What Plastic Does to Seabirds: A Closer Look

You might have heard that plastics in the ocean are a serious issue, but what's the real deal when it comes to seabirds? Scientists joined forces with local fishermen and wildlife rescuers to figure it out. They gathered more than 400 young shearwaters—some in great condition, others not so much. The scientists checked their blood, weighed them, and looked for any signs of swallowed plastic. The findings? Birds that ended up on the shore were smaller, but surprisingly, the plastic they ingested didn't seem to make them ill. This aligns with what scientists observed in other seabirds globally. It's like these birds have a way of handling a certain amount of plastic, but the question remains: at what point does it become too much?Did you know that around 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs these days?