JJtheJetPlane
Well-Known Member
I have noticed this a few tims over the yrs while riding, A magpie caged with water and a perch in a field or along a hedge line?? I know this isnt horsey but why is it done? Does anyone know?
Caged Magpie ??
- Thread starter JJtheJetPlane
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jrp204
Well-Known Member
Its a larson trap, it lures another magpie into the other side where it is also trapped and can then be dispatched or released somewhere else.
DellaMoon
Well-Known Member
It's a magpie trap. Pretty cruel but the caged magpie attracts other magpies which meet their end normally in the other half of the trap. Magpies eat pheasant chicks so gamekeepers aren't too fond of them!!
doratheexplorer
Well-Known Member
Yes, its called a larsons trap, and you put the Magpie (a Crow can also be used) in the cage, and it attracts another Magpie (or Crow) to come and investigate and then they land in another section of the cage and get caught, then the newly caught bird is destroyed...
Hope that helps...
Hope that helps...
Ommadawn
Well-Known Member
It's called a Larsen Trap and is used to catch more magpies using the already captive one as bait.
I think that te bait bird must have clean water, food and shelter - as must the caught bird. The trap must be checked at least twice a day and I think the bird used as bait must have been wild caught but must subsequently be kept in an aviary when not being used in the trap.
I think that te bait bird must have clean water, food and shelter - as must the caught bird. The trap must be checked at least twice a day and I think the bird used as bait must have been wild caught but must subsequently be kept in an aviary when not being used in the trap.
JJtheJetPlane
Well-Known Member
Ow so now i know 
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
Magpies also eat songbird chicks.
Serenity087
Well-Known Member
Magpies eat everything that isn't tied down!
Not cruel, really very useful!
Not cruel, really very useful!
ChesnutsRoasting
Well-Known Member
Magpies are deemed cruel because they kill baby birds. Its a shame that one of the most intelligent birds is killed by gamekeepers to preserve the life of one the thickest birds, that are going to be shot out of the sky anyway.
jrp204
Well-Known Member
On the farm where we live the magpies have been trapped for about 7 years now and it is noticable how many more small birds we now have around since the magpies would raid the nests of eggs and young. I have done alot of research into swallow populations and used the farm as one of my research sites and have noticed a 40% increase in chick success since the magpies have gone.
Laafet
Well-Known Member
Oh well, I have felt sorry for the crows in Larsen traps before and got off Tarquin to let them out. They never had food or water and were out on a bridle track in the sun.
blueneonrainbow
Well-Known Member
id been wondering about this too. seems cruel for them to be caught and killed to save pheasants just so someone can go along and shoot it anyway. Is it illegal to let them out?
(not that im going to but dont see them very often!)
(not that im going to but dont see them very often!)
ladyt25
Well-Known Member
Think I'd let them out to - it is very cruel and certainly if it's done by gamekeepers just to save pheasant chicks that are going to be shot anyway. Yeah sure magpies eats eggs/chick of other birds but isn't that mother nature? We just interfere far too much and we never seem to learn!
I have seen red kites steal chicks for crows nests so surely they are doing their bit in helping keep numbers in check, plus magpies and crows do a fantastic job of picking up road kill so I say leave the to their own devices!
I have seen red kites steal chicks for crows nests so surely they are doing their bit in helping keep numbers in check, plus magpies and crows do a fantastic job of picking up road kill so I say leave the to their own devices!
Laafet
Well-Known Member
Well the ones I let out had no provision for food/water/shelter so felt well within my rights to let them out on welfare grounds.
NeedNewHorse
Well-Known Member
Yes I have to agree I would of done the same. It's a tricky one as as Magpies are not nice birds!! They are NOT native to this country and thus do eat alot smaller birds.
As for killing them as they eat baby pheasants so someone can shoot them anyone, bit of a cheek then again I do not agree with any blood sports.
xx
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
Thats intresting we have wifts and swallows..and more song birds since a local consevationist set a larson trap in the last few years, however today there was a magpie in a swallows nest, and we find them going into the hen house and taking eggs sadly they seem to prosper at the expence of other birds..so keeping the numbers down seems sensible as sadly us humans have upset the ballance of nature by introducing things that shouldent be here so its nessary to intervene some times so magpies, grey squirrels ect should be in our sights... and in the larson trap.....
Serenity087
Well-Known Member
I spent 7 years watching the magpies decimate the songbirds in our garden/fields until there were only magpies, crows and a very brave blue tit left. Then the magpies started throwing the crow chicks onto the floor (which was my field, disgusting birds!).
When you wake up on a bright, sunny, spring morning, and all you can hear is their evil caw, because nothing dare poke it's head out of a bush, then come back and tell me you want to let them out to spite the nasty shooty men.
I'd have given good money for a larsen trap to bring my songbirds back.
And it wasn't the cats either, over half the local populace died in the same space of time. It was, 100% the magpies fault the songbirds left.
Heartbreaking for anyone who actually loves the countryside.
When you wake up on a bright, sunny, spring morning, and all you can hear is their evil caw, because nothing dare poke it's head out of a bush, then come back and tell me you want to let them out to spite the nasty shooty men.
I'd have given good money for a larsen trap to bring my songbirds back.
And it wasn't the cats either, over half the local populace died in the same space of time. It was, 100% the magpies fault the songbirds left.
Heartbreaking for anyone who actually loves the countryside.
Pedantic
Well-Known Member
It's the not having any food or water in the hot sun I have the main issue with, if they are such a pest then shoot them, people are happy enough to "breed" birds to be shot at and killed, so why not shoot the Magpies instead of torturing them, Magpies are just being Magpies, they aren't killing other birds just to spite humanity, blame shouldn't be attached to the birds actions.
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
yes they should be fed and watered , they arnt easy to shoot.. and the driven phesant shooting lot woudent be intrested they are mostly lazy townies who just want to stumble out of a 4x4 shoot a few tame hand reared birds , eat and drink and go home they do however put a fair amount of money into the rural economy and support jobs.. yes magpies are just being magpies but simply there is too many
and we need to reduce their numbers othewise all there will be is...... magpies,
sadly the fluffies dont have much common sense in conservation issues.....
AmyMay
Situation normal
Songbirds are not shot - game birds are.
Magpies really are quite horrid - I've seen so many nests desimated by them, with young chicks carried off by the beakfull. Very sad.
Controlling the numbers of magpies ensures that our songbirds and other important birds are preserved.
Tormenta
Well-Known Member
We have a thriving population of songbirds, ground nesting birds and living alongside them magpies, jackdaws, rooks and crows with no adverse effects creating a seemingly unnatural balance. Animals and birds have evolved for centuries to live in balance with each other, I am sure tipping the scales has been caused by human hands whether it be environmental or whatever. The reduction in predators who would predate corvids and their chicks also has an effect. Rook chicks have an unfortunate habit of tipping themselves out of nests and plummeting to earth, Rookeries often have casualties lying below, I am sure that one magpie is no match for parents in a Rookerie or a Carrion Crow protecting it's nest.
I like Magpies and Corvids in general but then I like wildlife in general with no tags attached, just the way the are. Foxes, Woodpeckers, Squirrels, Birds of prey, mustelids and rodents all take eggs, nestlings and fledglings, it isn't all the responsibility of the Magpie.
I like Magpies and Corvids in general but then I like wildlife in general with no tags attached, just the way the are. Foxes, Woodpeckers, Squirrels, Birds of prey, mustelids and rodents all take eggs, nestlings and fledglings, it isn't all the responsibility of the Magpie.
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littlemisslauren
Well-Known Member
QR-
I would rather have a caged Magpie in my garden (fed and watered obviously) to catch others than to wake up to my dad out in the garden with a gun!
How long are the birds kept caged?
I would rather have a caged Magpie in my garden (fed and watered obviously) to catch others than to wake up to my dad out in the garden with a gun!
How long are the birds kept caged?
JessnGeorge
Well-Known Member
Erm, I fear this may become a little controversial, but from a countryside point of view magpies and crows are vermin. Mainly because they eat the eggs of wild duck, pheasant, songbirds etc Whether or not you agree with fieldsports is a contentious issue but the shooting of pheasant has long supported an often ailing countryside economy. This is also the reason that foxes are controlled and, well, we are after all on the Horse and Hound website and therefore in support of traditional country ways.
In addition these "bright birds" peck the eyes out of baby lambs, nice eh? I agree that they should be fed and watered, in fact I was assisting my gamekeeper husband do just that yesterday. They had water and rabbit. The traps are legal and it is also illegal to interfere with them.
stencilface
High upon a hillside
Maybe the problem is there are not enough bigger bird species left (erm, due to us wiping them out ) to control the numbers of corvids. Maybe if we stop b*ggering around with things the the balance might be restored to some places.
I have a garden full of birds, all kinds of tits, finches (including gold and bullfinches) wrens, blackbirds and also - shock horror - a good number or crows, magpies, and pheasants. I have a sparrow hawk that uses my feeding table as its feeding station - and everyone seems happy. Many small birds fail due to lack of food, esp during the winter months - get a feeder and watch them come back
) to control the numbers of corvids. Maybe if we stop b*ggering around with things the the balance might be restored to some places.I have a garden full of birds, all kinds of tits, finches (including gold and bullfinches) wrens, blackbirds and also - shock horror - a good number or crows, magpies, and pheasants. I have a sparrow hawk that uses my feeding table as its feeding station - and everyone seems happy. Many small birds fail due to lack of food, esp during the winter months - get a feeder and watch them come back
JessnGeorge
Well-Known Member
Half agree, no, the driven pheasant "lot" (ie people paying for driven pheasant) wouldn't be interested in shooting magpies, hence the reason for trap and dispatch. Driven pheasants are not tame otherwise they wouldn't be a sporting shot. Crows and magpies can be shot but a keeper does not carry a shot gun at all times in case he sees one. Also, my husband is also aware of other countryside users - horseriders, walkers etc who would be affected by noise from a shotgun.
And, yes, over the weekend, we did have the fluffy bunny brigade opening traps despite adequate food and water/shelter being provided. It really isn't clever and people need to know it is NOT done for cruelty, it is an essentail method of vermin control.
CBFan
Well-Known Member
Magpies are horrid and need to be controlled... when we had sheep they used to sit on the backs of the rams in summer and peck holes in their backs... horrid!
SonnysHumanSlave
Well-Known Member
Oh my... Well you learn something new everyday.
Never heard of a larsens trap before.
Never heard of a larsens trap before.
dieseldog
Well-Known Member
A livery yard we were at has a trap for this reason. Did feel a bit sorry for the caged one, but the ones it caught weren't in it very long.