Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Shield lights to reduce mortality from artificial lightsA replicated, controlled study in Hawaii found that fewer Newell’s shearwaters Puffinus newelli were found grounded when security lights were shielded, compared to nights when they were not.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F469https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F469Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:27:35 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use flashing lights to reduce mortality from artificial lightsA randomised, replicated and controlled trial from the USA found that fewer dead birds were found beneath control towers that used only flashing lights, as opposed to those using both flashing and continuous lights.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F470https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F470Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:31:10 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Water nesting mounds to increase incubation success in malleefowlA small controlled in Australia found that two malleefowl Leipoa ocellata nests were abandoned after they dried out, despite being watered, although unwatered nests were abandoned much earlier.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F473https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F473Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:48:28 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Replace nesting substrate following severe weatherTwo before-and-after studies from Canada found that common tern Sterna hirundo populations increased at one colony where nesting substrates were replaced, but decreased at a second. Several other interventions were used at both sites, making it difficult to evaluate the effects of substrate replacement.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F474https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F474Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:47:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use artificial visual and auditory stimuli to induce breeding in wild populationsA single small study from the British Virgin Islands found that there was an increase in breeding behaviour in a small population of Caribbean flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber following the introduction of visual and auditory stimulants.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F475https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F475Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:52:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for grebesA single study from the UK found that grebes used nesting rafts in some areas of the UK but not others, and that the characteristics of used rafts differed geographically.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F479https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F479Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:36:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for gamebirdsA replicated study in China found that an estimated 36–41% of the local population of Cabot’s tragopans Tragopan caboti used nesting platforms.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F484https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F484Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:06:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for railsA replicated study from across the UK found that common moorhens Gallinula chloropus and common coot Fulica atra readily used artificial islands for nesting.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F485https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F485Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:10:02 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for oilbirdsA before-and after-study in Trinidad and Tobago found an increase in size of an oilbird colony following the creation of artificial nesting ledges.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F491https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F491Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:25:31 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for trogonsA small study from Guatemala found that at least one resplendent quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno nested in nest boxes provided.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F493https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F493Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:55:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for swiftsA study from the USA found that Vaux’s swifts Chaetura vauxi successfully used nest boxes provided.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F495https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F495Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:42:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use differently-coloured artificial nestsA replicated study from the USA found that two species showed different colour preferences for nest boxes, but that in each case, the preferred colour had lower nesting success than the less preferred colour.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F500https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F500Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:21:30 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Repair/support nests to support breedingA small study from Puerto Rico found that nine Puerto Rican parrot Amazona vittata nests were repaired, resulting in no chicks dying of cold.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F502https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F502Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:31:27 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Foster eggs or chicks of gannets and boobies with wild conspecificsA small controlled study in Australia found that Australasian gannet chicks Morus serrator were lighter, and hatching and fledging success lower in nests which had an additional egg or chick added. However, overall productivity was (non-significantly) higher in experimental nests.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F507https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F507Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:17:32 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Foster eggs or chicks of cranes with wild conspecificsA small study in Canada found high rates of fledging for whooping crane Grus americana eggs fostered to first time breeders (which normally have very low fertility).  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F512https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F512Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:13:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Foster eggs or chicks of bustards with wild conspecificsA small study in Saudi Arabia found that a captive-bred egg was successfully fostered to a female in the wild.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F513https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F513Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:18:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Foster eggs or chicks of petrels and shearwaters with wild non-conspecifics (cross-fostering)A replicated and partially controlled study from Hawaii found that Newell’s shearwater Puffinus newelli eggs fostered to wedge-tailed shearwater P. pacificus nests had high fledging rates.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F516https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F516Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:54:21 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Foster eggs or chicks of ibises with wild non-conspecifics (cross-fostering)A 2007 literature review describes attempting to foster northern bald ibis Geronticus eremite chicks with cattle egrets Bubulcus ibis as unsuccessful.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F518https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F518Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:07:49 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary foodA replicated, controlled study from Europe found that overall, gardens with supplementary food did not contain more species than those without. However, there was some evidence that gardens with supplementary food in five countries did contain more species than unfed ones, when countries were analysed separately.   For specific interventions see: provide supplementary foodCollected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F521https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F521Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:18:10 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for petrels to increase reproductive successA replicated controlled study in Australia found that Gould’s petrel Pterodroma leucoptera chicks provided with supplementary food had very similar fledging rates to both control and hand-reared birds, but were significantly heavier than other birds.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F522https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F522Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:22:09 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for wildfowl to increase reproductive successA small randomised and controlled ex situ study from Canada found faster growth and higher weights for fed greater snow goose Chen caerulescens atlantica chicks than unfed ones, but no differences in mortality rates.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F526https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F526Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:16:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for gamebirds to increase reproductive successA controlled study in Tibet found that Tibetan eared pheasants Crossoptilon harmani that were fed supplementary food laid significantly larger eggs and clutches than control birds. Nesting success and laying dates were not affected.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F527https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F527Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:34:24 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for waders to increase reproductive successA small controlled trial from the Netherlands found that Eurasian oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus did not produce larger replacement eggs if provided with supplementary food, and their eggs were, in fact smaller than the first clutch, whereas control females laid larger replacement eggs.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F529https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F529Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:48:48 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for ibises to increase reproductive successA study from China found that breeding success of crested ibis Nipponia nippon was correlated with the amount of supplementary food provided, although no comparison was made with unfed nests.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F530https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F530Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:51:49 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for kingfishers to increase reproductive successA controlled study in the USA found that belted kingfisher Ceryle alcyon supplied with food had heavier nestlings and were more likely to renest. There was mixed evidence for the effect of feeding on laying date.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F534https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F534Sun, 09 Sep 2012 19:30:18 +0100
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What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

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