New Disease from Plastic Pollution Found in Seabirds

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to birds and to our environment.

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Plastic Pollution Is So Bad It's Caused a New Disease in Seabirds

Even on a remote island surrounded by an Australian Marine Park, Flesh-footed Shearwaters ingest so much plastic that scientists coined a new term to describe the resulting disease: plasticosis. It's estimated that eight million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, and despite its lack of flavor or nutritional content, many seabirds confuse this plastic with food. The birds aren't dying directly from plasticosis, but the disease affects their growth, nutrition, and overall health. Dozens of seabird species are known to consume plastic, and researchers expect that tally to climb. Read on for more on this new disease and how plastic pollution affects birds' bodies.

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While completely cutting plastic from our lives is impossible at this point, reducing your plastic use is surprisingly easy and pain-free. You're not going to end the problem overnight, but here are some simple tricks to waste less.

Flesh-footed Shearwater. Photo: Ed Dunens/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

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As climate change leads to more frequent, intense storm events across the globe, rising water levels are inundating nests—killing chicks and washing away entire nesting areas in the process. Climate-vulnerable birds like the Piping Plover are counting on you today. Will you answer their call? Start your annual recurring donation before midnight tonight and have your impact doubled instantly.

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MATCH CHALLENGE Your First Annual Gift Matched, Up To $5,000 Match Challenge Deadline: Midnight Tonight Donate Now Dear KAREN, A report from the World Meteorological Organization found that a disaster from a weather-, climate- or water-related hazard occurred every day on average over the past 50 years. Worse yet, the number of disasters increased fivefold over the same period—and are expected to become more frequent and intense if we fail to take immediate action. Birds are already suffering from the effects of planetary warming. But today, you have a special opportunity to soar to their defense. This Match Challenge ends at midnight—and we don't want you to miss out! We're counting on a few more supporters to start an annual recurring donation while, thanks to a group of generous donors, your first gift will be matched, up to $5,000. Won't you be the friend birds need today?

Birds can't escape the impacts of extreme weather

The Piping Plover is an endangered or threatened species in all parts of their range.

389 North American bird species are at increasing risk of climate extinction.

We've lost 3 billion birds in the span of a human lifetime.

The situation is dire, but together, we've shown that where there's action, there's hope—bringing many beloved species back from the brink using our proven combination of rigorous research, committed advocacy, empowering education, and hands-on conservation. Just last summer, we celebrated a record-breaking breeding season for Great Lakes Piping Plovers, creating a blueprint for protecting vulnerable birds across a wide range of habitats. This is the kind of large-scale progress that's made possible with your support. So please, start your annual donation right away and get your first gift matched, up to $5,000, for birds and the places they need. An annual gift is a convenient way to provide for birds' future, as it renews automatically each year. Hurry: this powerful chance to help ends at midnight tonight. Sincerely, National Audubon Society

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Photo: Walker Golder

 

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