Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Scare or otherwise deter birds from airports Two replicated studies in the UK and USA found that fewer birds (mainly gulls Larus spp.) used areas of long grass at airports. However, no data were provided on the effect of long grass on strike rates or mortality of birds.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F261https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F261Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:26:20 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove earth wires to reduce incidental bird mortalityA before-and-after study and a literature review describe significant reductions in collision mortalities of cranes Grus spp. and grouse Lagopus spp. following the removal of earth wires.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F263https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F263Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:41:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Increase ‘on-the-ground’ protection to reduce unsustainable levels of exploitation Two before-and-after studies from Central America and Europe found increases in recruitment and population levels following either stricter anti-poaching measures or stricter protection and the stationing a warden on an island. However, the Central American study found that recruitment increases were only maintained for as long as the intensive effort was continued.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F272https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F272Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:38:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide ‘sacrificial’ grasslands to reduce the impact of wild geese on cropsTwo studies in the UK found that managing grasslands for geese increased the number grazing there. However, both found that the birds were moving within a relatively small area (i.e. within the study sites) and therefore the grasslands may not reduce conflict with farmers.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F280https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F280Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:48:14 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use a line shooter to reduce seabird bycatch A randomised, replicated and controlled trial from a pelagic fishery in the North Pacific found significantly higher seabird bycatch when a line shooter was used to set longlines. A second randomised, replicated and controlled trial (from Norway), found no effect of a line shooter on bycatch rates.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F290https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F290Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:47:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use shark liver oil to reduce seabird bycatch Two replicated and controlled trials found reductions in the number of seabirds following boats, or diving for baits, when shark liver oil was dripped behind the boats. Other oils had no effect. A third replicated and controlled trial in found no differences in the number of seabirds following a bait-laying boat with shark liver oil.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F297https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F297Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:16:47 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce seabird bycatch by releasing offal overboard when setting longlinesTwo replicated and controlled studies in the South Atlantic and sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean found significant reductions in the number of albatross and petrels attacking baits and being caught when offal was released overboard during line setting.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F299https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F299Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:39:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide paths to limit the extent of disturbanceA before-and-after study from the UK found that two species of wader nested closer to a path, or at higher densities near the path, following resurfacing, which resulted in far fewer people leaving the path.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F311https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F311Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:34:15 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Clearcut and re-seed forests One of two replicated studies from the USA found similar bird densities in clearcut and re-seeded sites as in sites under other managements. A replicated study from the USA found that pine stands replanted with native pines held more scrub-sucessional species than stands managed with tree thinning, midstory tree removal and burning.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F327https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F327Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:11:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use patch retention harvesting instead of clearcutting One before-and-after study of two from the USA found that areas under patch retention harvesting contained more birds of more species than clearcut areas, retaining similar numbers to unharvested areas. Two studies from the USA found that forest specialist species were found with greater frequency in patch retention plots than other management types. One found that habitat generalists increased on other management types, relative to patch retention areas.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F330https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F330Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:02:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove coarse woody debris from forests One of two replicated and controlled studies from the USA found that overall breeding bird abundance and diversity were lower in plots where woody debris was removed, compared to control plots. Several individually-analysed species showed lower abundances. A replicated, controlled before-and-after study from the USA found lower nest survival for black-chinned hummingbirds following debris removal. Some species in both studies increased after debris removal.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F345https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F345Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:43:34 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Plant trees to act as windbreaks One of two before-and-after studies, from the UK, found that the local population of European nightjars increased following several interventions including the planting of windbreaks. A before-and-after study, from the USA, found that erecting a windbreak appeared to disrupt lekking behaviour in greater prairie chicken territories nearby.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F351https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F351Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:42:39 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Re-seed grasslands One of two studies, both from the UK and investigating grazing by geese Branta spp., found that geese grazed at higher densities on grasslands that were re-seeded, compared to control or fertilised areas. One study found that areas sown with clover were grazed at higher densities than those sown with grass seed.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F352https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F352Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:46:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use environmentally sensitive flood management One of two studies, a before-and-after study from the UK, found that there were significantly more bird territories in a stretch of river with ‘flood beams’ installed, compared to a channelized river. A replicated site comparison study in the USA found that 13 of 20 bird species increased at sites with the restoration of river dynamics and vegetation.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F356https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F356Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:58:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove or control predators to enhance bird populations and communities A meta-analysis and a systematic review both found that reproductive success increased with predator removal, but their exact findings differed. The meta-analysis found that post-breeding population size increased, whilst the systematic review found that this was true on mainlands, but not islands and that breeding populations also increased.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F371https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F371Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:58:46 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islandsThe assessment of the effectiveness of this intervention was based on a total of 33 studies across all species groups. See Background section below for links to the evidence for the control of mammalian predators on islands on specific species groups. A paired sites study from Finland and a literature review from the UK found increased bird species richness and abundance or population recoveries and recolonisations, following the control or eradication of mammalian predators. Predators removed included American mink Mustela vison, rats Rattus spp. pigs Sus scrofa, cats Felis catus, dogs Canis familiaris and grey fox Dusicyon griseus.    Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F373https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F373Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:31:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islands for railsTwo before-and-after studies from Australia and the Galapagos Islands found increases in survival or population density of rails on islands following the removal of feral pigs Sus scrofa.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F377https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F377Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:42:59 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islands for waders A controlled before-and-after study in New Zealand found that the Chatham Island oystercatcher Haematopus chathamensis population increased following the removal of feral cats Felis catus and other species. A second controlled before-and-after study in Alaska, USA, found small increases in black oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani breeding populations on two islands, but the overall population only increased on one, declining on the other.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F378https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F378Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:46:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islands for pigeonsTwo before-and-after trials on Mauritius found that fewer pink pigeon Columba mayeri nests were predated and more chicks were fledged following systematic and intensive rat control.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F380https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F380Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:19:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islands for parrotsTwo before-and-after studies in New Zealand found reduced nest predation and successful recolonisation of an island following invasive mammal eradication or control.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F381https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F381Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:38:19 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control predators not on islands for seabirds A before-and-after study from New Zealand found an increase in a tern population following intensive trapping of invasive mammals. A before-and-after study from Canada found increases in tern fledging success following gull control.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F385https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F385Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:42:50 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Do birds take bait designed for pest control?Two studies, one randomised, replicated and controlled, from New Zealand and Australia found no evidence that birds took bait meant for pest control.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F395https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F395Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:47:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use multiple barriers to protect nests A replicated, controlled study from the USA found no evidence that erecting an electric fence around nests protected by individual barriers increased fledging success in piping plovers Charadrius melodus. A replicated study from the USA found that removing the outer of two nest protection fences after 15 days appeared to reduce predation compared to when both fences were left for 18 days.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F404https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F404Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:00:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use collar-mounted devices to reduce predation Two replicated randomised and controlled studies in the UK and Australia found that significantly fewer birds were returned by cats wearing collars with various anti-hunting devices, compared to controls. A replicated, randomised and controlled study from the UK found no significant differences between different devices. Both UK studies found that collars were easily lost.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F416https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F416Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:27:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce predation by translocating nest boxesTwo studies from Europe found that predation rates were lower for relocated nest boxes, compared to controls.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F420https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F420Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:18:38 +0100
What Works 2021 cover

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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