A team of scientists in Japan has made a remarkable discovery about seabirds, specifically the behavior of shearwaters while in flight. By attaching tiny cameras to the undersides of these birds’ legs, researchers were able to record nearly 200 instances of defecation events.
Initially thought to be an accidental side-effect, the findings revealed a curious pattern where birds pooped while flying, usually within 30 seconds of lift-off. This behavior suggests that shearwaters avoid defecating while floating due to its potential implications for avian and ecosystem health.
The study’s lead author, Leo Uesaka, believes that flying makes pooping easier due to the natural act of flexing and bearing down required to take off. He also proposes that avoiding defecation while floating might be a hygiene practice to minimize infection risk or avoid predators.
On average, shearwaters poop more than five times every 60 minutes, with each bird releasing about five percent of its bodyweight in excrement per hour. This new estimate has significant ecological implications, as seabird droppings act as natural fertilizer for coastal and shoreline zones.
While the study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to fully understand the forces behind the birds’ toilet time. Uesaka hopes to conduct follow-up spatial analyses and repeat the experiment with other seabird species.
Source: https://www.popsci.com/environment/birds-poop-while-flying