We’ve had an issue with bird bycatch (i.e. introduced passerines like sparrows, starlings, etc) particularly in doc200 traps. How common is this? Anyone know ? Cheers Andrew Fidler
I belong to a group doing rat trapping along the Marine Parade in Napier. Unfortunately we have caught a blackbird and 2 sparrows in the last 3 months. We are now using the info in this trap.nz forum post to try to avoid future bird catches Catching Birds in Drat in Box - #2 by willowflat_warrior Hope this helps
Since getting involved with trapping (Haulashore island) I’ve become aware of the, little mentioned but I suspect widespread, matter of bird bycatch.
In previous years 5 to 8 birds (passerines like sparrows, starlings, thrushes) per year have been killed in rat traps on Haulashore. This was almost exclusively an issue in spring … presumably naive fledglings or perhaps overworked parents?
Happily it appears that such bycatch can be almost completely eliminated by placing a 100 mm length of 55 x 67 mm rectangular spouting at the trap tunnel entrance, see photos attached. Gluing works to attach the pipe but a single screw, see photos, is probably more permanent.
Since introducing this modification not a single bird has been caught (over 2 springs) when such pipes are in place. The one exception to this claim was a trap tunnel sitting on an angle … in this case the bird probably entered a small way and the slid on the plastic. So the tunnels should be placed horizontally.
No reduction in rat trapping efficacy has been apparent, that is after the initial effect of the novel change. Rats seem to get through the pipes just fine.
I hope others might try this out. No point in killing birds needlessly.
Regards, Andrew Fidler
Ps if you contact me at andrew.fidler.nz@gmail.com i can send photos
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I’ve anecdotally heard of some native ground-feeding birds getting into DOC traps as well. Does anyone know whether they are attracted by the lures, by insects, by their reflections on the treadle, or just curious?
No idea. My only comment is that it’s now generally accepted that birds do have a good sense of smell… contrary to what is widely thought. Cheers Andrew
robins are notorious as by catch. Prefeeding nice little trails in with fat etc is just the worst for these fellows. They are very curious birds and if in good numbers can be hard to deter. Avoid prefeed of visual lures such as fat for sure if you are lucky enough to have good populations of robins. scent base lures are probably less atractive.
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