Plastic pollution putting New Zealand seabirds in peril...

Photo:  Getty Images / Visuals Unlimited

New Zealand - world's seabird capital

New Zealand is considered "the seabird capital of the world", says the country's Department of Conservation and has more penguin species than any country in the world.   There are 36 species of seabirds that breed only in New Zealand, with Mexico a distant second at just five species.   New Zealand's seabirds, like the albatross pictured above, are said to be more at risk of dying due to plastic ingestion than anywhere else in the world.   Experts say that plastic makes up 78% of all rubbish on New Zealand beaches.   Seabirds are also surface feeders and scoop up plastic before realizing it not food.   Eventually plastic fills their stomachs and they face starvation.   The banning of single-use plastic bags in stores in Australia has recently led to violent confrontations with protesting customers.
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BarrytheBirder