Don Gibson tipped off the Morning News Team to some lovely pictures of a loon that he says swam up to him on Fish Lake near Nordegg, Alta., looking for help.
The loon had become entangled in a fishing line that had wrapped its way around the loon’s beak. Gibson was able to gently scoop up the animal, cut the wire off and then gently release it back on to the lake.
Gibson said he was surprised when the bird swam right up to them as they were standing on the dock.
“I said to my boy, ‘We’ve got to go over there – this guy is trying to tell us something.’”
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Gibson said the fishing line was wrapped around the loon’s beak, across his back and under his feathers to his rear leg.
“Every time he swam, it would tug his head sideways, because it was all linked together,” he said.
“I started to snip around the beak. He didn’t fuss or nothing(sic), he just let us do it. He actually dropped his head down and put his bill right on the ground as if to say, ‘Hey, do whatever you need.’”
Gibson said after the wire was removed and the loon was back in the water, they were treated to an incredible display.
“No word of a lie, he turned to us and did that flap of the wings that loons … you’ll see them do every once in a while.”
Throughout the event, Don’s wife was able to snap a few pictures.