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Data and code from: Evaluating the effectiveness of lasers in deterring birds based on global systematic evidence

Huang, Cheng1; Heim, Wieland2; Elbers, Armin3; Zhang, Jie4; Lee, Tien Ming5; Yang, Liu5; Ye, Jianmin1

Published Jul 31, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.15dv41pc4

Data files

Jul 31, 2026 version files 6.92 MB

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Abstract

Evidence-based interventions to reduce wildlife-caused property losses are essential for achieving sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife. Since the 1970s, lasers have been used to safeguard various properties, including aircraft, agricultural fields, and energy infrastructure. However, their effectiveness has not been quantitatively evaluated using systematic evidence across different scenarios, which limits their broader application. Here, we compiled data from 159 experiments conducted worldwide and used meta-analytic approaches to evaluate the overall effectiveness of lasers in reducing bird occupancy. To facilitate management-relevant interpretation, we further assessed its scalability for subgroups of bird taxa, laser characteristics, and environmental conditions, based on the amount of evidence and statistical support. Our findings revealed the following: (i) although the primary objective of laser deterrents is to prevent property damage, the majority of experiments (96%) quantified effectiveness indirectly based on bird behavior rather than direct property-related outcomes; (ii) empirical evidence predominantly originated from wetlands, while data from airports were particularly scarce; (iii) laser operations reduced bird occupancy by 59%, though this deterrent effect gradually diminished after the cessation of laser use, resulting in a statistically non-significant persistence effect; (iv) Class 3B, green lasers, whether applied manually or automatically, were supported by considerable to moderate evidence for deterring waterfowls and songbirds, especially under low light conditions in natural field settings; and (v) existing evidence does not show clear habituation. Synthesis and applications: Our results indicate that laser deterrents represent a promising non-lethal intervention for mitigating human–bird conflicts across multiple scenarios. Future research may need to prioritize the development of automated laser applications, incorporate direct measurements of property-related outcomes, and expand experimental evaluations to include underrepresented taxa and high-impact scenarios. This would strengthen the evidence base for conservation and management applications. The dataset includes three files: "Dataset.csv" for the original data, "Analysis code.R" for the R code to analyze the original data, and "Analysis report.html" for the output of each R chunk generated by R Markdown.