What is a predator exclosure?
A predator exclosure is a simple yet effective tool used in wildlife conservation to protect vulnerable species, such as threatened shorebirds, during critical life stages like nesting and chick-rearing. Constructed from materials like wire mesh or netting, these structures are designed to surround and safeguard individual nests or nesting areas from predators like foxes, raccoons, or gulls, without causing undue stress to the birds. Predator exclosures are lightweight and straightforward to assemble, allowing conservationists to deploy them quickly and efficiently in the field. When placed correctly and maintained regularly, they can dramatically improve nesting success rates, giving threatened shorebird populations a better chance of survival and recovery.
Photo: Aves Argentinas
Every threatened chick counts
The primary goal of a predator exclosure is to reduce the risk of nest predation, ensuring that eggs can hatch successfully and chicks can grow in relative safety. This is particularly important for shorebird species that are already under threat from habitat loss, climate change, and human disturbances. For such species, even the loss of a few chicks can significantly impact population recovery, making exclosures a critical intervention.
Conservation in action
In this video, our partners from Aves Argentinas demonstrate how they set up predator exclosures to protect the nests of the elusive Magellanic Plover, a rare and vulnerable shorebird species. Watch as the team carefully assembles lightweight wire structures around the nesting sites, skillfully securing them to shield eggs and chicks from predators while ensuring minimal disturbance to the birds.