Use perches to increase foraging success

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 4
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

45%
Certainty

30%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

If prey are plentiful but birds have low hunting success then it may be possible to increase population sizes by making hunting more effective, for example by providing perches for birds to use.

Study locations

Key messages

Two studies from the USA found that raptors and other birds used perches provided, whilst a replicated and controlled study in Sweden found that raptors used clearcuts with perches significantly more than those without.
However, a controlled study from the USA found that overall bird abundances were not higher in areas provided with perches and a small controlled cross-over trial on an island in the USA found that San Clemente loggerhead shrikes Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi did not alter their hunting patterns or increase their success rates following the installation of perches in their territories.

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 controlled study in June-July 1979 in tallgrass prairie at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas, USA (Knodel-Montz 1981), found that bird densities in unburned prairie sites were no higher in areas provided with artificial perches than in areas without perches (31 males of all species/ha in both areas). Numbers were higher in a burned area with perches (56 males/ha vs. 27) but not when dickcissel Spiza americana and red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus (attracted to a stream in the former area) were excluded. Twenty three perches (1.5 and 2 m long wooden stakes) were added to a 35-ha area of annually burned prairie and 17 to an adjacent 25-ha unburned area. A 12-ha area of burnt and a 39 ha unburnt prairie with no artificial perches served as controls. Eight species used 48% of perches in the burned area, compared with 29% used by four species in the unburned area.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Knodel-Montz J.J. (1981) Use of artificial perches on burned and unburned tallgrass prairie. The Wilson Bulletin, 93, 547-548.
A replicated trial in shrubland on Rhode Island, USA, in winter 1978-9 (Reinert 1984), found that ten raptor species appeared to make frequent use of 14 dead trees erected in 1977, whilst four species used nine man-made perches. In total, raptors were seen using the perches 525 times over 120 days, with most using the perches for resting and American kestrels Falco sparverius also using them for hunting and eating.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Reinert S.E. (1984) Use of introduced perches by raptors: experimental results and management implications. Raptor Research, 18, 25-29.
A replicated, controlled experiment in central Sweden (Widén 1994) found that raptors used clearcuts with perches significantly more than those without (49 raptor observations in clearcuts with perches vs. 16 in those without). In the 1986 post-breeding season, 11 clearcuts (3.7-19.9 ha) were provided with 6 m high, regularly-spaced, perches (2/ha), and 11 had no artificial perches. Natural perches were virtually absent. Raptor use of the clearcuts was recorded April-May in 1987-1988. In autumn 1987, perches were switched between areas. In total, 33 raptor observations were made in 1987 and 32 in 1988; 85% (55) were common buzzard Buteo buteo, 14% (9) common kestrel Falco tinnunculus plus one hen harrier Circus cyaneus.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Widén P. (1994) Habitat quality for raptors: a field experiment. Journal of Avian Biology (formerly Ornis Scandinavica 1970-1993), 25, 219-223.
A small controlled cross-over trial in shrubland and grassland on San Clemente Island, California, USA (Lynn et al. 2006), found that four pairs of San Clemente loggerhead shrikes Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi did not alter their hunting behaviour or success rate following the installation of 15 perches in their territories (approximately 50-75% success with perches vs. 60-65% without). However, some pairs did shift their hunting areas to include perches, suggesting that perches have the potential to increase the area of the island suitable for shrikes.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Lynn S., Martin J.A. & Garcelon D.K. (2006) Can supplemental foraging perches enhance habitat for endangered San Clemente loggerhead shrikes? The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (formerly The Wilson Bulletin), 118, 333-340.

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

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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