Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Spray water to deter birds from pondsA replicated study from Sweden found that a rotating water spray deterred birds from fish ponds, but that birds often became used to the spray.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F255https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F255Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:57:49 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear by suspending oyster bags under waterA replicated and controlled study from Canada found that significantly fewer birds roosted on oyster bags suspended 6 cm below the water, compared with non-submerged bags. Birds roosted on bags suspended 3 cm below the water as frequently as control bags.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F257https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F257Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:31:25 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds We found 16 before-and-after studies, one paired sites study and one literature review from around the world, all describing positive seabird responses to the removal or control of mammalian predators (mainly rats Rattus spp. and feral cats Felis catus) from islands. Of these 18 studies, seven found either large population increases or recolonisations following predator eradication or control. Two of these found only partial population increases or recolonisations: a study from Alaska. Twelve studies found increases in reproductive success and survival or decreases in predation and mortality following predator control. In one case there was also a small population increase. Rats and mice Mus musculus were controlled in twelve studies, mostly examining burrow-nesting seabirds; cats in eight, mostly on ground or cliff-nesting seabirds; and other species in two.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F375https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F375Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:57:05 +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: Can nest protection increase nest abandonment? A replicated before-and-after study from the USA found that nest abandonment increased after nest exclosures were installed. Two replicated studies in Sweden and the USA found small levels of abandonment, or non-significant increases in abandonment following nest exclosure installation. A meta-analysis from the USA found that some designs of nest exclosures were more likely to lead to abandonment than others.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F401https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F401Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:41:47 +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: Provide artificial nesting sites for divers/loons A replicated before-and-after study from the UK found that there was a very large increase in loon productivity on lakes provided with nesting rafts, with a corresponding increase in productivity across the whole country. Two studies from the USA found higher nesting success on lakes with floating  nesting rafts, compared to sites without rafts, but no new territories were established on lakes without loons but with rafts. A replicated study from the UK found that loons used nesting rafts and artificial islands in some areas of the UK, but not others.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F478https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F478Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:13:43 +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 burrow-nesting seabirds Four studies from across the world found evidence for population increases or new populations being established in petrel species following the provision of nest boxes. In two cases nest boxes were combined with the translocation of chicks or other interventions. Six studies from across the world found high occupancy rates for artificial burrows by seabirds, with three finding that occupancy increased over time, taking years to build up. Three studies from across the world found very low occupancy rates for artificial burrows used by petrel species. Eight studies from across the world found that the productivity of birds using artificial burrows was high, in many cases as high or higher than in natural burrows. One replicated study from the USA and a small study from the Galapagos found low productivity of petrels using artificial burrows.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F481https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F481Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:21:23 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for wildfowl using artificial/floating islands Two studies from North America found that a variety of wildfowl used artificial islands and floating rafts, and had high (70–80%) nesting success. A replicated study from across the UK found that wildfowl preferentially nested on well vegetated islands, compared to bare ones.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F483https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F483Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:49:16 +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: Foster eggs or chicks of waders with wild conspecifics Two small trials in North America found that piping plovers Charadrius melodus accepted chicks introduced into their broods, although in one case the chick died later the same day. A replicated study from New Zealand found that survival of fostered black stilts Himantopus novasezelandiae was higher for birds fostered to conspecifics rather than a closely related species.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F508https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F508Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:30:39 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for gulls, terns and skuas to increase reproductive success Four studies of three experiments from Europe and Alaska found that providing supplementary food increased fledging success or chick survival in two gull species, although a study from the UK found that this was only true for one island, with abnormally low breeding success. A second island with higher success was not affected by feeding. Two of the experiments fed parent birds and one fed the chicks directly. One study from the Antarctic found no effect of feeding parent skuas on productivity. One study from Alaska found increased chick growth when parents were fed; one study from the Antarctic found no increase in chick growth.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F525https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F525Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:37:48 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for gulls, terns and skuas to increase adult survivalA randomised, replicated and controlled study in the Antarctic found that female south polar skuas Catharacta maccormicki that were fed lost more weight whilst feeding two chicks than unfed birds. There was no difference for birds with single chicks, or male birds.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F548https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F548Sun, 16 Sep 2012 09:21:14 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide calcium supplements to increase survival or reproductive success Eight studies from across the world, including a literature review from across the world found evidence for positive effects of calcium supplementation on several bird species. Positive effects included lower incidence of bone disease, higher fledging succes, larger broods, higher quality eggs or chicks and better physical condition of female parents. Not all species reacted similarly. Six studies including a literature review did not find any evidence for increased reproductive success in at least one of the species supplied with supplementary calcium. One replicated study from Europe found that birds took calcium supplied, and birds at polluted sites took more than those at cleaner sites. The effects on fitness were not monitored.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F559https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F559Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:19:49 +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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