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1 April 2017 Observations of Microtrash Ingestion in Cape Vultures in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Morgan B Pfeiffer, Jan A Venter, Colleen T Downs
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Abstract

Ingestion of man-made items by birds can reduce stomach volume and block the digestive track. In southern Africa, microtrash within the regurgitation of Cape Vulture nestlings was last documented in 1983. We present evidence of nestling microtrash ingestion after a 30-year gap. Vulture nestlings were captured at a breeding colony in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. One nestling regurgitated three microtrash fragments. Two pieces of microtrash were collected from the nest of another nestling. Neither nestling appeared to have skeletal deformities or feather stress bars. Our results highlight the persistence of microtrash ingestion by Cape Vulture nestlings, which could impact the species negatively.

© Zoological Society of Southern Africa
Morgan B Pfeiffer, Jan A Venter, and Colleen T Downs "Observations of Microtrash Ingestion in Cape Vultures in the Eastern Cape, South Africa," African Zoology 52(1), 65-67, (1 April 2017). https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2016.1270172
Received: 28 July 2016; Accepted: 1 December 2016; Published: 1 April 2017
KEYWORDS
conservation
nestling
trash
vulture
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