Australian Island Birds Are So Full of Plastic They Crackle and Crunch

On May 21st, 2025, Australian researchers have made a troubling discovery concerning mutton birds on Lord Howe Island. The seabirds, also known as shearwaters, are ingesting so much plastic that their stomachs make crackling and crunching noises when gently pressed. Lord Howe Island, a small volcanic landmass off Australia’s eastern coast, is inhabited by about 500 people and more than 44,000 shearwaters. Despite being a seemingly pristine location, the birds here are heavily impacted by plastic waste.

During a recent study, scientists found that nearly one-fifth of a mutton bird’s body weight consisted of plastic. This exceeded the previous record of 403 pieces found in a single bird in 2024. Dr. Jen Lavers, who has been researching the island’s bird population for 18 years, expressed dismay at the new findings. She noted that an 80-day-old chick contained a record-breaking 778 pieces of plastic, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Lavers emphasized the urgency of raising awareness about the harmful effects of plastic pollution on wildlife, pointing out that the shearwaters’ declining populations are a clear indicator of the growing plastic consumption. In an effort to illustrate the issue, the researchers recorded the unsettling sounds produced by the plastic-filled stomachs of the birds when touched.

The scientists hope that by sharing the distressing reality faced by the shearwaters on Lord Howe Island, people will recognize the broader threat that plastic waste poses to all life on Earth.