Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Revert arable land to permanent grassland All five studies looking at the effects of reverting arable land to grassland found no clear benefit to birds. The studies monitored birds or grey partridges in the UK and wading birds in Denmark (4). They included three replicated controlled trials. One of the studies, a controlled before-and-after study from the UK, showed that grey partridge numbers fell significantly following the reversion of arable fields to grassland.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F210https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F210Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:00:36 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Delay haying/mowing Two reviews from the UK found that the population of corncrakes Crex crex increased following the implementation of two initiatives to encourage farmers to delay mowing (and provide cover and use corncrake-friendly techniques). A replicated and controlled paired sites study from the Netherlands found no evidence that waders and other birds were more abundant in fields with delayed mowing, compared to paired controls. A replicated and controlled before-and-after study from the Netherlands found that fields with delayed mowing held more birds than controls, but did so before the start of the scheme. Population trends did not differ between treatments. A replicated, controlled study from the USA found that destruction of nests by machinery was lower and late-season nesting higher in late-cut fields, compared with early-cut fields.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F223https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F223Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:29:48 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Disturb birds at roosts One controlled study from the USA investigated the effects of harassment on fish predation, and found there were fewer double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus on, and fewer fish were taken from, fish ponds near roosts which were harassed, compared with undisturbed roosts. A review found that there was a reduction in the number of cormorants foraging near roosts after night-time disturbance. Four studies, two replicated, from the USA and Israel, found that cormorants moved away from roosts where they were disturbed at night. One study found that this effect was only temporary.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F245https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F245Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:42:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Set lines underwater to reduce seabird bycatch Four replicated and controlled studies and a literature review in Norway, South Africa and the North Pacific found reductions in northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, albatross and petrel bycatch rates when using an underwater setting funnel. Although one found a disproportionate number of albatross were caught during day line setting. A replicated and controlled study found that underwater setting increased attack rates of shearwaters Puffinus spp. on longlines and did not reduce bycatch.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F288https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F288Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:38:44 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use prescribed burning on savannas A replicated and controlled study from Kenya, of five studies captured, found that burned areas of savanna tended to have more birds and more species than control or grazed areas. However, the authors note that differences were not present during drought years and burned sites showed significant annual variation, unlike grazed sites. A replicated and controlled study from Australia found that the effects of burning on bird abundances depended on burn season, and habitat type. Two replicated studies in the USA found that some open country species were more common in burned areas than unburned, whilst other species were less so. A small study from the USA found that two eastern bluebird Sialia sialis successfully raised chicks after the habitat around their nest boxes was subject to a prescribed burn.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F320https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F320Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:58:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use ring-barking (girdling), cutting or silvicides to produce snags Of five studies found, one replicated and controlled study from the USA found that forest plots provided with snags had higher bird diversity and abundance than plots without snags added. Three studies from the USA and UK found that woodpeckers and other species used artificially-created snags for nesting and foraging. One study from the USA found that use increased with how long a snag had been dead. A UK study found that no crested tits used snags created for them, possibly because they were not rotted enough, or because they were too close to the ground.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F343https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F343Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:29:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore or create traditional water meadows Four out of five before-and-after studies, all from the UK, found that the number of waders and wildfowl on sites increased following the restoration of water meadows. One before-and-after study from Sweden found no increase in northern lapwing population following an increase in the area of managed meadows in the study area. This study also found that restored meadows were used less than expected by breeding lapwings. A before-and-after study from Sweden found that hatching success of northern lapwings were higher on meadows than on spring-sown crops. There were no differences between meadows and autumn-sown crops or grasslands.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F363https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F363Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:51:09 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control mammalian predators on islands for songbirds Two before-and-after trials in the Seychelles and Cook Islands describe population increases in magpie robins and monarch flycatchers following cat and rat control. A before-and-after study from New Zealand found that the population of South Island robins Petroica australis australis was almost identical before and after rat control. Two studies found higher reproductive success in monarch flycatchers and shrikes in areas with rodent control, compared to areas without control. However, this was climate dependent in shrikes. A before-and-after study from Hawaii found lower predation on artificial nests after intensive rodent control.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F382https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F382Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:43:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control predators not on islands for gamebirds Four controlled studies in Europe found increased populations or productivity of grouse and partridges on sites with predator removal. One study tested multiple interventions simultaneously. A fifth replicated UK study found no increase in grouse densities or reproductive success on sites with gamekeepers, compared to those without.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F387https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F387Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:25:00 +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 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use artificial nests that discourage predation Three trials in North America found lower predation or higher nesting success of wildfowl in nest boxes or nesting ‘tubs’ than natural nests in tree cavities or on the ground. A trial in captivity found that raccoons could be prevented from entering nest boxes if they were topped with a metal cone with a 7.6 cm overhang and the distance between entrance hole and the roof was increased from 30 to 60 cm. A replicated study in the USA found that fewer woods duck Aix sponsa used nest boxes with predator guards on when given the choice of unaltered boxes, but that both designs were used with equal frequency when only one design was available.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F402https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F402Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:40:11 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Can nest protection increase predation of adults and chicks? Three replicated and controlled studies from North America and Sweden found higher levels of predation on adult birds with nest exclosures, one study from Sweden found that predation was no higher. A replicated and controlled study from Alaska found that long-tailed jaegers Stercorarius longicaudus learned to associate exclosures with birds, targeting adult western sandpipers Calidris mauri and quickly predating chicks when exclosures were removed.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F403https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F403Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:45:33 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use aversive conditioning to reduce nest predation by mammalian predators One study from the USA and three  ex situ experiments found evidence for lower consumption of eggs treated with repellent chemicals. However, when untreated eggs were provided simultaneously with or after treated eggs, no studies found evidence for continued lower predation. I.e. aversive conditioning did not occur. In addition, a study from the USA found no effect of repellent chemicals on predation rates of genuine nests.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F419https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F419Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:10:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Protect nest sites from competitors Two replicated studies from the USA found that red-cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis populations increased in five forests after several interventions, including the installation of restrictor plates around nesting holes, were implemented. A study from Puerto Rico found evidence for lower competition between Puerto Rican parrots Amazona vittata and pearly-eyed thrashers Margarops fuscatus after modifications were made to nest boxes. A replicated, controlled study from the USA found weak evidence for the effects of exclusion devices on house sparrows Passer domesticus nesting in nest boxes and a study from the USA found that fitting restrictor plates to red-cockaded woodpecker holes reduced the number that were enlarged.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F426https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F426Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:45:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control or remove habitat-altering mammals Four studies from the Azores and Australia found that seabird populations increased following the eradication of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus or other species, although in three studies there were several other interventions used as well. Two studies from Australia and the Madeira archipelago, Portugal, found that seabird populations’ productivities increased following rabbit and house mouse Mus musculus eradications, with several other interventions used in the Australian study.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F431https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F431Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:21:43 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove/treat endoparasites and diseases Three studies from across the world investigating a range of taxa and parasites found that birds had higher productivity or survival if either chicks or adults were treated for endoparasites. One small study from Spain found no effect of Staphylococcus aureus treatment on eagle survival, while a study from Mauritius found uncertain evidence as to whether trichomoniasis treatment increased survival of pink pigeons Nesoenas mayeri after fledging. A randomised, replicated and controlled trial from the Netherlands found lower parasite burdens but also lower survival in Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus chicks treated with anthelmintic drugs.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F434https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F434Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:54:24 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate wildfowl Three studies of two duck translocation programmes in New Zealand and Hawaii found high post-release survival, breeding and the successful establishment of new populations. A replicated study in USA found that none of 391 blue-winged teal Querquedula discors stayed in the release site and that there was high mortality after release. A replicated, controlled study in the USA found that wing-clipping female wood ducks Aix sponsa during translocation prevented them from abandoning their ducklings.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F571https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F571Sun, 30 Sep 2012 13:18:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate nests to avoid disturbance Four small trials from the USA and a replicated study from Chatham Island, New Zealand found some success in relocating nests whilst they were in use. However, one study from the USA found that only 40% of burrowing owls Athene cunicularia were moved successfully, another found that American kestrels Falco sparverius tolerated movement of their nest, but not repeated disturbance and another found that barn swallow Hirundo rustica may follow their nest as it is slowly moved on a car, but may not stay at the new site.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F584https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F584Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:27:21 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use captive breeding to increase or maintain populations of raptors Three small studies and a review from around the world all found that raptors bred successfully in captivity. Two small studies on Accipiter spp. found that wild-caught birds bred in captivity after a few years, with one pair producing 15 young over four years, whilst a study on bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, captive breeding found low fertility in captive-bred eggs, but that birds still produced chicks after a year or so together. A review of Mauritius kestrel, Falco punctatus, captive breeding found that 139 independent young were raised over 12 years from 30 eggs and chicks taken from the wild (of which 13 survived). An update of the same programme found that hand-reared Mauritius kestrels were less successful if they came from captive-bred eggs, compared to wild ‘harvested’ eggs.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F596https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F596Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:08:20 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use artificial insemination in captive breeding A review of artificial insemination argued that it could be a useful tool to conservationists, but that there were challenges to its use. Deep and repeated inseminations increased fertility. Two trials from the USA found that artificial insemination of raptors achieved approximately 50% fertility or 0%. A review of a houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii captive breeding programme in Saudi Arabia found that artificial insemination increased fertility, whilst another review found that the highest fertility levels were achieved with inseminations of at least 10 million spermatozoa every 4–5 days.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F601https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F601Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:16:19 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear seabirds in captivity Five studies from across the world found evidence for the success of hand-rearing seabirds. One small study in Spain found that one of five hand-reared Audouin’s gulls Larus audouinii successfully bred in the wild. Four studies found that various petrel species (Procellariiformes) successfully fledged after hand-rearing. One controlled study found that fledging rates of hand-reared birds was similar to parent-reared birds, although a study on a single bird found that the chick fledged at a lower weight and later than parent-reared chicks.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F604https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F604Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:50:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of wildfowl Two studies of reintroduction programmes of ducks in New Zealand found high survival of released birds and population establishment, with one describing successful breeding. One study describes higher success in the second year of the release programme, potentially because there was then a population present in the wild and more intensive predator control. A before-and-after study from Alaska found low survival of released cackling geese Branta hutchinsii, but that the population recovered from 1,000 to 6,000 birds after releases and the control of mammalian predators. A review of a reintroduction programme from Hawaii found that the release of 2,150 Hawaiian geese (nene) Branta sandvicensis had not resulted in the establishment of a self-sustaining population, although some birds bred. Two studies from Canada found very low return rates for released ducks with one finding no evidence for survival of released birds over two years, although there was some evidence that breeding success was higher for released birds than wild ones. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F618https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F618Sun, 14 Oct 2012 13:05:11 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of gamebirds One of five studies from across the world found that releasing gamebirds established a population or bolstered an existing population, although the authors argued that the population of 30–40 western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus (from nearly 400 released) was unlikely to be self-sustaining. A review of a reintroduction programme in Pakistan found some breeding success in released cheer pheasants Catreus wallichii, but that habitat change at the release site then excluded released birds. Three studies from Europe and the USA found that released birds had low survival, low reproductive success and had no impact on the wild population.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F619https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F619Sun, 14 Oct 2012 13:38:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of vultures Four studies of two release programmes found that release programmes led to large population increases in Andean condors Vultur gryphus in Colombia and griffon vultures Gyps fulvus in France. A small study in Peru found high survival of released Andean condors Vultur gryphus over 18 months, with all fatalities occurring in the first six months after release.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F625https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F625Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:40:59 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of parrots A before-and-after study from Venezuela found that the local population of yellow-shouldered amazons Amazona barbadensis increased significantly following the release of captive-bred birds, along with other interventions. A replicated study in Costa Rica and Peru found high survival and some breeding of scarlet macaw Ara macao after release. Three replicated studies in the USA, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico found low survival in released birds (4–41% in the first year after release), although the Puerto Rican study also found that released birds bred successfully.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F629https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F629Sun, 14 Oct 2012 22:56:19 +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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