A Great Southern seabird rescue group has called for recreational fishers to be mindful of birdlife in a bid to avoid fatal entanglements.

Key points: Rivers like the Kalgan are popular with fishers but discarded lines can pose a risk for birds

Rivers like the Kalgan are popular with fishers but discarded lines can pose a risk for birds One bird was found washed up with line around its neck and beak

One bird was found washed up with line around its neck and beak Coronavirus restrictions have led to fewer callouts in response to bird entanglements

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WA Seabird Rescue Albany coordinator Carol Biddulph made the plea after an Australasian darter got tangled in fishing line and starved to death earlier this month.

The bird was spotted with fishing line around its neck and beak near the surf club at the Kalgan River but evaded attempts to rescue it.

It was found dead a few days later washed up on the riverbank.

"This is a very, very sad story … it had died, basically, through starvation," Ms Biddulph said.

"The line was entangled and the sinker around its beak. It could have been there for four or five weeks, so the bird couldn't eat and died."

Riverbanks a hotspot for entanglements

Rivers like the Kalgan are popular with recreational fishers, but sometimes lines get snagged on rocks and vegetation.

This can result in lines being cut and discarded, which then poses a risk for birds.

The Australasian darter starved to death after getting tangled in fishing line. ( Supplied: WA Seabird Rescue/Dennis Friend )

"We love fishermen because they're our eyes out there where we aren't, so they can see these things happening all the time," Ms Biddulph said.

"So if they can just be very observant, be very careful where they're fishing, and most of all clean up all your tackle.

"Take an extra bag with you to put your unwanted tangled fishing line and dispose of it correctly — it would just save birds like this an awful, awful way to die."

The Kalgan River is a popular recreation spot. ( ABC Open contributor Richard Poulish )

COVID-19 measures reduce incidents

Social distancing measures and public gathering restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have had a positive impact on the number of bird entanglements.

Ms Biddulph said the group had received 75 per cent less callouts for pelican entanglements since the rules came into effect.

"Quite often during the Easter [and] Christmas school holidays we get lots of visitors … there are pelicans that get snagged accidentally, but during this period we've definitely had less calls," she said.

"In fact, the birds we're looking for now were reported before the COVID-19 incident, so really it's made a huge difference."

The downside, however, was that the group was not able to be out educating the public about bird safety, Ms Biddulph said.

She also said members were keeping busy with rescuing other species, such as juvenile shearwaters that required rehabilitation after mistakenly landing in urban areas.