (Hackney 2016). Aquatic
birds can incidentally consume undetected
monofilament and fishing tackle when feed-
ing on bait (Bennett and Erickson 1962; Ar-
nold 1994; Magee and Brooks 2007; Brooks
2009). Once the tackle is ingested, it can
produce an obstruction to the alimentary
tract, leading to death.
Birds can also become entangled in dis-
carded monofilament line while diving,
swimming or walking. Once they become
entangled, they tug at the line trying to free
themselves, which usually only tightens the
monofilament around their body, wings,
and/or legs. Entanglement in the wings
makes birds more vulnerable to predators
while entangled legs and feet often result in
loss of the appendage and death from infec-
tion or starvation (Laist 1997; National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration 2014).
Here, we report five cases of American Oys-
tercatchers (Haematopus palliatus, hereafter
oystercatcher) threatened or killed by mono-
filament fishing line on the Texas coast, USA.
Study Area
This paper focuses on a study population of oyster-
catchers located on the upper Texas coast from Dick-
inson Bay, just north of Texas City, Texas, south to East
Matagorda Bay, just north of Matagorda, Texas, USA.
Study Population
The Texas oystercatcher population is composed
of approximately 500 birds, with most residing on the
upper and central coasts and a few scattered individuals
south of Corpus Christi (Brown et al. 2005). Here, we
focus on a study population that has ranged from 50 to
65 adult pairs. One hundred and forty-two adults and
130 chicks have been banded on the upper Texas coast
as part of this study.
Over the course of this study, we recorded informa-
tion on oystercatcher entanglement in monofilament as
cases occurred. Additionally, we surveyed members of the
American Oystercatcher Working Group to determine
whether this is a common and widespread problem.
Stomach contents of Case 2 were measured using
a standard metric ruler (mm). Monofilament diameter
was measured using Neiko Electronic Digital Calipers.
Results
Case 1
On 2 February 2013, an adult oyster-
catcher (presumed male by lack of eye
flecking and small monomorphic charac-
teristics, see Munters et al. 2014) was cap-

123
124 Waterbirds
tured in West Galveston Bay with braided
fishing line tightly bound around the left
tarsometatarsus, embedded through the
flesh to the bone and causing the bird to
limp. The fishing line was removed, and
the bird was banded (color band code JJ)
and released. This bird was located within
the study area and was resighted. The leg
was swollen for several weeks following the
monofilament removal, but it eventually
healed. Although this bird survived, it had
a visible indentation on the leg where the
line was.
Case 2
On 30 September 2014, a moribund oys-
tercatcher collected on the Texas City Dike
was brought to the Gulf Coast Bird Obser-
vatory in Lake Jackson, Texas. This bird was
banded (color band code YJ) as a chick in
Galveston Bay on 20 June 2014 and thus was
3 months old when collected. The bird was
taken to a wildlife rehabilitator. It was se-
verely underweight (365 g) and died shortly
after arrival. A necropsy revealed a bolus of
monofilament fishing line, which was saved
in formalin.
The specimen was prepared as a study
skin, which revealed that it was a subadult
male (skull not completely ossified, testes =
1 x 4 mm), emaciated with no subcutane-
ous fat and with pectoral muscles partially
resorbed. The wet stomach contents were
dried and examined on 22 March 2016,
noting five different types of monofilament
fishing line (based upon different colors
and at least two different diameters) with
untangled lengths measuring 3-59 mm and
diameters ranging 0.14-0.32 mm, one scrap
of paper (7 x 2 mm crumpled, 15 x 15 mm
unfolded), two pebbles (2 x 3 x 4 mm and
2 x 4 x 4 mm), one piece of shell (2 x 5 x
7 mm), and invertebrate exoskeleton frag-
ments.
Case 3
On 22 June 2015, a banded oystercatcher
(color band code UU) was present at the
Texas City Dike with monofilament wrapped
around the right foot such that the bird
would not stand on that leg. This bird was
banded as a chick in East Matagorda Bay on
16 July 2012 and thus was approximately 3
years old. It was presumed to be a female
based on eye flecking and large monomor-
phic characteristics (Munters et al. 2014).
The bird was captured 16 days after the first
sighting (7 July 2015). The fishing line was
removed, and the bird was taken to a wildlife
rehabilitator (weight = 495 g). During the
debriding process, the bird lost one toe on
the right foot. The bird was released 9 July
2015 after gaining 15 g (total mass = 510 g)
and was seen for several months post-release.
The bird was last reported on the Texas City
Dike on 25 November 2015 at which time
it had lost all toes on the right foot but was
standing on the stub.
Case 4
On 1 July 2015, an unbanded oyster-
catcher was present on the Texas City Dike
with monofilament wrapped around its right
foot. This bird also would not stand on the
affected foot and was captured 8 days after
the first sighting (9 July 2015). The fishing
line was removed, and it was released on-site
after banding (color band code FA). The
bird was presumed a male based on lack of
eye flecking and small monomorphic char-
acteristics (Munters et al. 2014) and weighed
490 g upon release. The bird was not seen
again and was assumed to have died.
Case 5
On 5 October 2015, a banded oyster-
catcher (color band code L0) with monofila-
ment wrapped around both feet was report-
ed at Bolivar Flats on the Bolivar Peninsula.
Two days later (7 October 2015), the bird
was recovered at Rollover Pass in a mori-
bund state and was euthanized by a wildlife
rehabilitator. This bird (Fig. 1) was banded
as an adult female (by DNA) in West Galves-
ton Bay on 24 March 2012 (> 3 years), and its
breeding territory was within the study area.
It had last been seen on 16 September 2015
in a healthy state.
 Oystercatcher Monofilament Entanglement 125

Figure 1. Remains of the feet of American Oystercatcher Case 5 (band LO) after monofilament entanglement.
Photo by Charlie Rohack.

Results of Survey
Additional oystercatchers with mono-
filament entanglement were reported from
Texas (1) North Carolina (4), Florida (1),
Massachusetts (1), and Honduras (1) by
members of the American Oystercatcher
Working Group in response to a survey. All
birds were entangled on the feet or legs.
Discussion
Cases 2 and 5 died due to monofilament
fishing line, and this was probably the situ-
ation with Case 4 also. The total size of the
monofilament bolus in Case 2 was ~16 mm in
diameter and clearly blocked the alimentary
tract since it occupied and distended the en-
tire gizzard. Considering the emaciated state
of this specimen, it is probable that it was se-
verely malnourished due to blockage from
the monofilament bolus. Of the five cases,
only Cases 1 and 3 were known to survive.
Human intervention likely prevented the
death of both individuals (Brooks 2012).
The minimum size of the study popula-
tion of oystercatchers was approximately
130-275 birds. While only five individuals
126 Waterbirds
(2-4%) were observed affected, this is still
cause for concern as monofilament fishing
line is a hazard both to oystercatchers and
other species (Brooks 2009). Moreover, this
problem is not restricted to this study popu-
lation as demonstrated by the results of our
working group survey, nor to this species of
oystercatcher as described in Paijmans and
Stewart (2016).
Shorebirds may be affected by discarded
fishing line around the feet more than other
aquatic bird species because they walk along
shorelines frequented by fisherman to find
food, whereas most other species of aquatic
birds dive in open water for their food. Oys-
tercatchers in particular may be more heavily
affected in Texas because they are resident
and feed on intertidal reefs in areas frequent-
ed by recreational fishermen year-round on
the Texas coast. Our findings emphasize the
need for careful responsibility by recreational
users of fishing tackle (Stoddart and Brooks
2012), educational programs to stress this
need, and signage to reinforce this message.
In areas where this problem is significant, a
mass media outreach program directed to-
ward fishermen with warnings on fishing line
packaging may be warranted, as well as fre-
quent cleanup efforts by local support groups.
Acknowledgments
This project was funded in part by the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation, ConocoPhillips, Audubon
Texas, The Hershey Foundation, NRG Energy, George
and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, The Trull
Foundation, and many private donors. We would like
to thank our partners, Texas State University, Texas
A&M Kingsville, the University of Houston Clear Lake,
the Environmental Institute of Houston, Coastal Bend
Bays and Estuaries Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Coastal Program, and the staff of the Texas
Mid-Coast Refuge Complex, for their support. Special
thanks to David Newstead for helping us capture two of
these birds so they could be freed of their fishing line
entanglement, the Galveston Bay Master Naturalists,
and members of the American Oystercatcher Working
Group who reported the entanglements. Banding was
conducted under U.S. Geological Survey banding per-
mits 23546 and 23712. Finally, we thank the graduate
students who worked on this project: Alexandra Munt-
ers, Lianne Koczur, and Amanda Anderson.
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