Dead kingfisher prompts plea to anglers

James Elliott found a dead kingfisher tangled in fishing line while cleaning the River Freshney

An environmentalist has urged anglers to respect nature after finding a dead kingfisher tangled in fishing line.

James Elliott, known to his social media followers as The Canoe River Cleaner, said he came across it while cleaning the River Freshney in Grimsby.

He said: "It’s tragic as the kingfisher was trying to fish, just as the fisherman was trying to fish, and we’re encroaching on their territory."

In a direct plea to anglers, he added: "Take everything home with you."

Mr Elliott thinks the bird may have starved to death after becoming entangled

Describing the "gutting" moment he found the kingfisher, Mr Elliott said he was canoeing when he saw "something that wasn't quite right" and went to investigate.

Mr Elliott said he could see the fishing line wrapped around the bird, and thought it might have become exhausted or starved while trapped in the wire.

He described the bird as a "young male", and said it was especially sad as many people have never seen a kingfisher - and they are widely regarded as a "beautiful bird".

He said: "They only fly at one speed and that’s fast. I suspect it’s gone through the trees and it’s got caught. The fishing wire was dangling down from a low hanging tree."

For several years, Mr Elliott has used his canoe to help maintain the River Freshney.

He said the difference he and fellow volunteers had made was "massive", but added there was more work to do.

Mr Elliott said: "We need to make the distinction between responsible anglers, and someone who just wants to fish. There’s very much a difference and this wasn’t a responsible angler.

"This is someone who didn’t really care."

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