Detection model
Most red kite breeding pairs detected the decoy predator within the first 20 to 40 minutes from the start of the trial (Fig. 1). In 31 trials the predator was not detected at all. The interaction between rodent activity and supplementary feeding affected time-to-detection (Table 2). The feeding treatment reduced time-to-detection during periods of low rodent densities, but increased time-to-detection during periods of high rodent densities (Fig. 1). We also found an interaction between nestling age and number of nestlings. While brood size showed only marginal effects on time-to-detection during large parts of the nestling period, time-to-detection was shorter with increasing number of nestlings towards fledging (Table 2). In addition, wind reduced, and precipitation increased time-to-detection (Table 2).