A groundbreaking study has revealed that birds all over the world are incorporating man-made materials into their nests. Over 176 bird species have been found to use a diverse range of anthropogenic materials in their nest-building activities.
From fishing nets in Australia to baler twine in North America, and even cigarette butts in South American cities and plastic bags in European nests, birds are making use of our discarded materials. Surprisingly, researchers have found that the presence of these materials can actually benefit birds. For example, cigarette butts contain compounds that repel parasites, providing protection for nestling birds. Additionally, harder man-made materials can provide structural support, while plastic films offer insulation to keep offspring warm. However, it should be noted that anthropogenic materials can also pose risks to birds.
This research was published in a special issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, focusing on “The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach.” The issue was organized jointly by Mark Mainwaring, a Lecturer in Global Change Biology at Bangor University’s School of Natural Sciences.
Mark Mainwaring, one of the researchers involved in the study, emphasized the importance of nests as a means for various animal species to adapt to human-induced pressures. As urbanization continues, birds and other animals integrate anthropogenic materials into their nests as a response to changing environments and rising temperatures.
However, the presence of these materials can also have negative consequences. Birds and their offspring can become entangled in baler twine, and young birds may ingest anthropogenic materials, mistaking them for natural prey items. Additionally, the inclusion of colorful anthropogenic materials in nests can attract predators, posing a threat to eggs and nestlings. Therefore, it is crucial that we reduce the amount of plastic and other anthropogenic materials that we discard.
Zuzanna Jagiełło, the lead author of the study based at Poznań University of Life Sciences in Poland, expressed concern over the widespread use of anthropogenic materials in bird nests. She emphasized the need for further research to fully understand the extent of this problem and its impact on different bird species.
Jim Reynolds, a researcher at the University of Birmingham in the UK and co-author of the study, highlighted the potential of birds to serve as biomonitors for environmental anthropogenic material pollution. With their mobility and breeding biology, birds can provide valuable insights into the effects of human activities on the environment.
More information:
Zuzanna Jagiełło et al, Why do some bird species incorporate more anthropogenic materials into their nests than others?, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0156
Citation:
Man-made materials in nests can bring both risks and benefits for birds (2023, July 9)
retrieved 9 July 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-man-made-materials-benefits-birds.html
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