Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 I've been trialling a top secret trap that DJH most generously sent me to try out on the sparrows. Results have, so far, been mixed, frankly. I've had as many false fires as catches. I've stood and watched tiny coal tits nip in, grab some bait and dash back out again. Either avoiding the trip altogether, or else beating the door to it. Yep. Just went out to check the traps then. Actually watched as a great tit helped himself DJH will understand how this is happening. Perhaps we can figure out a modification? Anyway, never mind all that. As said, I've had catches in it. Quite a few. But, nothing prepared me for just now! I saw it had fired and, almost fatalistically, assumed a tit had misfired it. I couldn't see a bird. Then I did. But couldn't make out what it was. I went out there and ..... O M F G!!! We've had dozens of siskins, in the nets. But this is the first time I've ever had one in any of my traps! Talk about chuffed! Thanks again, D! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pappabear 128 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 what a stunning little bird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wildling 520 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thats amazing did you let it go straight away or get loads of pictures first ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Astanley 11,580 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Did you put that ring on Pete or was it already done ,?beautiful little bird , Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Astanley 11,580 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 fuk it!!! I can,t help myself , get a nailbrush to those fingernails before you eat your tea . 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wildling 520 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 fuk it!!! I can,t help myself , get a nailbrush to those fingernails before you eat your tea . PMSL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jeppi26 1,855 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 fuk it!!! I can,t help myself , get a nailbrush to those fingernails before you eat your tea . Pmsl :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Pappa; Aren't they?! And that's a pretty crappy photo that's really doing it no justice! Wasted; I never keep a bird a minute longer than I have to, mate. They have to be out there feeding. What I do is; Trap one. Bring the trap in here. Dock it to my catching box and let the bird transfer. Remove bird from box. Ring it / record it's number if it's already rung. If it's not rung, I measure its wing, from the 'elbow' to the end of the longest flight feather. Then, I weigh it and let it go. Under five minutes, start to finish. We need to be smooth. Calm. Quiet. I like to talk to my birds. From the moment I'm lifting the trap, I keep up a steady little roll of gentle dialogue. I ask if they're a retrap (Bird I've ringed before) as I look at their right leg. And I keep on chatting to them. Explaining the steps and apologising for the inconvenience. I believe it helps soothe them. It almost certainly helps me! Photographing them? Probably one in a couple of hundred times do I bother. I have my camera to hand, just in case, and will grab a couple of snaps of anything new or exceptional. Adds maybe five seconds to the procedure. This is why I'd sooner show a naff shot, like this one. Than keep f**king the poor bird around with flashes and strange objects being thrust at it, just to get a pin sharp image. It's a siskin, FFS. There must be a million photo's of siskins out there. Crisp and sharp. Of tame birds. I just wanted this one as a souvenir of an exceptional event Al'; Yes, mate. I put the ring on. It's what I do. I'm a trained and licensed BTO Ringer. And, as such, I'm permitted to trap and process wild birds. I love it! It's the reason I get out of bed, mate. I'm not happy without having my traps set out there. The trade off though is that I'm not allowed to keep aviary bred native birds. Shame, because I'd die for some of these 'coloured' lesser redpolls (They're such lovely natured little birds) And, the chance to breed pied wagtails would make my life complete! Never mind. I'll get my canaries instead and will continue to handle much of what passes through my place. Best of both worlds, really Oh, and my finger nails? Listen, you c**t; I probably wash my hands as many times a day as most people drink a cuppa or smoke a f**king fag! But, I'd also been grubbing about, shifting mud as I set my traps! Anyway; I eat my meal with a knife and fork. F**king finger nails don't get near it! Now, f**k off! 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Millet 4,497 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) Why the fook your finger nail's where mentioned is behond me Pete.. ..mine are not much different... why should they be mentioned if we are out in the countryside enjoying life..that is unless we are fannies who dare not get there hand's dirty.. Keep doing what you are doing as it is interesting and don't bother explaining anything to wooden headed folk.. Edited February 12, 2014 by Millet 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
delswal 3,819 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 well next time ya best scrub them nails before handling birds or ya will have the R.S.P.C.B after ya Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 You get 'em told, Millet! Where ye been, mate? Busy? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Millet 4,497 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Busy as hell Pete at the moment.. With moles/dog's and Moll moving house has my head half damaged,. lol.. i will be back in full swing talking shite soon enough.. if not now.. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 well next time ya best scrub them nails before handling birds Many a true word, Del ..... Actually; Strict hygiene is very important, when handling wild birds. For their sakes, as well as our own We, obviously, don't know where they've been. Handling them could pass any kind of pathogen onto our skin, look. That leads to the possibility of us contracting it. Or passing it onto what ever next birds we handle. Thought provoking, isn't it? When my boss is here and the nets are up? We may process dozens of birds a day. Half a dozen at a time. That's when he'll empty the nets and pop each bird into a cloth bag. We hang these bags up. Extract and process each bird in turn. And the used bag is put aside. It won't hold another bird until it's been washed, dried and aired. What if one bird had ectoparasites, see? Mites, carrying some communicable disease? Use the same bag and we could wipe out loads of birds! So, yeah; That's why I'm almost OCD about washing my hands. And have alcohol based hand cleanser about the place, just to be sure My nails though? Nothing under them the birds aren't ingesting, out there, on a minute by minute basis 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Astanley 11,580 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Why the fook your finger nail's where mentioned is behond me Pete.. ..mine are not much different... why should they be mentioned if we are out in the countryside enjoying life..that is unless we are fannies who dare not get there hand's dirty.. Keep doing what you are doing as it is interesting and don't bother explaining anything to wooden headed folk.. His finger nails were mentioned because I get on ok with Pete and thought a bit of harmless banter was acceptable , you need to chill and mind your own business ..Plank 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 FFS, lads! Chill out! F**k me, ye can't go round raising ye voice in the bird room! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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