Ecological approaches to reduce predation on ground-nesting gamebirds and their nests

In human-modified environments, high predation rates on ground-nesting bird s and their eggs can be a serious problem. We reviewed the literature to de termine the effectiveness of ecological approaches to improve recruitment o f ground-nesting birds. Ecological approaches reduce predation rates by mod ifying natural interactions among predators, prey, and their habitats. Thes e approaches include modification of the predator community associational d efense, use of alternative prey, and habitat or landscape manipulation. The se techniques can be applied successfully only under Limited conditions and for a specific array of species. Because of this, no management practice i s uniformly better than another to increase avian recruitment; different te chniques are complementary rather than exclusive. Managers need to select t he best technique(s) based on the predator community, local topography, siz e of the area, the avian species in need of protection, and economics.