Audubon says tiny plastic particles 5 millimeters wide have been found in bird nests and bodies in people’s backyards. The scientists said the finding was “eye-opening” because it means plastic exposure to microplastics is common.
What happened?
Audubon said microplastics reach birds through a variety of pathways, such as water sources, and are thought to enter the birds’ bodies when they eat insects or other food sources that have themselves ingested plastic contamination. According to Audubon, the researchers studied bird species that rely on common suburban and urban environments. The findings show that plastic flows through the food chain in everyday environments as well as in marine and industrial sites.
Why are microplastics in birds a concern?
Audubon said researchers have shown that ingesting microplastics can interfere with a bird’s digestion and have negative health effects, but the long-term effects are still being studied. Even small disturbances to the behavior or health of birds and other wildlife can play a critical role in the functioning of ecosystems, including natural pest control and seed dispersal. Birds that live near humans already face stress from habitat loss and other environmental pressures that affect their survival. Increased plastic pollution harms ecosystem resilience.
For example, scientists have found that wild birds living near humans carry a wider range of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These findings are concerning because they mean human activities are affecting disease risk and, in turn, ecosystem health. Additionally, as global temperatures change, migration timings, feeding behaviors and nesting patterns of North American birds are also changing.
What measures are being taken against microplastics?
Scientists and conservation groups say reducing plastic pollution at its source is one of the most effective ways to limit microplastics in wildlife.
According to the WWF, plastic items like straws can take up to 200 years to break down, which means just making small changes like using less plastic or reusing the plastic you already have can reduce the amount of particles entering the soil, wildlife and people. In addition to reducing plastic use, policies or initiatives that support reduced plastic production can help slow the flow of microplastics through the food chain.
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