Laysan Albatross killed by ingesting plastic. Flickr user Ars Electronica
A new environmental film called Midway by photographer Chris Jordan aspires to show the effects of plastic on the environment and wildlife. The Laysan Albatross dwells in the North Pacific, more than two thousand miles from any mainland continent, and yet is being ravaged by our plastic waste. The birds are ingesting plastic from the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch because they, like many other animals, mistake plastic for food. The ensuing environmental tragedy is the subject of Chris Jordan’s documentary which hopes to tell the story of the Laysan Albatross that live on the Midway Atoll.
Watch the Midway trailer and be prepared to be moved.
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Wow, that is really sad. The birds entire stomach was pretty much filled with plastic. Why do the birds continue to eat the plastic though? Can they not tell the difference between it and food?
Yes, we agree. It’s quite sad. Unfortunately, the birds cannot tell the difference between the plastic and real food. This is the case for many animals. For example, sea turtles often ingest plastic bags in the water because they mistake it for jelly fish.