Entanglement in plastic mesh kills nesting scissor-tailed flycatchers

Abstract

In 2010, we documented the death of two nesting Scissor-
tailed Flycatchers in Comanche County, Oklahoma, due to entanglement with high density polyethylene plastic mesh used in nest construction. In both cases the mesh was comparable to the netting used to wrap hay bales, landscaping grass bundles, and erosion barriers. Our observations highlight the risk of the increased availability of improperly disposed plastic mesh in the environment to nesting birds.