In South Korea, designers Zay Kim, Chaewon Lee, and Jungmin Park have created a biodegradable splint concept for birds injured in urban environments.
Dubbed BirdAid, the splints are made from eggshell calcium, agar and potato starch. The calcium provides for bone recovery while the compositions of the other materials are calibrated to biodegrade at a rate similar to the birds’ recovery needs.
There are three “models”, with the red splints intended for the most severe injuries and formulated to take the longest to break down. The green splits are for more minor wounds and biodegradable the fastest, freeing the bird from movement restrictions. Birdaid users simply pick the appropriate kit, crush the materials inside, and then apply to the bird’s wounded appendage.
According to the designers, urban environments are particularly dangerous for birds because of tall buildings and windows.