Spray water to deter birds from ponds

Overall effectiveness category Unlikely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

31%
Certainty

43%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Study locations

Key messages

A replicated study from Sweden found that a rotating water spray deterred birds from fish ponds, but that birds often became used to the spray.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated study from Älvkarleby municipality, Sweden (Svensson 1976), found that a rotator device for protecting small, circular fish ponds from gulls and terns deterred birds. Increased water pressure and intermittent spraying (instead of continuous) increased effectiveness but birds often became accustomed to the spray.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Svensson K.M. (1976) Rotator for protecting circular fish ponds against predatory birds. The Progressive Fish-Culturist, 38, 152-154.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Provide refuges for fish within ponds Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link
Increase water turbidity to reduce fish predation by birds Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link
Spray water to deter birds from ponds Action Link	Unlikely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link