Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Legally protect habitats Four studies (two replicated) from Europe found population increases following habitat protection, more positive population trends in protected habitats, compared with outside, or with increases amounts of protected habitats. A literature review reported that a large number of cranes (Gruidae) of seven species used nature reserves in China, whilst a replicated, randomised and controlled study from Argentina found that some guilds of birds were found at higher species richnesses in protected forests, some at higher densities, and that some showed no differences. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F158https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F158Tue, 15 May 2012 13:48:22 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Protect bird nests using electric fencing One before-and-after study from the UK found an increase in tern numbers after the erection of an electric fence, whilst a study from the USA found an increase in the number of nests. Five studies from the USA found higher survival or productivity at wader or seabird colonies with electric fencing, compared to areas without fencing, although one study found that hatching rates were no different, whilst nesting success was only higher in one of two years. One study from the USA found lower predation by mammalian predators inside electric fence exclosures, whilst predation by birds was higher. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F188https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F188Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:59:40 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create beetle banks A small UK study found that a site with beetle banks had increasing populations of rare or declining species, although several other interventions were used on this site. A literature review from the UK found that grey partridge Perdix perdix populations were far larger on sites with beetle banks and other interventions than on other farms. Two replicated studies from the UK also investigated population-level effects: one found that no bird species were strongly associated with beetle banks; the second found no relationship between beetle banks and grey partridge population density trends. A UK literature review found that two bird species nested in beetle banks and that some species were more likely to forage in them than others. A study in the UK found that one of two species used beetle banks more than expected. The other used them less than other agri-environment options. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F217https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F217Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:04:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use netting to exclude fish-eating birds Two replicated studies from Germany and the USA found that netting or closely-spaced string barriers reduced losses of fish or deterred fish-eating birds from fish ponds. A review concluded that excluding birds was an effective way to reduce damage. A series of tests in the Netherlands found that netting or nylon lines over ponds did not prevent birds from landing, but did alter behaviour, whilst a before-and-after study from the USA found that fewer great blue herons Ardea Herodias landed at fish ponds with netting, but that they stayed longer. Two replicated studies from Germany and Israel found that some birds became entangled in netting or closely-spaced string barriers over fish ponds. The Israeli study found that dark, small meshed netting entangled fewer birds than other netting types. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F248https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F248Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:00:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use education programmes and local engagement to help reduce persecution or exploitation of species Five out of six studies from across the world found increases in bird populations or decreases in mortality following education programmes. In all but one case, education was one of several interventions employed. A replicated before-and-after study from Canada also found that there was a significant shift in local peoples’ attitudes to conservation and exploited species following educational programmes. One study from Venezuela found no evidence for decreases in yellow-shouldered parrot Amazona barbadensis poaching following an educational programme in local schools. The authors argue that the benefits would probably be seen later in the project. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F274https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F274Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:28:35 +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: 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: Create scrapes and pools in wetlands and wet grasslands Of six studies captured, four before-and after studies from the UK and North America found that the use of sites, or the breeding population of birds on sites, increased following the creation of ponds and scrapes or was higher in areas with ditch-fed ponds. A study from the USA found that dabbling ducks used newly-created ponds in large numbers, although other species preferred older ponds. Songbirds did not appear to be affected by pond-creation. A replicated site from the UK found that northern lapwing chicks foraged in newly created wet features and that chick condition was higher in sites with a large number of footdrains. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F359https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F359Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:26:31 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore or create coastal and intertidal wetlands All six studies found, from the USA and UK, found that target bird species used restored or created wetlands. Two found that numbers and/or diversity were at least as high as in natural wetlands, one that numbers were higher than in unrestored sites. Three found that bird numbers on wetlands increased over time. Two studies from the UK found that songbirds and waders decreased following wetland restoration, whilst a study from the USA found that songbirds were more common on unrestored sites than restored wetlands. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F367https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F367Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:15:07 +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: Remove vegetation to create nesting areas Two out of six studies found that the number of waders and terns nesting in an area increased following the removal of vegetation, and another found that a tern colony moved to an area prepared by removing vegetation. Two of these studies used multiple interventions at once. One study found a decrease in colony size after several interventions, including vegetation control. A study from the UK found that gulls and terns nested in an area cleared of vegetation and a controlled study from Puerto Rico found that although no terns nested in plots cleared completely of vegetation, more nested in partially-cleared plots than in uncleared plots. A before-and-after study from Canada found that tern nesting success was higher after plots were cleared of vegetation and other interventions were used. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F505https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F505Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:00:49 +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 gamebirds to increase adult survival Two European studies found increased numbers of grey partridge Perdix perdix in fed areas, compared to unfed areas. In one study there was no change in the overall population in the study area, in the second there was an increase. One cross-over study from the USA found that northern bobwhites Colinus virginianus had higher overwinter survival in fed areas, one found lower survival and a literature review found no overall effect of feeding. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F544https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F544Sun, 16 Sep 2012 09:01:06 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for nectar-feeding songbirds to increase adult survival Two studies from Australia and New Zealand found that ten species of honeyeaters and stitchbirds Notiomystis cincta readily used feeders supplying sugar solutions, with seasonal variations varying between species and stitchbirds spending more time foraging for insects when food was supplied. A series of ex situ trials using southern African birds found that most species tested showed a preference for sucrose solutions over glucose or fructose. One study found that sunbirds and sugarbirds only showed such a preference at low (equimolar) concentrations. Two more studies found that two species showed preferences for sucrose when comparing 20% (by weight) solutions, although a third species did not show this preference. All species rejected solutions with xylose (a natural sugar in nectar) added. A final study found that sucrose preferences only became apparent at equicalorific concentrations high enough for birds to subsist on. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F553https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F553Sat, 22 Sep 2012 20:11:36 +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