Catching Finches

[mickw]

My finch flights are 4.2m long x 1.2m wide and 2.4m high.........not large by any stretch......two people, one at each end is very efficient.......we take as many perches down as we can and work the birds from one end to the other........dont run around like chooks with their heads cut off....we dont get in each other's way..........Its easier for the person facing away from the sun to catch birds too......dont even bother if the sun is in your eyes....all those air swings only stresses the birds more.

If your aviaries arent too high, try catching the birds with an upward movement trapping them up onto the roof.....we find we get less frame hits that way.....Mind you, this is coming from someone who does not rate himself as a great bird catcher............If/when you get good, then catching in the orthodox style is better

My net is slightly oval shaped (300m wide x 400mm long)........a bigger net works much better, say 450mm round

For shorter, lower flights, one person can be effective ........like anything, practice, practice

As an aside, our local dealer is a grand master finch catcher.....he walks into an aviary 5m x 3m x 2.4m holding over a 100 birds, maybe 20 species ......he'll stand about midway and slightly to one side, point out a particular individual and in seconds its in the hand.....he'll then catch a couple of individuals for you to compare and pick the best......his first pick is nearly always the one you go home with