Flesh-footed shearwaters on Lord Howe Island are consuming alarming amounts of plastic, including items like LEGO and pen lids, as their parents mistakenly feed them these non-food items. Studies show that every bird now contains at least 50 pieces of plastic in their stomach, severely affecting their health. The accumulation of plastic can account for a notable percentage of the chicks' body weight, leading to reduced food intake and potential toxin absorption into their systems. Scientists are documenting these impacts on bird life as they find dead or dying birds on the island's beaches daily.
The colony of flesh-footed shearwaters on Lord Howe Island is ingesting alarming amounts of plastic, with every bird now containing 50 or more pieces in their stomachs.
Plastic often absorbs oceanic toxins, posing further threats to these seabirds as it can leak toxins into their bloodstream, limiting their capacity to consume actual food.
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