Management of threatened bird species: evaluation of the hands-on approach

Intensive manipulations of rare birds can be important conservation tools when traditional management practices, such as legal protection and habitat preservation, are insufficient to halt population declines and save endangered species from extinction. Nonetheless, this "hands-on" methodology has been criticized as scientifically unsound, ineffective, costly and a diversion from preservation of habitats and ecosystems. We consider the effectiveness of manipulative management by reviewing 30 presentations at the Symposium on Management Techniques for Preserving Endangered Birds in 1977. Examination of the outcome of these efforts in 1993 indicates that 43% have contributed to improved population viability through an increase in breeding numbers, another 23% have helped to stabilize numbers or to slow the rate of population decline, while the outcome of five others (17%) is inconclusive, and the same number ended in failure. Our evaluation of these and other similar projects is that the hands-on approach has proved to be a justified and effective stopgap procedure to help critically endangered species through a crisis, to reintroduce species into previously occupied range and to reinforce locally diminished populations. As such, it often needs to be part of an integrated program for avian conservation.