Jack Bamber
@jackantbam.bsky.social
Ecology, PhD Candidate Univeristy of Aberdeen.
Implimentation has been supported by co-production, engagement, and dissemination through honest advocacy by the research team. However, there has been pushback from supporters of lethal control, likely rooted in land use preferences over evidential support.
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Bridging the implementation gap: From predator control to non‐lethal impact‐based intervention
We argue that pushback against diversionary feeding did not reflect disagreement on the validity of the scientific evidence but rather was rooted in deep divides over land management and the relative....
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August 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Implimentation has been supported by co-production, engagement, and dissemination through honest advocacy by the research team. However, there has been pushback from supporters of lethal control, likely rooted in land use preferences over evidential support.
share.google/moIa6lsYWt7D...
share.google/moIa6lsYWt7D...
These positive results provide clear evidence that diversionary feeding is an effective tool to reduce the impact of predation on cappercaillie productivity.
Many land managers across the current cappercaillie range in Scotland are now deploying diversionary feeding for predator management.
Many land managers across the current cappercaillie range in Scotland are now deploying diversionary feeding for predator management.
August 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
These positive results provide clear evidence that diversionary feeding is an effective tool to reduce the impact of predation on cappercaillie productivity.
Many land managers across the current cappercaillie range in Scotland are now deploying diversionary feeding for predator management.
Many land managers across the current cappercaillie range in Scotland are now deploying diversionary feeding for predator management.
Using detections from the camera traps, we were able to show that hens in sites with diversionary feeding had a significantly higher chance of having a brood. In turn, increasing chicks per hen (productivity) in September by 130%.
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Empirical evidence that diversionary feeding increases productivity in ground-nesting birds | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
The recovery of predator populations may negatively impact other species of conservation
concern, leading to conservation conflicts. Evidence-based solutions are needed to
resolve such conflicts. Robu...
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August 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Using detections from the camera traps, we were able to show that hens in sites with diversionary feeding had a significantly higher chance of having a brood. In turn, increasing chicks per hen (productivity) in September by 130%.
share.google/VoojsQX8XCZf...
share.google/VoojsQX8XCZf...
To assess if the results of this artificial nest study translated to real cappercaillie broods, we trialled novel non-invasive monitoring via camera traps. We were able to identify if a hen had a brood and count how many chicks she had in her brood.
August 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
To assess if the results of this artificial nest study translated to real cappercaillie broods, we trialled novel non-invasive monitoring via camera traps. We were able to identify if a hen had a brood and count how many chicks she had in her brood.
In our first experimental trial of diversionary feeding, we deployed artificial nests in a control and test design. We found that the presence of diversionary feeding reduced artificial nest predation by 83%. Mainly due to reduced pine marten predation.
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Evaluating diversionary feeding as a method to resolve conservation conflicts in a recovering ecosystem
Diversionary feeding is an easily employable method shown in this study to reduce predator impact (functional) without lethal (numerical) intervention.
share.google
August 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
In our first experimental trial of diversionary feeding, we deployed artificial nests in a control and test design. We found that the presence of diversionary feeding reduced artificial nest predation by 83%. Mainly due to reduced pine marten predation.
share.google/vDyXV8IFNUPE...
share.google/vDyXV8IFNUPE...
TAKE HOME: We argue, using several strands of evidence, that diversionary feeding is a credible alternative to lethal control of predators and shows promising signs of reversing the decline of the capercaillie in Scotland.
Read the full paper here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 7/7
Read the full paper here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 7/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
TAKE HOME: We argue, using several strands of evidence, that diversionary feeding is a credible alternative to lethal control of predators and shows promising signs of reversing the decline of the capercaillie in Scotland.
Read the full paper here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 7/7
Read the full paper here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 7/7
RESULT: Diversionary feeding increased the number of hens detected with chicks, consistent with our previous work showing a decrease in nest failure. This resulted in productivity (the expected chicks per hen) increasing from 0.82 in unfed sites to 1.9 in fed sites (more than double!). 6/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
RESULT: Diversionary feeding increased the number of hens detected with chicks, consistent with our previous work showing a decrease in nest failure. This resulted in productivity (the expected chicks per hen) increasing from 0.82 in unfed sites to 1.9 in fed sites (more than double!). 6/7
HYPOTHESIS: Using a 3-year landscape-scale control-treatment experiment, we predicted that the chicks per hen differed between sites that deployed diversionary feeding and sites that did. 5/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
HYPOTHESIS: Using a 3-year landscape-scale control-treatment experiment, we predicted that the chicks per hen differed between sites that deployed diversionary feeding and sites that did. 5/7
METHOD: We used #cameratraps on dust baths, natural features used by capercaillie, to detect capercaillie hens and determine whether they had chicks or didn’t have chicks. We used #AI from conservation ai to detect and count hens and broods. 4/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
METHOD: We used #cameratraps on dust baths, natural features used by capercaillie, to detect capercaillie hens and determine whether they had chicks or didn’t have chicks. We used #AI from conservation ai to detect and count hens and broods. 4/7
BACKGROUND: Previously, we found that DF reduced artificial nest depredation, resulting in an 83% increase in nest survival. The big question though was whether this would translate to real birds. 3/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
BACKGROUND: Previously, we found that DF reduced artificial nest depredation, resulting in an 83% increase in nest survival. The big question though was whether this would translate to real birds. 3/7
All research wouldn't be possible without my fantastic co-authors: @lambin-ecology.bsky.social, @chrissuthy.bsky.social and @kennyafc.bsky.social l!! 🙏
2/7
2/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
All research wouldn't be possible without my fantastic co-authors: @lambin-ecology.bsky.social, @chrissuthy.bsky.social and @kennyafc.bsky.social l!! 🙏
2/7
2/7