Catching crows: seasonality, techniques and the influence of social behaviour. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kirchmeir, Alice; Uhl, Florian; Bugnyar, Thomas; Schwab, Christine
• Is Part Of: Ringing & migration. Volume 34:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Bird banding -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Migration -- Periodicals; Birds -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Bird banding; Birds; Birds -- Migration; Great Britain; Periodicals; 598.07232
• DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2019.1759906
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-8698

Abstract

ABSTRACT: For most research on birds in the wild, catching and marking of individuals is essential. Corvids may be difficult to catch due to their neophobia and good learning abilities; moreover, different catching methods may target specific social classes. We investigated the success of two different catching methods, Ladder trap and Larsen trap, over the course of a five-year research program on crows ( Corvus corone, C. cornix and their intergrades) conducted in Vienna, Austria. Ladder traps were highly effective in catching non-breeders and migrants whereas Larsen traps were useful for catching territorial birds. Catching success with Ladder traps was highest during the breeding season and shortly thereafter, but only if catching efforts were restricted to this period. If the traps were active year round, catching success declined, possibly because crows became trap shy. The number of crows present was not significantly correlated with catching success. Crows that entered the traps together tended to be observed foraging together, indicating that the traps probably represent foraging opportunities that are shared by associated individuals. Taken together, these findings may provide valuable hints to researchers planning to catch these species.