During our birding tour last month, we noticed trash along the mile long stretch of dirt road we were birding. That’s when I introduced my two nieces and the group to “plirding.” What is “plirding” you ask? “Plirding” is picking up litter while birding, and was inspired by “plogging” (picking up litter while jogging).
I learned about the word “plirding” from Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds podcast. I’d like to believe most people pick up trash when they see it and I hope everyone will participate! Their website includes many helpful ideas. One important topic is:
WHAT TRASH SHOULD I PICK UP?
These items are most harmful to birds and other wildlife. Look for them whenever you go plirding:
Talkin’ Birds, https://www.talkinbirds.com/plirding
- Monofilament fishing line (in fact, all fishing line). Monofilament is almost invisible, and all fishing line can get tangled around birds’ necks or wings. When you can, encourage people to dispose of unused fishing line in dedicated recycling bins.
- Lead fishing tackle or bullets. Banned in a number of states, lead is toxic to birds that ingest it, as well as larger birds—like Bald Eagles and other birds of prey—that eat the creature that originally ingested it,
- Balloons get washed into the ocean, where birds and turtles mistake them for food.
- Plastic does not dissolve or biodegrade, and has been found in birds’ nests and stomachs all over the world.
On our walk, we didn’t have a bag, so we used my pockets! Fern and Maddie both did a terrific job retrieving a variety of trash, from gun casings to bottles and cans and even lots of parts from snowmobiles! Fern was especially enthusiastic about retrieving all the trash they could find!!!
Learn more about plirding on Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds website and consider taking the plirder pledge!
So before you leave for your next birdwalk, remember to grab a bag, gloves, trash-grabber or anything else to make it easy to plird to help our environment and all the living creatures it supports!
Article and photos by Nancy Brown