In Amsterdam, researcher Auke-Florian Hiemstra studies how Eurasian coots use discarded human packaging to construct their nests. By analyzing waste from various decades, he reveals insights into the coots' migration and the anthropogenic influence on their habitats. Hiesta's findings include notable items such as a Mars bar wrapper from the 1994 World Cup and face masks from the Covid-19 pandemic. His work not only documents environmental change but also prompts reflection on human consumption habits and their ecological consequences.
It really shows that it's not just us humans who are writing history, but also these birds are taking notes, keeping a score and then documenting our throwaway society.
When investigating nests in the canals, he found a variety of old packaging discarded from the early 1990s up to last year.
Some relics found in the nests include Mars bar packaging advertising the 1994 World Cup, while a more recent nest was made with a layer of face masks.
Hiemstra identifies the year from which the packaging originates using best before dates or researching the era in which the logo designs were used.
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