Two research news stories involving birds & nesting materials
Man-made materials are widespread in birds’ nests - Bangor University
Man-made materials in nests can bring both risks and benefit for birds
We all discard a huge amount of plastic and other man-made materials into the environment, and these are often picked up by birds. New research has shown that 176 bird species around the world are now known to include a wide range of anthropogenic materials in their nests. All over the world, birds are using our left-over or discarded materials. Seabirds in Australia incorporate fishing nets into their nests, ospreys in North America include baler twine, birds living in cities in South America add cigarette butts, and common blackbirds in Europe pick up plastic bags to add to their nests.
This material found in birds’ nests can be beneficial say researchers. For example, cigarette butts retain nicotine and other compounds that repel ectoparasites that attach themselves to nestling bird’s skin and suck blood from them. Meanwhile, there are suggestions that harder man-made materials may help to provide structural support for birds’ nests, while plastic films could help provide insulation and keep offspring warm. Despite such potential benefits, it is important to remember that such anthropogenic material can also be harmful to birds.
Posted On: 10/07/2023
More on: