Bird Traps
A Quick Guide to Bird Traps
Although birds can be unwelcome pets in your yard and garden, a lot of people want to eliminate them without actually harming them. The easiest and most humane way of doing this is to use bird traps. You can either buy already made bird traps, or you can make them.
If you would like to make your own bird traps the first thing you’ll need to do is find out exactly what species of birds are causing the most problems around your yard and garden. When you know which type of birds you want to catch, you’ll then need to phone your local Fish and Game Department and ask if there are any local species of birds that you will be restricted from trapping. This is one step that you will not want to skip. In some areas you must have a license to trap birds, or there may be restrictions on certain species of birds if they are on the endangered species list. It doesn’t matter that you don’t intend to hurt the bird; you will still be subject to a very large fine.
Before you start building your trap you’ll need to know that there are a couple of types of bird traps, each is meant to catch different types of birds. The freestanding bird trap is what you will want to use to catch species of birds that are large; the enclosure bird trap is used to trap smaller birds, either in structures like a birdhouse, or in cases where they are nesting in an enclosed area, such as in a hole on the side of a building. With this type of trap, when the bird tries to leave their nest they will fly into the trap and be unable to get back out. This makes it easy to take the bird to a different location and set it free.
If you are trying to catch a larger species of bird, such as a starling or crow, you will probably want to use the freestanding trap. You can build both types of bird traps with either wire or wood, though in most cases the wire bird traps are the best. The enclosed bird traps are built in a similar fashion.
To build a freestanding trap you will want to make a frame out of ether metal or wood. When you have constructed the frame, you will then need to cover that with wire mesh. After you have covered it with mesh you will next need to make a door that will be attached to some metal springs. If constructed correctly, the door will close when a bird enters the enclosure. Of course in order for the trap to work you will have to bait it, but don’t be too surprised if you end up catching some squirrels instead of birds.
The enclosure bird traps are built in much the same way as the freestanding bird traps. There is no particular shape that the bird trap has to be, but one major difference is that you will have to attach brackets to the traps so that you can fit it up against a building or some other type of structure. This type of trap is great for catching birds that have gotten into your walls, plus you can use it to catch any other type of animal that is in your walls.
With this type of trap the bird will fly into it and when it tries to leave the door will spring shut, preventing them from getting out. Once you have the bird trapped, you can then remove it and take it somewhere where you can release it. Bird preserves or city parks are some examples of where you can release the bird once you’ve caught it.