Study

Restoration of island populations of black oystercatchers and pigeon guillemots by removing introducing foxes

  • Published source details Byrd G.V., Bailey E.P. & Stahl W. (1997) Restoration of island populations of black oystercatchers and pigeon guillemots by removing introducing foxes. Colonial Waterbirds, 20, 253-260.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Control mammalian predators on islands for waders

Action Link
Bird Conservation

Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Control mammalian predators on islands for waders

    A controlled before-and-after on Simeonof (4,000 ha) and Chernabura (3,000 ha) Islands in the Shumagin Islands, Alaska (Byrd et al. 1997), found that the probable breeding populations of black oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani increased following the eradication of introduced arctic foxes Alopex lagopus (Simeonof: four pairs in 1994 vs. five in 1995; Chernabura: three and five pairs). Total estimated population increased on Simeonof (34 to 41 birds) but decreased on Chernabura (25 to 19 birds). Oystercatcher densities were significantly lower than on islands without foxes.

     

  2. Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds

    A controlled before-and-after study on Simeonof (4,000 ha) and Chernabura (3,000 ha) Islands in the Shumagin Islands, Alaska (Byrd et al. 1997) found that the average number of pigeon guillemots Cepphus columba recorded increased from 28 to 46 individuals on Chernabura, between 1994 and 1995, following the eradication of introduced arctic foxes Alopex lagopus. There was no increase on Simeonof Island, with an average of four recorded in both years. Guillemot densities were significantly lower than on islands without foxes.

     

Output references
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