Here’s the photo version of the story about freeing the eastern kingbird from abandoned fishing line. The original story may be found here.

Pondering the first move …

A pretty pathetic sight …

Getting the branch within reach …

Getting the knife ready to cut the line …

Cutting the line a safe distance above the bird …

The scared, agitated kingbird. Kingbirds have a red or orange crown that is rarely seen …

Checking for a hook and untangling the rest of the line. It was released, line free, a few moments later.

I was glad we were able to find and free this bird. Who knows how many birds perish unseen in such a slow, painful manner?