Carlin, J., Craig, C., Little, S., Donnelly, M., Fox, D., Zhai, L., & Walters, L. (2020). Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts in birds of prey in central Florida, USA. Environmental Pollution, 114633.

Study Highlights:

First published detection of microplastics in birds of prey

The study quantified plastic pollution in the gastrointestinal tracts in deceased birds of prey collected from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Florida.

Sixty-three individuals representing eight species were dissected to extract the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Microplastics were found in the GI tracts in all examined species and in all individual birds.

Microfibers were most common, followed by microfragments, macroplastics, and microbeads.

The study was also featured in a news story by The Wildlife Society: Microplastics detected in birds of prey for first time