5 Sep 2019

Albatross chicks choke on plastic baby formula scoop

From Nine To Noon, 9:45 am on 5 September 2019
Albatross and Karere on cam

Albatross and Karere on cam Photo: DoC

There's a record number of twenty-eight chicks at the Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsular this year.  But there's concern about waste plastic getting into their diet when they're foraging out at sea for squid beaks. 

Three albatross chicks regurgitated plastic just this week, including a handle from an infant formula scoop. Doc ranger Sharyn Broni witnessed this and is keeping track of the chicks.  Sharyn updates Lynn Freeman.