Plastic use by a Brazilian freshwater bird species in its nesting activities

Plastic Debris in Nests of Two Water Bird Species Breeding on Inland Saline Lakes in a Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve

“…For example, microplastics have been found in pellets of the common kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ) in Italy [ 25 ], in the feces and feathers of waterfowl species in South Africa [ 26 ], and inside the digestive systems of chicks of double-crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus ) in the Laurentian Great Lakes [ 27 ]. There are not many studies on anthropogenic materials in the nests of inland wetland birds, but noticeable quantities of plastics have been detected in the nests of other birds related to freshwater ecosystems, such as greater thornbirds ( Phacellodomus ruber ) breeding in trees of river floodplain wetlands [ 28 ] and chestnut-capped blackbirds ( Chrysomus ruficapillus ) in Brazil [ 29 ]. Because of this knowledge gap, Blettler and Wantzen [ 30 ] called for scientists to develop more research on the overlooked aspects of plastic pollution, e.g., the entanglement of individuals, the use of plastic as nesting material, and the transport of plastic debris from household waste to terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.…”

On the use of anthropogenic materials in nest building of House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), a report from Parque Los Algarrobos, Cumbayá, Ecuador

“…However, terrestrial birds may have a higher amount of ANMs incorporated in their nests [6]. Numerous terrestrial birds, particularly passerine birds, have been found to use ANMs [14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27]. These behaviors occur in a variety of families within the order Passeriformes; nevertheless, the inclusion of ANMs in wrens of the family Troglodytidae has seldom been reported [28,29].…”