Albatrosses are ingesting plastic - Blue Planet II: Episode 7 Preview - BBC

Plastic and Albatross Chicks

Plastic is part of everyday life, but an estimated 8 million tonnes enters the ocean each year. Albatross chicks should be fed prey such as squid and fish. Researchers can identify these foods from squid beaks and fish bones in regurgitated pellets. Instead, chicks are also being fed plastic, including bags and food packaging.

Plastic can be fatal: a toothpick was found to have pierced a bird’s stomach. Lucy records plastic items found around nests, but her collection from the previous season is likely an underestimate because many items are never seen.

Researcher

Lucy is identified in the video metadata as Dr Lucy Quinn of the British Antarctic Survey.