Albatross Bolus

A bolus is a collection of indigestible materials that is coughed up by some birds. An albatross bolus may be 2 inches or more in diameter and 5 or 6 inches long. They are made up of squid beaks and other natural materials that cannot be digested and for some reason lots of plastic bits. Most of them the size of a quarter or smaller but they also include things like disposable lighters and toothbrush handles. Unfortunately our oceans are full of this kind of trash and the albatross pick up large amounts of these plastics and some are fed to their chicks. They have very little smell, as nearly all the digestible parts are gone. By picking through a bolus scientists can see very clearly what albatross are eating. A bolus can also be a powerful educational tool. A child picking apart a bolus can see first hand what an albatross eats and the problems created by plastic trash. This explanation brings me to this afternoon's job. I picked up 60 bolus, (boli?) put them in zip lock bags and labeled the exact location where they were found, the date, and who found them. They will be used in educational outreach programs in the main Hawaiian Islands. The educational programs never have enough of this material as Albatross Bolus Collector is a rare occupation.