History of human trash and Australian bird nests

Birds and humans have been sharing spaces and habitats throughout history. In doing so, they interact both willingly and unwillingly with the rubbish we generate. It is well known that birds incorporate found objects from their environment into their nests, making them ideal indicators of environmental changes and human activity. It’s also well known, particularly among scientists, that museum collections can provide unique insight into environmental changes through time and space. By investigating Australian museum specimens dating back over 200 years, you will learn which bird families are more likely to incorporate human-made debris into their nest and the potential consequences of these inclusions. You will also learn how birds are natural archaeologists, with items incorporated into their nests reflecting historical changes in our society.