An evaluation of canes as a management technique to reduce predation by gulls of ground-nesting seabirds
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Published source details
Boothby C., Redfern C. & Schroeder J. (2019) An evaluation of canes as a management technique to reduce predation by gulls of ground-nesting seabirds. Ibis, 161, 453-458.
Published source details Boothby C., Redfern C. & Schroeder J. (2019) An evaluation of canes as a management technique to reduce predation by gulls of ground-nesting seabirds. Ibis, 161, 453-458.
Summary
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 2016 on two islands in northeast England, UK (Boothby et al. 2019) found that placing canes amongst Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea nests reduced the number of predation attempts by gulls Larus spp., but had no significant effect on the success rate of those attempts. Fewer predation attempts were observed in plots with canes (high density: 30; low density: 27) than in plots without canes (59). All treatments were monitored for the same length of time. The proportion of successful attempts did not significantly differ between plots with canes (high density: 0–53%; low density: 25–100%) and without canes (28–100%). Twelve plots (four sets of three) were established in Arctic tern colonies, just after the first eggs were laid. Canes were erected in eight plots (two random plots/set): half at low density (1–2 m between canes) and half at high density (1 m between canes). Canes were inserted at a 70° angle. Plots were observed 3 h/day for 15 days, during peak gull activity.
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