Eco-Resilience: Herons use of anthropogenic nesting materials

Abstract

The susceptibility of birds to plastic pollution is well established. The incorporation of macroplastic debris as nesting materials into seabird nests has been extensively studied. Incidental sighting of plastic strands hanging from heronry nests paved the way for this study, which revealed extensive use of macroplastic debris as nesting material by Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and Indian Pond Herons Ardeola grayii in an urban heronry adjacent to a derelict fishing gear strewn fishing harbour. Immediate consequences in the form of entanglement death are evident. Inclusion of macroplastic debris as nesting material by tree-nesting waterbirds is reported for the first time from India.