The chick’s leg was badly damaged when it became caught in baling twine in its nest in a north Warrnambool tree. 

It was unable to fly and was left without the skills to survive in the wild or source its own food. 

The nest was built of discarded rubbish including bird netting, bailing twine, packing tape, whipper-snipper cable, chicken wire, rope and other fibres.

Volunteer wildlife carer Shannon McKay rescued the bird with the help of Forest and Garden Tree Services worker Reece Callaway, who climbed eight metres to reach the nest.

Ms McKay estimated 80 per cent of the nest consisted of man-made materials. She said it was a reminder of the damage that rubbish could cause to the environment.

The magpie was taken to Warrnambool Vet Clinic where an amazed vet could not believe its leg was still attached. 

“In her opinion, it would have been a matter of days before the twine cut right through the leg,” Ms McKay said. 

Ms McKay gave the chick a 60 per cent chance of surviving its injuries. 

“Here was an older chick that should be independently feeding herself well and truly by now that has no idea how to feed herself,” Ms McKay said.

“Her future depends on whether she can get enough improvement in the leg to be able to perch and therefore survive in the wild.  

“Under our wildlife care licences in Victoria, if they are not fit enough to survive in the wild ... they must then be put down to end their suffering.

“The damage caused by the carelessness from our plastic addiction could be the end of her, and she deserves better,” she said. 

The nest was retained and will be used for wildlife educational talks and displays to highlight the importance of safe rubbish disposal.