Oct 24, 2019
Seabird conservationists perplexed by discoveries on Mullion island work out depressing explanation
Ornithologists [...] believe the elastic bands have been brought to the island by seabirds mistaking them for worms while searching for food on the mainland.
[...] As well as the bands, small bundles of green fishing net and twine were also uncovered among the undigested food, likely mistaken by the gulls for tasty morsels floating on the sea surface.
[...] The elastic bands are believed to have come from nearby horticultural fields, where they are used to tie together bunches of cut flowers.
