MAD – Satin Bowerbird Deaths

Don showed a photograph of a satin bowerbird, which died an agonising death after a blue ring from a 2-litre milk bottle became caught around its neck and beak.

Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

The satin bowerbird is commonly found in the rainforests or eucalypt forests of eastern Australia. Mature males have glossy purple-black plumage, violet eyes and a greenish yellow beak. Females are dull green and bluish grey, with a yellowish scalloped breast and abdomen. In the mating season male satin bowerbirds construct elaborate display areas, or 'avenue' bowers. They place sticks into the ground to form walls running in a north-south direction. The sticks are painted on the inside with saliva and charcoal. At each end of the avenue is a platform, which the bird decorates with blue objects, including berries, flowers, electrical wire, blue bottle tops, feathers and blue clothes pegs. The bird spends most of its time in the bower displaying and calling to attract females.

Making a difference

Avoid buying orange juice, milk or other drinks in containers with blue plastic screw tops, because these tops pose a threat to the environment. Don’t dump rubbish in the bush! Companies could make a big difference by simply not manufacturing containers with blue plastic screw tops.

Copyright CTC Productions 2003