nesting in plastic

It is estimated that about 98% of gannet nests on the German island Heligoland contain plastic waste. This equals to about 1,600 Kilograms (3,527 Pounds) in total. Approximately 14 birds die per day due to entanglement and strangulation as a result. Nesting in Plastic depicts the contrast between beauty and tragedy of these seabirds. This story was published in the April 2021 issue of National Geographic Germany.

The first time I witnessed the problem of plastic pollution at a local level was in January 2020. As a nature photographer and filmmaker, I had strived to visit the remote German island Heligoland for many years. Capturing the grey and common seal colonies on camera was a long-term goal. However, what I discovered during my trip was vastly different than what I had initially expected.

Discover My Story