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Abstract
We tested the effectiveness of wires in preventing house martins (Delichon urbica) from constructing nests on buildings. Their nests were removed after each of two breeding seasons, wires were installed, and nest relocation was monitored during the following breeding season. Deterrents were considered as successful if the nests were displaced to new sites and as a failure if the nests were relocated in their original places, even if these were constructed on the wires. In the control, martins relocated 89.3% of their nests within the same location rather than in new locations. In the treatment there was a 45% decrease in colony size, a failure rate of 77.7% and a displacement rate of 22.2% in the first year. During the second year, there was an 82.5% increase in colony size, a 45.5% failure rate and a 54.5% displacement rate. The wires did not have a significant effect on displacements during the first year but did have such an effect during the second year. We conclude that wires are not an effective method for preventing house martins from nesting.