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Microtrash

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

What is microtrash?

"Microtrash refers to small bits of trash such as broken glass, bottle caps, can tabs, and other smaller, broken down pieces of trash that can be ingested by condors [and other vultures]. Condors are curious birds and natural scavengers and are attracted to small bits of trash that stand out from its surroundings." USFWS California Condor Recovery Program
vultures at risk
Additionally, when microtrash is brought to the nest and regurgitated by an adult condor, it is often ingested by condor chicks. The microtrash can get stuck in the gastrointestinal track of young condors and cause impaction, preventing the birds from digesting food, resulting in starvation and death.
Lesson outline
Picture
Download the lesson on the left which can be used as a great station activity or as part of a larger program. 
​
Program includes:
  • Vulture "surgery" on an impacted vulture
  • Images of microtrash removed from an impacted condor chick and condor chick radiograph (download full size images in the "Additional Resources" section below)
Additional resources
Download full size images from the lesson plans.
​These images were taken at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens and provided courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Radiograph 1 of California Condor chick 482.
07-29-2013_laz_evacuation_photoby_laz__3_.jpg
File Size: 365 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File


Radiograph 2 of California Condor chick 482.
07-29-2013_laz_evacuation_photoby_laz__5_.jpg
File Size: 394 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File


Image of microtrash removed from Condor Chick 482. 
microtrash.jpg
File Size: 2752 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File

Picture
Picture
Picture

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Copyright © 2017
  • Home
  • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Education >
      • Vulture Education
      • Year of the Bird
      • Raptors as Program Animals
    • Events
    • Issues >
      • Microtrash
      • Vulture Crisis >
        • Asian Vulture Crisis
        • African Vulture Crisis
      • Lead Poisoning
      • Rat poison
    • Position Statements
    • Training
    • Enrichment
    • Husbandry >
      • Husbandry Idea Gallery
      • Husbandry Products
      • TAG Manuals
  • raptors
    • Vultures >
      • African Vultures >
        • Cape Vulture SSP
        • Lappet-Faced Vulture SSP
        • Hooded Vulture SSP
        • Ruppell’s Griffon SSP
        • White-Backed Vulture SSP
      • Asian Vultures >
        • Eurasian Black Vulture SSP
      • New World Vultures >
        • Andean Condor SSP
        • California Condor SSP
        • King Vulture SSP
    • Eagles >
      • Steller's Sea Eagle SSP
      • Harpy Eagle (Candidate)
    • Falcons >
      • African Pygmy Falcon SSP
    • Hawks
    • Secretary Bird SSP
    • Owls >
      • Burrowing Owl SSP
      • Eurasian Eagle Owl SSP
      • Snowy Owl SSP
      • Spectacled Owl SSP
      • Verreaux's Eagle Owl SSP
  • Conservation
    • African vulture SAFE program
    • Egyptian Vultures in Oman
    • Bird Window Strikes
  • T-Shirt Store
  • About
    • Contact