Protected bird flies free in Key Biscayne after recovery; fisherman accused of injuring it gets deported

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – After months of recovery from surgery, a great white heron that witnesses reported suffered a broken wing during a dispute with a fisherman was free on Thursday in Key Biscayne.

Witnesses reported Edgard Valenzuela was fishing when he threw a large rock at the wading bird on Jan. 20, at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. ---More...

In January, an illegal from Guatemala threw a rock at an endangered great white heron in Florida, breaking the poor bird's wing.

The heron has recovered surgery and was released back into the wild.

The illegal was deported. pic.twitter.com/ghKM8pffQ3

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47)April 24, 2025