anyone good at catching birds?

There's a pidgeon in the courtyard who has his feet tied together (I don't think anyone did it to him, it looks like hewas going through some trash and got some string round both his feet). A bunch of us have been trying to catch him all day so we can clip it, but he can fly. He struggles to fly and flies really low and has trouble pushing off because he can't tuck his legs back as birds must do in order to fly properly. We even tried using c bits of cracker and luring him into a large box. Any ideas?

I gave up for today because he's really freaked out now, but I don't think he's leaving the courtyard.

I even called a nearby vet and they said if I can catch him, his legs are probably messed up and mangled by now so if I do catch him tomorrow, and I find that they are twisted up, I can bring him in to have him humanely euthanized.

[Twister026]

Oooh, thats bad.

[-HaVoC-]

No real advice other than patience and maybe a good pair of gloves. We were striper fishing as usual one day on a jetty and a seagull took our bait and hook. All I can say is that they are a lot tougher and bigger up close. We of course were trying to free it as it was assaulting us. In the end we managed it. The catching part was easy however because he was wrapped up in the line.

good luck.

[Destructor]

sounds like it's time to get the pellet gun

[Twitch]

i snuck up on a bird once and snached it up in my hand. then it craped all over me. i was like a ninja though.. that is the key to cating birds: like a ninja, alright?

[Twister026]

lo Twitch.

[PraiseA||ah]

Here is something I used to do when I was a kid to catch birds. Use nylon fishing line.. make a loose noose. Put the noose on the ground in a circle making sure to hold it down with small pebbles so it doesn't blow away. You might have to put some on the line too.. You can hide far from the circle. Put your bait (bread) in the noose. Wait until the bird comes.. pull the string! Voila.. bird/kite on a string.

Originally posted by PraiseA||ah
Here is something I used to do when I was a kid to catch birds. Use nylon fishing line.. make a loose noose. Put the noose on the ground in a circle making sure to hold it down with small pebbles so it doesn't blow away. You might have to put some on the line too.. You can hide far from the circle. Put your bait (bread) in the noose. Wait until the bird comes.. pull the string! Voila.. bird/kite on a string.

That could hurt him even more =(

[PraiseA||ah]

Well.. I can't think of any other way.. Unless.. do you have a soccer/volleyball net? Two people and a big net might do the trick.

[Rand0m]

reminds me of the time a friend and I lassoed(sp?) a crow in my backyard. haha good times.

[Sabres]

Ever have a bird shit on you? man I tell ya, it sucks. Happened to me in the middle of a baseball game while I was pitching. it was funny though

[RCglider]

If you feed him alka seltzer you won't have any problem catching him.

Place a large fishing net with lines attached to it. A net with a handle can work but you must be very quick. Use bird seed to lure it in. Let it get comfortable, then it's a matter of skill.


Personally I wouldn't touch it as birds can carry nasty diseases than can be spread to humans and other animals, like cats and horses. Animal whackos don't like to hear that, but it's the truth.

Oh, and just kidding about the alka seltzer.

[Sabres]

Alka seltzer really blows them up? can't say I have tried it

[PraiseA||ah]

Mythbusters should do a show on that..

[Sabres]

Originally posted by PraiseA||ah
Mythbusters should do a show on that..

Agreed.