Seabird habitat restoration on Praia Islet, Azores Archipelago
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Published source details
Bried J., Magalhaes M.C., Bolton M., Neves V.C., Bell E., Pereira J.C., Aguiar L., Monteiro L.R. & Santos R.S. (2009) Seabird habitat restoration on Praia Islet, Azores Archipelago. Ecological Restoration, 27, 27-36.
Published source details Bried J., Magalhaes M.C., Bolton M., Neves V.C., Bell E., Pereira J.C., Aguiar L., Monteiro L.R. & Santos R.S. (2009) Seabird habitat restoration on Praia Islet, Azores Archipelago. Ecological Restoration, 27, 27-36.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Restore or create shrubland Action Link |
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Control or remove habitat-altering mammals Action Link |
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Provide artificial nesting sites for ground and tree-nesting seabirds Action Link |
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Provide artificial nesting sites for burrow-nesting seabirds Action Link |
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Restore or create shrubland
A before-and-after study on Praia Islet (12 ha), off Graciosa, Azores, Portugal (Bried et al. 2009), found that the breeding populations of common terns Sterna hiundo, roseate terns S. dougallii and Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro increased dramatically after European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus eradication and subsequent habitat restoration. Restoration included the planting of native shrubs, the removal of non-native species and the control of soil erosion. This study is also discussed in ‘Provide artificial nesting sites’ for ground-nesting and burrow-nesting seabirds.
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Control or remove habitat-altering mammals
A before-and-after study on Praia Islet (12 ha), off Graciosa, Azores, Portugal (Bried et al. 2009), found that the breeding populations of common terns Sterna hiundo, roseate terns S. dougallii and Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro increased dramatically following the eradication of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus in 1997, subsequent habitat restoration (see ‘Restore shrubland’ for details) and the provision of artificial nest sites on the island from 1996 (tern boxes) and 2000 (petrel boxes) (see ‘Provide artificial nesting sites’ for details). Common terns increased from no pairs in 1996 to over 1,000 pairs in 2006; roseate terns from zero before 2000 to over 400 pairs; storm petrels from no pairs before 2000 to almost 800 breeding pairs in 2006. Rabbits were eradicated using brodifacoum bait stations and broadcasting pellets.
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Provide artificial nesting sites for ground and tree-nesting seabirds
A before-and-after study on Praia Islet (12 ha), off Graciosa, Azores, Portugal (Bried et al. 2009), found that the breeding populations of common terns Sterna hiundo and roseate terns S. dougallii increased dramatically (from no pairs to over 1,000 and 400 pairs respectively) following the installation of nest boxes in 1996, combined with the eradication of rabbits (see ‘Control or remove habitat-altering mammals’) and habitat restoration (‘Shrubland restoration’). Fifty wooden boxes were installed in 1996 in the area with the least vegetation and the proportion of the common terns nesting in the boxes increased between 1996 and 2006. The effect of nest boxes for burrow-nesting seabirds is also discussed.
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Provide artificial nesting sites for burrow-nesting seabirds
A before-and-after study on Praia Islet (12 ha), off Graciosa, Azores, Portugal (Bried et al. 2009), found that the breeding population of storm petrel Oceanodroma castro increased from no breeding pairs to almost 800 (before 2000 and in 2006, respectively), following the installation of artificial nesting burrows in 2000. Burrows consisted of a plastic plant pot (with drainage holes), buried and with a 6 cm entrance burrow leading to a hole in the side. Rabbits were also eradicated from the island (see ‘Control or remove habitat-altering mammals’ and habitat restored ‘Shrubland restoration’). The effect of nest boxes for ground-nesting seabirds is also discussed.
