Researchers from the University of East Anglia discovered that white storks are incorporating human waste into their nests, resulting in hazardous environments for their chicks. Monitoring 568 nests in Portugal revealed that 91 percent contained human debris, particularly soft plastics and ropes. These materials lead to fatalities through entanglement, strangulation, and ingestion. Observations showed that synthetic ropes caused the majority of entanglements, significantly impacting the survival of the young stork chicks, with malformations and limb loss being common consequences.
The UAE scientists found human-derived materials present in 91 percent of the 568 monitored white stork nests, with soft plastics and synthetic ropes being the most common.
White storks are collecting carelessly disposed trash for nest building, transforming their habitats into 'plastic death traps' that can kill young chicks in various ways.
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