Predator Control as Part of a Land Management System: Impacts on Breeding Success and Abundance of Passerines

Control of nest predators such as the Corvidae is regarded as an important component of the management system for wild gamebirds. Although there is strong evidence of an impact of corvid control on nesting success of passerines, the relative roles of nest predation, winter food and other potential influences on breeding abundance of passerines are poorly understood. This study investigates the implications for passerines of cessation of predator control within a game management system in lowland England. The paper discusses results for the two years following cessation of predator control, relative to those from earlier years. These preliminary results suggest that there are complex interactions between human behavioural influences, the abundance of species regarded as 'pests' and the abundance of those targeted for conservation.