A BBC team has filmed disturbing footage the devastating impact plastic pollution is having seabirds the Tasman Sea, which is Australia and New Zealand. The film crew was working the remote Lord Howe Island a new wildlife documentary called "Drowning in Plastic". They filmed many birds that had died because their stomachs were literally too full plastic to be able to eat any food. The birds starved to death because there was no room their stomachs for food. The documentary team filmed marine biologists working the island to try and save the birds. The scientists captured hundreds chicks and physically removed plastic their stomachs to give them a chance survival.
Marine biologist Jennifer Lavers explained what was happening to the birds. She said the birds were predators that will eat anything. She said: "When you put plastic the ocean, it means they have no ability to detect plastic non-plastic, so they eat it." Adult birds feed the plastic to their chicks, oblivious to what they are feeding them. Professor Lavers lamented that most the plastic is "entirely preventable". She said: "We find plastic clothes pegs and plastic tooth brushes. Those could easily be swapped for other materials - aluminium or wood. My own toothbrush is made bamboo." TV presenter Liz Bonnin said: "We saw...90 pieces plastic come of one the chicks."
