Spring is sprung, the grass is riz …
& in case any of you are wondering where the birdie is, it has been in the Larsen Trap for a few days now. Last year we caught fourteen magpies & so far this year, we have done for a further three - with hopefully a lot more to follow.
Now before the save the magpie brigade start sending me the obligatory ‘I’d like to pull your finger nails out while you rot in hell’ emails in caps bold underlined, it is probably worth remembering the incredible amount of damage that the corvids do to song & ground nesting bird populations.
Given the quantity of land that has now been removed from agricultural production by our crazy subsidies regime, certainly this later category has made a dramatic come back in the last five years. The unfortunate consequence is that every day is Christmas as far as the corvids are concerned & their numbers have experienced a similar dramatic increase. Thus in a very small part of the West Country & as part of our vermin control programme, we have taken it upon ourselves to keep their numbers down – all you need is a trusty Larsen Trap & a ‘Judas bird’ … obtainable for any decent gamekeeper for the price of a few pints of finest foaming.
Simply pop the Judas bird into the central compartment & wait. Being incredibly territorial, as soon as the next passing magpie sees its tethered competitor it will be up for a little spot of avian confrontation quicker than the spring loaded door in one of the two capture chambers can close.
Just remember dear readers that in accordance with the law, you have a responsibility to ensure that your lure has food, water (hint: magpies love cat food), shade & that all traps are checked at least once every day. OK, so its not as much fun as shooting the damn things but a swift flick through my game book reveals that in the last ten years your humble correspondent has only accounted for six with a shotgun. If you are serious about making a serious dent in your local winged predators, a Larsen Trap is the way ahead. The little baby Lapwings will thank you for it even if Mr & Mrs Magpie don’t.
Comments
Dirty beggars that corvids are, they will crap in their water bowl. Use a bunny drinking bottle from your local pet store instead.
Posted by: Mark | April 18, 2006 1:28 PM
Kill all magpies and crows. Can't you set out a "Judas bird" like a duck-decoy and shoot them as they come down to confront it? Pump or semi-auto, 12 or 16ga.?
Posted by: -keith in silicon valley | April 18, 2006 3:45 PM
My local library has a small volume titled "Crow". It was written in the late 30's or early 40's by a visitor to our then backwoods community. It is a manual on how to kill crows. Not just the crow that eats your sprouted corn, but dozens of crows, hundreds of crows, and all with a single or double barreled shotgun. I recall they used stuffed owls as lures and a variety of modified fowl calls. Their descriptions of mounds of birds and the question of how to dispose of them was sometimes comical. Their motivation was it kept them outdoors and shooting in the off seasons and helped to control a bird that was hated by farmers and birdwatchers alike. This reminds me that I had intended to scan this book into a graphics program so that it wouldn't be lost. I'll bring it back toward the top of the list of things to do, and send you a copy if you would like one.
Posted by: lenf | April 18, 2006 5:27 PM
So once you trap said birds... how do you kill them.
At least I figure that's the ultimate goal.
Posted by: SGT Jeff | April 18, 2006 7:57 PM
... whack 'em over the 'ead ! Sorry sorry, I didn't mean that - take them to the Merry Magpie Retirement Home .... tee hee!
Posted by: Mr Free Market | April 18, 2006 9:40 PM
haha magpie scum, what is the best bait to use with my larsen trap?
Posted by: dan | March 1, 2007 7:02 PM
I hear greasy chips (or "french fries" for the yanks) are great.
Posted by: Jack | June 26, 2007 8:54 PM
Are you all town folk or just remedial to the ways of the country?
Posted by: Dan | June 5, 2008 10:54 PM