Abstract
It is stated that the feral American mink (Mustela vison), an introduced predator to Europe, have seriously affected local densities of birds breeding in coastal areas. I studied the effect of mink removal on breeding success of Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) and Common eider (Somateria mollissima). Prior to the hatching season 2004 I removed mink from three islands and kept the mink present at four islands. During the spring and summer I recorded the hatching successes on al the islands. The hatching success was unaffected for Lesser black-backed gull and Common eider by the mink removal. For Great black-backed gull the hatching success showed a negative trend by mink removal and also a negative trend on islands with crow nests (Corvus corone)
I concluded that mink removal had no positive effect on hatching successes for Great black-backed gull, Lesser black-backed gull or Common eider.