Larsen traps

[Acipiter]

I have just found another small trap 3x3, with a magpie in it as a call bird, My s/hawk pair are now in the close area, and I was just wondering if these traps with a call bird do catch s/hawks?. I am sure the keeper knows as well that there is a pair of hawks in the area. there has been a breeding pair here for many years, but not a keeper. I am just hopeful that he does not do anything about it.

[nightshade]

Can you ask them why the (Larsen) Trap has been deployed, explaining that they "appear to have caught a Magpie"

[Acipiter]

I assume its because pheasants are now on the estate, and he does not want magpies taking there eggs when thy breed. This magpie is only the calling bird. I do have permission to watch birds on this private estate, and I do not want to lose permission by rocking the boat so to speak.

[RKB]

There's no real need to catch magpies on game estates, as virtually all pheasant and partridge are bought in as poults - no game estate relies on wild-bred birds, so egg-stealing isn't an issue at all. Many keepers just catch them as they still see it as part of the job, and plenty do honestly feel that they're doing everything else a favour.

Sparrowhawks will take young pheasant poults, but if he was after them then a larsen wouldn't be a sensible method - they rarely catch sparrowhawks (but they can).

If you have permission to be there then you have to show goodwill and not interfere - it's legal after all. Just keep an eye on it. It should be checked every 24 hrs and have constant access to food and water, otherwise they're breaking the law..

[Acipiter]

Thank you R K B, there are around a doz or so birds left over from the shoot, and maybe he is thinking the s/hawks may just take some of the chicks from these. It does seem a bit silly as you say, as they get poults in anyway, which are then put in to pens safe from "all predators" and not let out until they are too big for s/hawks to be be any threat. Other then that, there's not much I can do. I will just have to hope for the best, and hope my pair do not go missing.

[2dogs2000]

[quote=RKB;732464]
If you have permission to be there then you have to show goodwill and not interfere - it's legal after all. QUOTE

This is so very hard to do.

My friend and I came across one once and it was my friend that persuaded me to leave it alone. We had to respect whatever the landowner was doing as we were on his land (with permission).

[angelika611]

My brother came across a larsen trap with a magpie in it,at a guys large garden he was doing the gardening for,he couldn't bear the thought of leaving it there he loves all wildlife so early hours of the morning he climbed over the garden and let it free,i would also let the bird go its the persons decision what to do with there instict at that time.

[Acipiter]

Originally Posted by angelika611

My brother came across a larsen trap with a magpie in it,at a guys large garden he was doing the gardening for,he couldn't bear the thought of leaving it there he loves all wildlife so early hours of the morning he climbed over the garden and let it free,i would also let the bird go its the persons decision what to do with there instict at that time.

I know what you mean about letting it go, but I look at it this way, If a landowner has been kind enough to give you permission, then I in turn would not interfere with "anything on his land". I feel the same way when I see people walking their dogs on his land, when I know they have no permission, what's up with people these days!

[nightshade]

There are not too many people in the world who would know what a Larsen trap was (used legally or otherwise) So if you "innocently" report a trapped bird or politely enquire/inform the land owner of a bird stuck in a cage on his/her land you should get a polite reason or explanation whether you have permission to be on the land or not. Or you can pass by on the other side.

[werdnal]

There are rules surrounding the use of Larsens, although no "closed season" I seem to remember. The "lure" bird should have food, water and shelter from the elements. If it does not, you can report it.

I hate the things. One of my neighbours has one, and keeps the "lure" bird in an aviary to use again. The magpie they use as a lure must come from outside the area where the trap is placed, as mags are terrirorial and will investigate the stranger on their patch, hence getting caught in the trap. I guess my neighbour "loans" his captive bird out use in other areas.

To be honest, we used to have dozens of magpies here, but in recent years they have disappeared and we only see the odd one. We are now overrun with Jackdaws instead!