Reduce nest predation by excluding predators from nests or nesting areas

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 1
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Background information and definitions

As well as direct predation on adults (see previous section), predators can have a devastating impact on bird populations through predating eggs and chicks too young to defend themselves or run away. Species ranging from hedgehogs to pigs to other birds can all affect bird populations in this way and in many cases it is not desirable or practical to remove these species. Therefore the use of barriers and cages to prevent predators from attacking nests is widespread.

These can take the form of barriers or cages around individual nests, fences around groups of nests or suitable nesting areas, or repellents to either disguise the presence of eggs or discourage predators from approaching. We found one systematic review (Smith et al. 2010) which compares these approaches and also investigates potential adverse effects of nest protection.

As in the section on predator removal, several studies perform experiments using artificial nests: either man-made or genuine nests that have been filled with false or real eggs (normally from quail Corturnix spp.) and placed in experimental areas to estimate predation rates.

Key messages

A 2011 systematic review found that excluding predators from nests significantly increased hatching success, although individual barriers around nests sometimes had adverse impacts.

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 2011 systematic review (Smith et al. 2011) found that excluding predators using fences (see ‘Physically protect nests from predators using non-electric fencing’) or barriers around individual nests (‘Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers’) significantly increased hatching success. Individual barriers appeared to be slightly (non-significantly) more effective than fences, but some studies found that they increased predation on adults (see ‘Can nest protection increase predation of adult and chick waders?’).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Smith R.K., Pullin A.S., Stewart G.B. & Sutherland W.J. (2011) Is nest predator exclusion an effective strategy for enhancing bird populations? Biological Conservation, 144, 1-10.

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
Guard nests to prevent predation Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Plant nesting cover to reduce nest predation Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Use naphthalene to deter mammalian predators Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link