Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mark or tint windows to reduce collision mortality Two randomised, replicated and controlled studies (one ex situ) found that marking windows did not appear to reduce bird collisions. However, when windows were largely covered with white cloth, fewer birds flew towards them. A randomised, replicated and controlled study found that fewer birds collided with tinted windows than with un-tinted ones, although the authors noted that the poor reflective quality of the glass could have influenced the results. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F167https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F167Sat, 19 May 2012 20:22:28 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Pay farmers to cover the costs of bird conservation measures Three reviews from the UK of three studies captured reported population increases of three species after the introduction of specially-designed agri-environment schemes. These species were cirl buntings, corncrakes and Eurasian thick-knees. One of these found that many other species continued to decline. Twenty-two of 25 studies all from Europe, including a systematic review, examining local population levels or densities found that at least some birds studied were at higher densities, had higher population levels or more positive population trends on sites with agri-environment schemes, compared to non-agri-environment scheme sites. Some studies found that differences were present in all seasons, others in either summer or winter. Fifteen studies from Europe, including a systematic review, found that some or all species were not found at higher densities, had similar or lower population levels, showed similar population trends on sites with agri-environment schemes, compared with non-agri-environment scheme sites, or showed negative population trends. A study from the Netherlands found that many agri-environment scheme farms were sited in areas where they were unlikely to be effective. One small study from the UK found no differences between winter densities of seed-eating birds on UK Higher Levels Stewardship sites, compared with those under Entry Level Stewardship. A replicated study from the UK found that grey partridge survival was higher on agri-environment scheme sites than non-scheme sites. This difference was not significant every year. Two of three studies investigating reproductive productivity, including one replicated study, found that productivity was higher on farms under agri-environment schemes. One replicated study from the UK found no effect of agri-environment schemes on productivity. A review (Vickery et al. 2010) found that the amount of land entering an agri-environment scheme was on target, but that some options were not being used at high enough rates to help many species. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F172https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F172Sun, 20 May 2012 14:06:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manage stone-faced hedge banks to benefit birds We found no evidence for the effects of managing stone-faced hedge banks on bird populations. 'No evidence' for an action means we have not yet found any studies that directly and quantitatively tested this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F179https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F179Wed, 30 May 2012 14:13:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Physically protect nests from predators using non-electric fencing Two studies from the USA and UK found that fewer nests were predated or failed when predator exclusion fences were erected. Two studies from the USA found that nesting success or fledging success did not differ between areas with fences erected and those without fences; although one found that hatching rates were higher with fences. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F183https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F183Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:15:36 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mark nests during harvestA replicated study from the Netherlands found that northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus nests were less likely to be destroyed when they were marked, compared to when they were not. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F194https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F194Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:39:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Offer per clutch payment for farmland birds One of two replicated and controlled studies from the Netherlands found that farms with per clutch payments held slightly higher breeding densities of waders, but not higher overall numbers than control farms. One study found no population effects over three years. A replicated and controlled study found higher hatching success on farms with payment schemes than control farms. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F196https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F196Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:50:57 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mark fences to reduce bird collision mortalityA randomised, replicated and controlled study from the UK found that fewer birds collided with deer fence marked with orange netting than with unmarked sections. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F238https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F238Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:34:56 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manage perennial bioenergy crops to benefit wildlife We found no evidence for the effects of managing bioenergy crops for wildlife on bird populations. 'No evidence' for an action means we have not yet found any studies that directly and quantitatively tested this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this actionCollected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F242https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F242Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:44:51 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Paint wind turbines to increase their visibilityA single ex situ experiment found that thick black stripes running across a wind turbine’s blades made them more conspicuous to an American kestrel than control (unpatterned) blades, but that other designs were less visible, or indistinguishable from controls. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F258https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F258Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:40:49 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mowing roadside vergesA single replicated, controlled study in the USA found that more ducks nested on unmown roadside verges, but that over four years, nesting success on unmown verges fell to below that on mown verges. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F259https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F259Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:19:48 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mark power lines to reduce incidental bird mortality A total of eight studies and two literature reviews from across the world found that marking power lines led to significant reductions in collision rates or dangerous flight behaviour (i.e. approaching close to power lines) in cranes Grus spp., mute swans Cygnus olor and other bird species. All markers except thin, black plastic strips or neoprene crosses were effective, with no differences in effectiveness between Bird Flight Diverters (BFDs: brightly coloured plastic spirals) and static fibreglass plates and only a small possible difference between BFDs and ‘flappers’ (moving markers). Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F265https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F265Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:03:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mark eggs to reduce their appeal to egg collectorsA single before-and-after study found that marking eggs greatly increased the number of chicks fledging from six raptor nests in Australia in 1979 and 1980. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F276https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F276Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:25:58 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Move fish-eating birds to reduce conflict with fishermenA single before-and-after study in the USA found that Caspian tern Sterna caspia chicks had a lower proportion of commercial fish in their diet following the movement of the colony away from an important fishery. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F281https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F281Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:58:27 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mark trawler warp cables to reduce seabird collisionsA replicated, controlled study in Argentina found that seabird mortality from collisions with trawler warp cables was much lower when the cables were marked. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F305https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F305Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:15:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manage woodland edges for birds We captured three studies of two experiments, of which one, a before-and-after study from the UK, found an increase in the local population of European nightjars following several management interventions, including the management of woodland edges for birds. Two studies of a replicated, controlled paired sites experiment in the USA found that bird abundances were higher in woodland edges with border-edge cuts and that predation on artificial nests was lower than in uncut edges. Scrub- and edge-nesting species were more abundant. Overall species richness and nest success did not differ different between treatments. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F334https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F334Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:12:39 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manually control or remove midstorey and ground-level vegetation (including mowing, chaining, cutting etc) in forests Of fifteen studies captured, one, a replicated controlled study from the USA, found higher bird species richness in areas with midstorey thinning, compared to control areas. One study from the USA found similar bird species richness in areas with mid- and understorey control, compared to other management types. A study from Canada found fewer species in treated sites than controls. Seven studies from Europe and the USA found that total bird densities or those of some species or guilds were higher in areas with mid- or understorey management, compared to before management or to areas without management. Four of these studies used understorey removal as part of a wider management regime. Five studies from the USA and Canada found that densities of some species were lower in areas with midi or understorey control, or that overall bird densities did not different between managed and unmanaged areas. Two of these studies investigated several interventions at once. A replicated controlled study from the USA found similar survival for black-chinned hummingbirds in areas with understorey management, compared to areas with other interventions. Two replicated, controlled studies from Canada found higher nest survival in forests with removal of deciduous trees, compared to controls. A controlled study found that northern bobwhite chicks had greater foraging success in areas with cleared understorey vegetation compared to burned areas, but lower than under other managements. A replicated, controlled study from the USA found that midstorey control did not appear to affect competition between species for nesting sites. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F335https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F335Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:20:23 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manually control or remove midstorey and ground-level vegetation (including mowing, chaining, cutting etc) in shrubland Of seven studies, one controlled study from the USA, found that overall bird diversity was similar between chained areas, burned areas and controls. A replicated and controlled study from the USA found that overall diversity was lower on mown sites than controls, but that grassland-specialist species were present on managed sites. Five studies from the USA and Europe found than some study species were found at greater densities or abundances on sites with mechanical vegetation control than on sites with prescribed burning or no management, or that abundances increased after management. One study investigated several interventions at once. One study from the USA found that total bird densities were similar between chained, burned and control sites. A replicated controlled study from the USA found that mown sites had lower bird abundances than control sites. Three studies from the USA found that some species were less abundant on sites with mechanical vegetation removal, compared with burned or control sites, or showed smaller increases after management. One replicated, controlled study from the USA found no differences between areas cut in winter and those cut in summer. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F337https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F337Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:58:09 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mow or cut natural grasslands Of six studies, two replicated and controlled studies from the USA found higher densities of birds or nests on mown grasslands, compared to unmanaged or burned areas. Two controlled studies from the USA, one replicated, found lower nesting or population densities of some species, on mown grasslands compared to unmown areas. Two replicated and controlled studies found no significant differences in nesting densities or community composition between mown and unmown areas. One study from the USA found that grasshopper sparrow nesting success was higher on mown areas than grazed areas of grassland. A replicated controlled study from the USA found that ducks had similar nesting success on cut and uncut areas. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F338https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F338Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:41:22 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mow or cut semi-natural grasslands/pastures Of four studies captured, one, a before-and-after study from the UK, found that local wader populations increased following the annual cutting semi-natural grasslands. A replicated, controlled study from the UK found that ducks grazed at higher densities on cut areas, a second replicated study from the UK found that goose grazing densities were unaffected by cutting frequency. A replicated study from the USA found that Henslow's sparrows were more likely to be recaptured on unmown, compared with mown grasslands. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F339https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F339Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:49:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mow or cut reedbeds Of three studies captured, one controlled study from the Netherlands found that warblers nested at lower densities in cut areas of reeds. Productivity and success did not vary between treatments. An unreplicated study from Denmark found that geese grazed at the highest densities on reedbeds cut 5–12 years previously. One replicated study investigated changing water levels in addition to cutting reeds in the UK and found that management did not affect great bittern breeding productivity but did appear to delay territory establishment. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F340https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F340Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:15:58 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Manage water level in wetlands Of six studies, one replicated, controlled study from the USA found that bird diversity was affected by maintaining water levels at different levels. A study from the USA found that ducks were more abundant when high water levels were maintained on a wetland site. Geese were more abundant when lower levels were maintained. Three studies from the USA and Canada, two replicated, found that different species showed preferences for different water levels in wetlands. A replicated study from the UK found that great bitterns established territories earlier when deep water levels were maintained, but this had no effect on productivity. A review from Spain found that management successfully maintained water near a greater flamingo nesting area, but the effects of this were not measured. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F355https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F355Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:49:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of ground nesting seabirds A before-and-after study from Japan found an increase in fledging rates of little terns Sterna albifrons following the provision of chick shelters and other interventions. Two studies from the USA and Canada found reduced predation of tern chicks following the provision of chick shelters. A small study from the USA found low levels of use of chick shelters, except when predators were present. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F397https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F397Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:01:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of waders Three of 13 studies from the USA found higher productivity from nests protected by individual barriers than unprotected nests. Two studies from the USA and Sweden found no higher productivity from protected nests. Eight studies from the USA and Europe found higher hatching rates, or survival, or low predation of nests protected by individual barriers, although two of these found that higher hatching rates did not result in higher productivity. Two small studies from North America found no differences in predation or survival rates between protected and unprotected nests. A meta-analysis from the USA found that there were differences in the effectiveness of different exclosure designs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F398https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F398Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:32:17 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of storks and ibisesA randomised, replicated and controlled study from Cambodia found that giant ibis Thaumatibis gigantean fledgling rates were higher for nests in protected trees than controls. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F399https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F399Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:10:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of songbirds Three studies from across the world found increased fledging success for nests in trees protected by individual barriers. A replicated controlled study from the USA also found higher success for ground-nests protected by individual barriers. Two studies from the UK and Japan found lower predation rates on nests protected by individual barriers. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F400https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F400Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:13:40 +0100