Gannets on the Island of Grassholm. The small uninhabited Welsh island off the coast of Great Britain is known in particular for its large gannet colony. Here nearly 40,000 pairs of birds are breeding, which is about 10 % of the world’s population.
Photo: RSPB Grassholm, Location: Grassholm (Wales)
Scientists of the nature conservation organization Royal Society for the Protection of Birds visited the island in order to count the gannet population and to free birds, in particular chicks, from plastic waste. According to their estimations up to 18 tons of plastic can be found in the nests of the gannets, mainly ropes and fishing lines.
Photo: RSPB Grassholm, Location: Grassholm (Wales)
Gannets build their big curved nests with algae and often confuse these with plastic particles swimming on the ocean’s surface. The interwoven parts often turn out to be a deadly trap, for example, when the legs of the chicks or of the adult animals become entangled in them.
Photo: RSPB Grassholm, Location: Grassholm (Wales)
Gannets build their big curved nests with algae and often confuse these with plastic particles swimming on the ocean’s surface. The interwoven parts often turn out to be a deadly trap, for example, when the legs of the chicks or of the adult animals become entangled in them.
Photo: Chris Taylor, Location: Grassholm (Wales)