Osprey get tangled in nests by twine, fishing line, plastic

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — A wildlife protection group in Eastern Oregon says it's been fortunate this year to rescue three out of four ospreys found entangled in a material the birds themselves bring to their nests — common twine used for baling hay.

The raptors add a variety of human-made objects to their stick-and-twig nests, such as fishing line or plastic grocery bags.

Sometimes during nesting season they get tangled up in the twine and are found hanging from their nests.

Blue Mountain Wildlife says one of the four ospreys was euthanized because of a broken leg.

Executive Director Lynn Tompkins the number of entanglements isn't unusual, but usually not so many survive.

She says utility crews from Pacific Power have helped out by rushing to retrieve entangled birds on power pole nests.

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Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.info

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press