We all know that waste does not belong in nature. Nevertheless, a lot of litter ends up in nature due to carelessness or laziness. Strings and threads are particularly dangerous for birds, as they can get tangled up in them. Garbage lying around should therefore be disposed of systematically.
Spring is on its way, flowers are opening and providing a splash of color in nature. However, the splashes of color in fields and meadows sometimes have a much less pleasant reason: litter, carelessly left lying around or blown away by the wind.
The negative effects of litter on nature vary and depend on the material and its shape. Not every object is equally dangerous for birds, but strings, ropes, threads or ribbons are particularly relevant, as they can become entangled in them.
The Swiss Ornithological Institute's care station repeatedly treats birds whose mobility or food intake has been impaired or whose limbs have been constricted by strings and threads. As such waste is sometimes also used as nesting material, even young birds sitting in the nest are not immune to the risk of entanglement. In the case of waterfowl, there is also a risk that hooks from fishing lines can bore into the tissue.
In extreme cases, elongated objects can also be mistaken for earthworms or other food and eaten. This is known to happen to white storks, for example.
It is therefore important that civilization waste is not left lying around. We can all make a contribution here. Not only by consistently disposing of our own garbage - we can also do something good by regularly checking our own garden for strings lying around and picking up litter on our next walk.