How To Catch An Elusive Bird
The following article contains the tactics I utilize in order to catch a bird. Like most everything else here, these methods were learned through trial and error and having spent way too long playing what I call, “Poultry Rodeo Round-up”.
Anytime I have to catch a bird, I want to spend the least amount of time doing it because 1) I usually have other things going on, and 2) it minimizes the stress on the bird. Spending an inordinate amount of time trying to coax a bird with honeyed words and soft tones usually won’t yield the desired results. I find getting it over with quickly is often the best way to go about it.
Note: This will be one of the very few things on this site that doesn’t have accompanying photographs. Hopefully, my words are descriptive enough to illustrate what I am intending to convey.
There are several methods I implement when I need to catch a bird. I always start with the easiest one first and escalate my tactics based on the bird.
Bedtime
Most birds are diurnal. But there are some like ducks and geese that can be active at night. Ducks and chickens also have poor eyesight in the dark and that can be used to your advantage. If I don’t have an immediate need to catch a bird, I will try to wait until nighttime when, even if they are awake, they are usually less active. For roosting birds, they can easily be taken from their perch. I would caution safety with the larger birds because a sizable bird can still do damage even when discombobulated.
Food
For friendly and calm birds that gather around when you approach, you may be able to lure them in with food. I usually throw some pellets or treats down and wait for them to be engaged. Sometimes newer birds that aren’t as used to you are leery of your motives and tend to hang back. It’s difficult to get them when there is a flock of treat-eating birds standing between you and your target. Subtlety is your friend in this instance and “Excuse me, pardon me, coming through” doesn’t really work as the leery bird is now on to you.
If that doesn’t work, and the element of surprise is ruined, I go on to the next tactic.
A net
The gig is up and now the bird knows your intent. There’s no sense trying to pretend otherwise. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent in the beginning years trying to lure a bird that had become suspicious of me with food and kind words. Even if I was successful, they are just as scared as they would have been had I chased them around the yard for ten minutes.
For me, a net is the end game. If I can’t capture the bird in the first five to ten minutes of trying or if I know it will be a particularly elusive bird, I go for the sure thing. You have to be quick without hurting them and the longer reach of the net accomplishes that quite effectively.
They are called different things, but it’s either rubber or heavy duty Nylon with a long, often extendable aluminum handle.
It took me about a year before I finally “bit the bullet” and purchased a net with a long handle. In the beginning, I thought the idea of using a net was too rough on the bird, but now I can’t imagine not having one as a backup if need be. It has saved me so much of my time and sanity.
When using a net, I found the best method for the bird after it’s been contained, is to put one hand on the outside of the net to still the bird while reaching underneath and placing a hand firmly but gently on the birds back in order to keep it close to the ground so it can’t gather its legs and run out from under the net. Once I feel the bird won’t try to escape, I take my other hand to help the bird out of the net. Sometimes, during a struggle, it will get a foot or wing stuck in the netting. When that happens, I will use one hand to free it while the other is still on its back, keeping it from thrashing too much. If the bird struggles too much, it could cause undue stress or the bird to be even more entangled. Because of that risk, I find it necessary for the benefit of the bird to have a firm hand on it. It also keeps them from using their wings to get away. Once it’s free of any entanglements, I pick it up. If done quickly and efficiently, there is minimal stress on the bird.
Two people
This method is pretty much self-explanatory though it’s not always an option. Implementing the help of one or more people is often best paired with the method of getting the bird into a corner or small space.
Corners or walls
One of the best ways, if not the best way, to pick up your bird is to herd it into as small an area as possible, I prefer corners. Utilizing small areas or corners to your benefit can be extremely helpful when attempting to capture a bird. You can use this method along with another person and a net for optimum advantage.
Sometimes when you initiate pursuit, they go straight for a fence or corner and then take a moment to realize they can’t go any further and in that moment, I plop the net over them. If I don’t have the net because the corner was effective enough on its own, I’m careful not to put my hands in an area where they can get clawed as the bird tries to gain a foothold. For birds like Muscovy that have sharper claws, I usually prefer to implement the use of a net when cornering them.
Bird arms
I don’t actually have a name for this method, but I utilize it when I’m attempting to herd one or more birds into the area in which I want them to go. I walk behind them slowly as I direct them to the desired area. If they start to stray off course, I will throw out an arm in the direction I don’t want them to head. For example, if I’m trying to get them to go into the duck run and they start to veer right, I will stick out my right arm. You can also use long sticks or brooms, anything that would extend your natural reach. It’s almost like guiding a plane on the runway.
Slow and steady does it. If you walk too fast or try to hurry the bird, you could end up confusing or alarming them which might cause them to pull a quick 180 and head for an area away from you that they feel safer in.
Multiple tactics
If the bird is in an open field, I always walk behind them and herd them to a more isolated area that is difficult for them to escape without getting past me. Using “bird arms” and walking slowly is helpful here until it gets to the point where they realize they are running out of walking room. Then the fight or flight kicks in and you have to step up your game and be just as quick and at the ready which is where a net also comes in handy.
I think it must be that birds are taught by a Running Back at a young age because they are adept at pulling football moves and zigging at the last second when you thought they were going to zag.
