remotely. Signs should be legible to the main groups who might cause disturbance; in areas frequented by tourists, for example, signs may need to be written in multiple languages.
Vandalism: Structures put in place to reduce disturbance may be subject to vandalism, especially if people using the area do not understand or agree with the protection measures. In Patagonia, Argentina, rope fences and signs around plovers nesting on a beach were stolen (Hevia & Bala, 2018). Possible solutions include using heavy, well-secured materials (Hevia & Bala, 2018), combining physical protection with education programmes, and having wardens or rangers present.
4. Implementation
Putting up signs: Signs can be erected to warn and encourage humans to avoid vulnerable shorebirds. Placing signs near to the site of requested behaviour can increase the desired behaviour outcome (Austin et al. , 1993). Therefore, it may be more effective to place signs next to exclusion zones rather than at the entrance to a beach, for example directly around breeding colonies of birds (Medeiros et al. , 2007) or on buoys around salt marsh islands to prevent disturbance from boats (Burger & Leonard, 2000). Personalised and humanised messages (e.g. telling the story of an individual bird) can elicit more sympathy (Rare and The Behavioural Insights Team, 2019) as opposed to providing statistics, which can be ineffective for non- environmentalists and lead to ‘compassion fade’ (Markowitz et al. , 2013). Phrasing instructions positively (“You can help by…”) rather than negatively (“Do not…”) is thought to encourage more pro -environmental behaviours (Schneider et al. , 2017). Wording should be clear and unambiguous (e.g. being clear about laws relating to wildlife) and if signs are used across multiple sites, consistent messaging is preferable (Rare and The Behavioural Insights Team, 2019). An example of a sign used in Ireland that resulted in fewer Northern Gannets Morus bassanus being displaced from their nests read: “ These birds are breeding. Under the Wildlife Act (1976) it is illegal to disturb nesting birds. Please do not approach the colony as doing so may result in the abandonment of eggs or the death of chicks. Thank you for your consideration ” (Allbrook & Quinn, 2020). In contrast, there are reports of signs being ignored (e.g. information and interpretation boards around a tern colony in Namibia; Braby et al ., 2009) or vandalised (e.g. on a beach around a plover colony in Argentina; Hevia & Bala, 2018). Closing areas: Areas can be closed off by installing fences, e.g. rope fences (Lafferty et al. , 2006). Temporary fences can be installed during the breeding season (Wilson & Colwell, 2010). In a study of Hooded Plover Charadrius cucullatus nesting sites in Victoria, Australia, a combination of fences and signs achieved a greater compliance rate than signs alone (Maguire, 2008). Education and awareness-raising: Information about the presence of shorebirds, and the disturbance caused by activities, can be shared through various means – including workshops, videos, newspaper articles, social media posts, information sheets and signage. There is evidence that education programmes, in combination with other interventions, can reduce disturbance of shorebirds (Burger, 2003; Braby et al. , 2009). However, be aware that raising
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