Plastic marine debris as nesting materials of endangered species, Black-faced Spoonbills

Plastic marine debris as nesting materials of endangered species, Black-faced Spoonbills

Yong Chang Jang (Ph.D.)
Researcher at Korea Marine Litter Institute
yongchangjang@hotmail.com
http://koreamarinelitter.blogspot.kr

On July 29 and 30, 2014, we surveyed plastic marine debris used as nesting materials at two breeding sites of Black-faced Spoonbills in South Korea. (To avoid disturbing the breeding, we waited until the end of July, when the breeding is finished.) 

In 2011, we got a report and a picture from Mr. Namjun Jee, showing a case of a young spoonbill entangled with fishing ropes. So, we decided to survey how many spoonbills nests have plastic marine debris.

By this survey, we have found that 100% of Black-faced Spoonbills' nest have plastic marine debris at Maedo Island, near Incheon Harbor, Korea. Most of the debris are fishing ropes and food packaging materials. And we removed all the plastic marine debris out of the nests one by one with our own hands. 

Conservation efforts are needed to protect this lovely bird, whose home is Korea.

<Fig 1. A young Black-faced Spoonbill entangled with fishing rope, found in 2011 (c) Namjun Jee>

<Fig 2. Mado Island near Incheon Harbor, Korea, a  breeding site of Black-faced Spoonbill>

<Fig 4. Fishing rope and food packaging materials are used as nesting materials of spoonbills>

<Fig 5. Fishing rope and food packaging materials are used as nesting materials>

We really appreciate Dr. Ki Sup Lee at Waterbird Network Korea (http://cafe.daum.net/WNKorea) for leading this project.