Angling & Birds

Some anglers hate birds and birders believing that they compete for fish – such as inland Cormorants on coarse fisheries, Ospreys on Salmon farms and stocked reservoirs, and Mergansers on trout-filled chalk streams. I’ve seen the Double-crested Cormorant described as the ‘ultimate fish assassin’. Well, we all gotta eat!

Some birders hate anglers, believing that they are all irresponsible people who leave hooks, line and lead for swans and other water fowl to become poisoned by or entangled in, and that their ‘sport’ disturbs water birds. Truth is, most anglers love wildlife and take their rubbish home with them and would be just as distressed as a birder if line entangle a bird.

Nevertheless, in many places they co-exist in harmony and even are embodied within individuals. Some people graduate from one pastime to the other. In my case I was an angler as a boy and when a kingfisher landed on my fishing rod tip I was instantly converted into a birder. I never gave up angling, just let it fall away over the years, and spent many happy hours fishing by tranquil waters entertained all the while by spotted flycatchers or watched reed warblers weave their wonderful nests only to have their young ousted by a cuckoo chick.

Great Blue Heron Ardea Herodias – ©winnu (nigel), CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

I cannot defend angling for fun, as it no doubt does distress and sometimes permanently harm fish. That we, with our extraordinary brains often fail to outwit a fish with its minimal cerebral capacity, is probably pathetic. Nevertheless, I understand the thrill and the chance for tranquillity in our mad cap world. But I loved it and it taught me about nature and patience. Quiet anglers are often fascinated observers of nature and most fisherman love the natural world.

Some Birds Are The Best Anglers!

Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima – ©Dubi Shapiro

This page is for links to sites of interest to both groups – may they appreciate each other’s worlds and respect the needs of all creatures.