Bird trapping
Wild birds may also be trapped for their display in captivity in zoological gardens or for keeping as a pet.
A specific location may be further modified by the provision of food, the use of decoy birds, the use of calls, or owls that may induce mobbing.
Larks were formerly attracted using a rotary paddle, sometimes with shiny mirrors attached, turned by a spring.
[7] The mechanism can be physical and non-lethal like a noose that tightens around the leg or lethal like in deadfall traps.
Trapping is regulated in most countries and needs to be operated by trained research personnel and failure to follow precautions can lead to injury or death of birds.
The trap then drops the bird via gravity into a quiet, comfortable space until they are ready for live removal and relocation.
Clap traps may be placed at a location habitually used by birds or can include luring devices.
The application of sticky latex, "birdlime", often obtained from a local tree to favourite perches is used in many parts of the world to capture small birds.
Other variations include the use of a long stick daubed with birdlime that is manually placed over the bird to cause its wings to get stuck.
[15] Some birds such as partridges and pheasants can be caught in the night by stunning them with bright light beams.
Dead-fall traps, consisting of heavy slabs or branches, that fall onto the targets when they trigger it from below have been described from early times.
[17] In 2005, after a 100-year-long prohibition, the French government permitted the reintroduction of the use of stone traps ("tendelles") in the Départements Lozère and Aveyron.
In India waterfowl were once captured by hunters who walked underwater with an earthen pot over their head.
[14] Ducks, geese and other water birds can use their wings and bills to batter handlers and inflict potentially significant injuries.
After carefully extracting them from the net, small birds can be held around the body, with the fingers at the back of the head.
If a handler is impaled by a talon, allow the bird to move away, or risk struggle and injury.
Penguins must be grasped at the base of the head from behind, so as to avoid the sharp, fish catching beak.
Ostrich, emu, and cassowaries: Large members of this croup have pecking beaks and long legs used to kick.
Among the volunteer organizations are Lega per l´Abolizione della Caccia (League for the Abolition of Hunting), Centro Soccorso Animali Modena (CSA) Modena (Fauna Rescue Centre Modena), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Italia), and LIPU (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli or Italian League for Bird Protection, Naples) One volunteer organization removed 150,000 illegal traps during a ten-year span.
[24] Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and obtained certain exemptions from the protective laws that apply to the membership states regarding wild birds.
Malta had about 4,700 licensed trappers in 2007[25] who, by exemption from European protective laws, continue to trap quail, turtle doves, golden plovers and song thrushes.
Trapping can devastate local bird populations and also impact migrants at critical stopover sites.
In Malta, three local species have been extirpated by trappers and hunters—the peregrine falcon, the barn owl and the jackdaw.
[29] Trapping also affects migratory birds at important stopover sites such as the Maltese islands.
[31][verification needed][32] A study of prehistoric kitchen middens suggests that hunting by humans may have contributed to the extinction of several bird species.
