Frenchieboy Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 I built a Larsen Trap from bits and pieces I had lying around and set it to work at one of my permissions where we want to make it as "wildlife friendly" as possible, with particular attention to helping the song birds as much as possible. It may not be the "prettiest" of traps but as you can see it certainly does its job! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn3sv22e6rQ&list=UU7Y3ebQYzdwgWJaLmRIQNMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike737 Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Cracking job Frenchieboy, how does the trap mechanism work please? I have had two robin's nests destroyed by magpies! Thanks, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 The trap works in exactly the same way as a standard top entry trap. I originally fitted it with 2 "Larsen Trap Springs" which I got from "The Bay" but I found that they weakened quite quickly so I used a couple of cheaply replacable elastic bands to spring the door shut. They do perish after a couple of days but it is less than a couple of coppers to replace them and only takes a minute or so. If it helps I will take a short video when I go up this evening to show the exact working aand triggering of the trap but these traps are quite easy to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike737 Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Thanks, a video would be great! Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derickr Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Well done on the trap build and well done reducing the numbers of these evil little birds! Derick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Thanks, a video would be great! Mike. Mike, sorry for the delay, I meant to do the video yesterday evening but I forgot! I did remember to do it for you this morning at 07:00 when I went to check the Larsen Trap. (There was already one more magpie in it) Here's the link to the video. I hope that it shows enough detail to help you, if not then please let me know and I will do it again with my better video camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB3XD624IlM&list=UU7Y3ebQYzdwgWJaLmRIQNMA Edited July 7, 2014 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 Looks a better built trap than some of the ones I have made. These days I prefer the metal mesh traps, just easier to move around, still got 4 home made ones though. Should be quite a few maggi hatchlings about now although the ones on film looked like adult birds. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Many of the birds I have caught with this trap are adultys but I have had a few which are this years. I will just keep the trap going there for a while then move it to another farm about 5 miles away. Once I have a bird from the other farm I will have a second trap built to put back in the location I am using at the moment and then there will be a "foriegn bird" in each trap. hopefully this will help to get some more mored on both locations. I guess it's just one of those things that you have to keep at in order to keep on top of the little blighters! I have to agree with you that it would have been much easier and to build Larsen Traps that are easier to transport around from sheets of 1" x1" weld mesh but they cost money and i am a bit of a tight ****! Edited July 9, 2014 by Teal swear removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezi bez Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Nice one frenchie boy ive made 5 miself this year as I run a shoot against a river the maggies were all over the place I countef 47 on one occasion all at the same time. I started trapping early on in the year to catch as many breeding pair's as possible, that way less adult pairs less chicks are raised. I use trampoline springs for my trap doors and build 2 door cage traps to catch pairs at a time. By the way I live near doncaster , if any one reading this is interested in joining my syndicate then email me at besleyaaron@gmail.com and ill email you back with the details. Any way back to the maggies ive caught 78 up to now mostly pairs dut some singles aswell. Happy hunting how ever you do it ! regards Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 Many of the birds I have caught with this trap are adultys but I have had a few which are this years. I will just keep the trap going there for a while then move it to another farm about 5 miles away. Once I have a bird from the other farm I will have a second trap built to put back in the location I am using at the moment and then there will be a "foriegn bird" in each trap. hopefully this will help to get some more mored on both locations. I guess it's just one of those things that you have to keep at in order to keep on top of the little blighters! I have to agree with you that it would have been much easier and to build Larsen Traps that are easier to transport around from sheets of 1" x1" weld mesh but they cost money and i am a bit of a tight ****! A 'foriegn' bird is one from half a mile away. Maggis are territorial, any other maggi from outside will be a good decoy. Having two catching sections is good, you then have a fair chance of getting the pair if positioned within 30 yards or so of a nest site. If the area has not been trapped for some years they will keep coming into August. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted July 15, 2014 Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 Frenchieboy You have inspired me! I built my own Heath Robinson trap today. It's a double trap. Two sections either side of where the call bird will be. I just have to catch a call bird now. Thanks for the videos. Mine cost me 60p for staples - I had bought springs at a game fair years ago but had never done anything about them. Everything else was just lying about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.