Laboratorio de Ecología de Aves. Instituto “Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet” (ILPLA) ‐ CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Boulevard 120 1437, La Plata, B1900, Argentina
Luciano N. Segura
Laboratorio de Ecología de Aves. Instituto “Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet” (ILPLA) ‐ CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Boulevard 120 1437, La Plata, B1900, Argentina
Virginia Monges
Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 120 s/n, La Plata, B1900, Argentina
Ana P. Chiramberro
División Entomología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Paseo del Bosque s/n, La Plata, B1900, Argentina
Martín A. Colombo
Laboratorio de Ecología de Aves. Instituto “Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet” (ILPLA) ‐ CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Boulevard 120 1437, La Plata, B1900, Argentina
Flooding Pampa nest material nestling mortality plastic waste pollution
How to Cite
Yassin, Magalí, Luciano N. Segura, Virginia Monges, Ana P. Chiramberro, and Martín A. Colombo. 2025. “Use of Plastics As Nest Material in a Natural Area of Central-Eastern Argentina and Evidence of Negative Effects on Reproduction”. El Hornero 40 (1): 13-23. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v40i1.1503.
Many bird species use artificial materials to build their nests, because of their adequate structure and resistance, or because they serve as decoration or provide thermal insulation. However, these materials may cause nestling or adult mortality, which is well documented in urban areas, although it also occurs in agricultural and natural areas. In these areas, the records of artificial nest materials are scarce, while the extent of the problem increases with the growing use of disposable materials. During two breeding seasons (from 2022 to 2024) we searched for bird nests in a rural area in Punta Indio, Buenos Aires, Argentina, recording the use of artificial materials and materials from introduced domestic animals. We report cases of damage produced by these materials to adult or juvenile birds. We found 538 nests, of which 389 had some kind of material associated with anthropic activity. Ninety-five nests contained artificial materials (mostly plastic bags and strings), and 294 nests contained domestic animals’ hair or wool. The Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) and the Southern Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) had the highest occurrence of artificial materials. We report four cases of damage caused by these materials, including the death of a juvenile bird, open wounds in nestlings, and entanglement of adults. We highlight the importance of documenting which species use artificial materials for nest construction and which materials they use, which will help understand the potential risks for breeding. This can be a valuable tool for environmental education in rural areas that are relatively unpolluted.
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