Catching birds

[nicko]

Just looking for some ideas on how to catch birds in a large (3x4m) aviary, as a net just dosn't cut it

[starman]

Hi Nicko,
There are various designs of feed station traps that are fine for catching birds as they alight to feed....these require a bit of patience if you want to trap a specific bird ... Murphy's Law dictates that the desired bird will be the last to the trap, so it can be very time consuming. There are also ideas for automatic traps. Designs for,and ideas regarding, these traps are discussed on the forum... just do a search for 'feed station trap' or similar.
Nets that are too big or too small make hard work of netting, an aviary full of obstacles makes it pretty near impossible, but practice helps a lot.

[Craig52]

I agree with Starman with both suggestions. When using a hand held net you will find your birds have a flight path around the aviary, but it usually takes two people to get them moving. One stands to the side of the path with the net and the other person shoo's them towards him. Craig

[Tiaris]

The only way to make a hand net work well is plenty of practice. I find a net most effective when perches are only in the corners of the aviary so the birds usually fly along the sides of the aviary toward them and they can be intercepted along their known flight path with a well timed back-hand sweep against the wire. Some acrobatic types such as Cubans & most cup nesters are pretty good at ducking/weaving & changing direction mid-air, others such as Jacarinis & Melbas love to hide and lay low in the vegetation whenever they see a net. Dumb blondes such as Gouldians and Parrotfinches are fairly easy to pick off as they usually fly in a straight line.

[starman]

Dumb blondes such as Gouldians and Parrotfinches are fairly easy to pick off as they usually fly in a straight line.

Roly-poly RFPFs are so easy it makes me feel guilty.

[nicko]

Nets that are too big or too small make hard work of netting, an aviary full of obstacles makes it pretty near impossible, but practice helps a lot.

Yeah thought I'd be cleaver enough but no so

[toothlessjaws]

With a bit of practise you should be able to net birds in an aviary that size.

but to make it easier you could try and get and old sheet (or two) and strategically drape it down from the aviary ceiling when you are catching. That way you can create corners and dead ends in which intercept them.

[starman]

Nicko, because my aviaries are (by necessity) small, I put the perch nearest to the door on a hinge. When I enter, I can swing the perch to the back wall giving me a bit more scope to manoeuvre the net effectively. Some birds can be frustratingly evasive and take a long time to catch, and here lies a problem, particularly in hot weather. After a few minutes of panicked flight the birds become very stressed and appear over-heated, they pant for breath and tremble...at this stage they should be given a rest and left to recover.
Years ago I had one bird (zebra) literally drop dead during a netting session even though it was not the target and did not contact the net....so try to keep netting sessions humanely brief. I must say that although a have not yet earned my 'Master of Netting' degree I am a little better than then.

[finchbreeder]

If you have a safety door area, shooing the bird/s you wish to catch into there helps. Mind you, again the intended bird is usually the last to enter the catching area.
Dumb blondes such as Gouldians and Parrotfinches are fairly easy to pick off as they usually fly in a straight line.
No blonde jokes allowed, or I'll have to make Mere male jokes.
LML

[Tiaris]

soz