Collected 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: Reduce conflict by deterring birds from taking crops using bird scarers A controlled paired study in the USA found reduced levels of damage to almond orchards when American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos distress calls were broadcast, compared to the previous year. There were no decreases in control orchards. A replicated study in Pakistan found that four pest species were less abundant when reflector ribbons were hung above crops, compared to when ribbons were not used.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F199https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F199Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:34:06 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use ‘mosaic management’ A replicated, controlled before-and-after study from the Netherlands found that northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus population trends changed from decreases to increases following the introduction of mosaic management. Three other waders did not show such a response. A replicated, paired sites study in the Netherlands found that black-tailed godwits Limosa limosa had higher productivity under mosaic management than other management types, and nests were less likely to be trampled by livestock.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F202https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F202Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:52:32 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Maintain species-rich, semi-natural grassland A before-and-after study from the UK found five species of conservation concern increased after the implementation of management designed to maintain unimproved grasslands. A replicated study from Switzerland found that wetland birds appeared to preferentially choose managed hay meadows; birds of open farmland avoided it.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F218https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F218Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:27:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Raise mowing height on grasslands to benefit birds A review from the UK found that raising mowing height may have increased productivity of Eurasian skylarks, but not sufficiently to maintain the local population. A randomised, replicated and controlled study from the UK found that no more foraging birds were attracted to plots with raised mowing heights, compared to plots with shorter grass.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F222https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F222Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:06:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Protect nests from livestock to reduce trampling A before-and-after study from the Chatham Islands, New Zealand found that the population of Chatham Island oystercatcher increased following several interventions including the erection of fencing around individual nests. A replicated, controlled study in Sweden found that no southern dunlin nests were trampled when protected by cages; some unprotected nests were destroyed.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F237https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F237Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:44:30 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Maintain traditional orchardsTwo site comparison studies from the UK and Switzerland found that traditional orchards did not benefit many birds. In Switzerland, one species was associated with orchards; in the UK, the focal species was negatively related to the presence of orchards.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F240https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F240Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:42:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use electric fencing to exclude fish-eating birdsTwo before-and-after studies from the USA found that electric fencing reduced the use of fish ponds by great blue herons Ardea herodias and great egrets Casmerodius albus.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F247https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F247Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:52:28 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Disturb birds using foot patrolsTwo replicated studies from Belgium and Australia found that using foot patrols to disturb birds from fish farms did not reduce the number of birds present or fish consumption.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F249https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F249Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:05:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate birds away from fish farmsA study from the USA cited in a review found that translocating birds away from a fish farm appeared to reduce the number of birds at the farm. A study from Belgium found that translocating herons did not seem to be an effective way to reduce bird numbers at fish farms.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F251https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F251Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:15:27 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use in-water devices to reduce fish loss from ponds A before-and-after study from the USA found a 95% reduction in the number of double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus at two ponds in a fish farm following the installation of underwater ropes. A replicated study at a fish farm in Australia found that hanging gill nets in ponds did not decrease the number of cormorants swimming in ponds.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F254https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F254Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:54:38 +0100Collected 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 +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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