Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The prevent invention relates to a bird trap wh7ch may be utilized
to trap all species of birds. It is particularly well adapted to catch starlings,
cowbirds, grackles, and other birds whenever they become a pest or nuisance.
The invention relates to the concept of a ~free-entry~' type trap into
which a bird freely moves. In general, the trap comprises a container or
enclosure structured almost completely of see through materials having at -
- Ieast one ingress opening provided in the top surface and which permits
free-entry and which because of its top-mounting and provision of spaced bars
or rods, or open grid structure prevents egress. The size and spacing of the
parallel bars and grid structure and size of the container or cage are dependent
upon the size and kind of birds which are desired to be caught.
The trap of the invention may be of varying size and is preferably
constructed of open framing which is closed by "see through" material such as
wire mesh or transparent panels to provide a bird imprisoning container or
cage. The trap container discussed in the following specification is referred
to as being a container or an enclosure and it will be appreciated that these
terms cover an enclosing structure which is primarily made oF ~'see through~
material which enables the birds to see into the trap but which imprisons the
birds after they have entered the trap through at least one ingress opening.
- 20 In preferred construction, the invention relates to a bird trapping
device comprising a substantially rectangular structure of open framing
provided with ~see through~ material such as mesh, or the like, of mesh size
to prevent the passage of birds therethrough, and wherein the top of the
structure is an end view of shallow V-shaped configuration providing upper
wind sections extending outwardly and longitudinally of the structure, and with
an opening extending longitudinally of the structure provided in the upper side
- of each wing section, the openings being provided with spaced-apart parallel
bars or a grid which permit easy entry but which prevent exit.
The present trap is of the ~free-entry" type, and into which a bird
freely flies or drops through the opening between the bars on the top of the cage
and into the confining structure. The bird trap has no tripping devicés or
other movable elements which are activated after a bird has entered the trap,
and the absence of such devices positively ensures that the birds do not sustain
any paint or other injury during the~entrapment. The trap is of a style that
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:: bird is simply confined into the area defined by the structure, and is
provided with sufficient bait food and water until such time as the birds are :
collected and transported to other habitants or otherwise disposed of in some
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humane fashion.
Starlings were imported into North America from
Europe many years ago, and the North American climate and environ-
ment is exceedingly well suitable for starlings and the populat-
ion of starlings and related species in North America is explod-
ing and has already become a serious problem in some areas of
the continent. Starlings are extremely gregarious and beligerent
birds and the more desirable bird species such as blue birds and
robins and the like are disrupted from their normal routines by
an overpopulation of starlings. In many cases, such as with
bluebirds, the population of these desirable birds is becoming
extremely small for the starlings have occupied all of the nest-
ing areas of the bluebird species who by nature are extremely
timid. When an overpopulation of starlings exist in a community
the more acceptable bird species are driven away and this is ex-
tremely distressing to bird lovers and nature fanciers generally.
Cowbirds are another species which are of a beligerent
nature, and their habit is to occupy nests which have been pre-
pared by other bird species, and the presence of cowbirds also
results in a decline in population of the more favourable birds. -
Consequently, the overpopulation of these nuisance
birds particularly starlings and pigeons is becoming a serious
problem, and control of the numbers of these birds in any parti- ;
cular area is exceedingly difficult. Mass extermination of flocks
of nuisance birds using chemical solutions is not overly effect-
ive and is cruel and destructive of other bird species and raises
the wrath of anti-cruelty societiesas witnessed by recent experi-
ments in this type of control in the U.S.A. The use of explosive-
type devices and other noise-making devices also have had very
little effect in persuading bird flocks to move away from criti-
cal areas such as airports.
One object of the present invention is to provide
a free ingress trap which is particularly designed for the capture
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and retention of nuisance birds such as starlings and cowbirds
- but which has no attraction at all to the more desirable bird
species such as robins and in the many months of exhaustive res-
earch which has been carried out by the inventor, the present
trap performs exceedingly well in the capture of starlings and
cowbirds and similar nuisance species and not in one instance
has the inventor observed any of the more desirable bird species
becoming entrapped in a trap containing an earlier trapped
starling or cowbird.
While the invention is well adapted for the humane cap-
ture of nuisance birds such as starlings and cowbirds, it is not
restricted in the usage and can be equally used to capture the
other species of birds from the smallest to the largest.
The capture of birds may be for reasons of population
control, or for research purposes including tagging and banding.
The trap is preferably of open frame construction covered
with open mesh material such as wire mesh and through which birds
cannot pass and which as a result is open and airy and which
presents no apparent danger to the birds. The top of the enclos-
ure is provided with at least one ingress opening provided withspaced parallel bars or rods between which the birds may freely
drop to obtain food bait provided in the trap and which prevent
exit of the birds.
The spacing of the parallel bars or rods and the dia-
meter of the bars will be dependent upon the actual size of the
birds which are to be caught, and the bars will be of such spacing
to permit free movement of the birds downwardly therethrough and
which will prevent birds flying upwardly therethrough, and the bars
will be of such diameter to prevent a bird flying up to the bars,
grasping the bars with their feet and "walking" themselves up
through the opening between bars.
The opening in a preferred embodiment is provided with
spaced parallel bars, but the bars could be replaced with a grid
structure of a size that the above criteria are met.
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The trap enclosure may be of any suitable size, but
should be of a size to permit entry of a human to permit the
placement of bait food and water and cleansing of the structure
as required, and also to facilitate the emptying of the structure
of birds through suitably provided release doors into transport-
able crates or sacks in which the birds are taken to any desired
destination.
Basically, the dimensions of the trap enclosure will
be determined by the following factors:
1. The density of imprisoned birds~
When a certain "crowding" of birds has been obtained,
no further birds will enter the cage and it has been found as a
result of many hours of research that once the cage becomes con-
gested to a certain degree that additional birds will not then
enter the trap. As a result of extensive investigations, it has -
been demonstrated that a maximum cage population, that is, when no -
additional birds will enter the trap, is reached when approximate-
ly a cubic area of ten inch sides per bird is occupied. When
- the density of population exceeds this amount, additional birds
will not then enter the enclosure.
2. The desired size of the cage will also vary accord-
ing to the location, and whether the bird trap is to be used on
the top of a building, or used in open fields or orchards or parks,
or in crowded city areas.
3. The size of the bird colony.
The density of the bird population in a certain area
will also determine the size of the cage, because preference in
certain areas is dependent upon roosting, feeding and nesting
preferences of the birds in that area, and in areas of fairly
large bird density, a larger cage is preferred over two small
cages.
The area of research resulting in the present inventive
- concept has the primary goal of controlling the explosive starling,
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~ grackles and cowbird populations, and it is stressed that in
- field trials on not even a single occasion has any other bird
come near the cage to associate or even feed in the cage contain-
ing starlings and cowbirds, even though it is fairly well known
that the reverse is true and that starling and cowbirds being
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extremely gregarious will freely move into flocks of birds of
- other species.
4. The size of the birds which it is desired to trap,
The invention relates not only to a trap cage or hous-
ing but it also relates to a basic system of trapping wherebybirds are trapped in a humane way without pain or other damage
to the birds.
Specifically, then, the present invention relates to a
trap for birds comprising a structure of open frame construction
covered with "see-through" material, the structure having a top
and at least one elongated ingress opening provided in the top, ;
and spaced stationary members dividing the ingress opening into
a plurality of ingress ports, the ingress ports permitting entry
of birds into the trap, and the spacing of the stationary members
being pre-determined to prevent exit of birds of a particular size.
In a preferred construction the invention specifically
relates to a trap for birds comprising a container of "see-through"
material having a top portion which, in end view, is of shallow
V-configuration having upper wing sections extending outwardly
and longitudinally of the container, and a longitudinal ingress
opening provided in the top surface of each of the wing sections;
the ingress openings having a plurality of spaced and parallel
bars or grid structure which permit free ingress and prevent -
egress.
The invention will now be specifically described in
more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which
- illustrate a specific non-limiting example, and wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a bird trap in accordance with the
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present inventive concept in perspective view;
Figure 2 illustrates the trap as shown in Figure 1
in end view;
Figure 3 illustrates suitable means for removing the
birds from the trap enclosure so that the birds can then be suit- ; . -
ably moved to other locations; ;
Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure l;
and
Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure l;
and
: Figure 6 is a top view of the ingress opening illus-
trating two opening embodiments.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, the basic cage ` ~ -
enclosure consists of a generally rectangular lower portion shown :.
by numeral 2 in Figure 1, and consisting of suitable framing mem- ~
bers 4 providing an open entrapment area which is covered by wire ~. .
or the like mesh material 6 having mesh size openings smaller .
than the smallest openings which the birds for which the trap is .:~
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intended to catch can pass. The framing members 4 may be of
wood or suitable light-weight metal construction such as aluminum,
; and high impact plastic framing members could also be employed
if desired. The mesh material may be of wire or again may be of
suitable plastics material such as nylon or other suitable strand
material.
The top area of the structure and which is shown by
numeral 8 in the drawings is of shallow V-shaped configuration ;
in end view, providing upper wing sections 10 and 12 which ex-
tend outwardly and longitudinally of the structure of the side
walls of the enclosure in the preferred manner as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2.
On the top surface of each of the wing sections 10 and
12 are longitudinally extending ingress openings 14 and 16 res-
pectively which are provided with parallel spaced bars 18.
These ingress openings 14 and 16 are shown in Figure 1
and for purposes of illustration only the bars are somewhat farther
; apart than they will be in actual use, and the proper spacing
- and positioning of the bars is shown in Figure 6.
The outside edge of the ingress openln~s 14, 16 may be
prov ded with a downwardly extending lip or '~bl~" 19 (see Fig-
ure ~ to conceal the opening from birds sitting interiorly of
the cage on the bottoms of the wing sections.
In a preferred construction, the top of the structure
may also be provided with a central ingress opening 20 which is
also provided with transversely extending bars 18 as is the case
of ingress openings 14 and 16 provided in the wing sections 10
and 12.
The whole of the structure is of generally open frame
30 construction, and is entirely covered with the mesh material with
the exception of the ingress openings and it is through these
openings that the birds are enticed to fly or drop in their
efforts to achieve the bait food provided in the trap itself.
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The baitselected will of course depend upon the
species of birds to be trapped. Grain feeds such as wheat,
barley, rye, oats, corn, either whole or ground, can be used
to attract seed and grain-eating birds. In the case of robins,
worms will be used, and in other cases, suet, animal fats, and
commercially available feed as well as fresh and dried fruit
and vegetables or the like. Live animals such as small rodents
and fish can be used to lureeagles and falcons to the trap.
- In use, the trap is simply assembled in Figure 1, and
suitable bait food is positioned in the trap and the trap is left
- unattended.
Birds, particularly starling~ cowbirds, grackles and
pigeons being gregarious and inquisitive, then have no hesitation
about dropping down through the ingress openings to achieve the
bait placed in the trap, and the spacing of the bars in the open-
ings then prevent exit of the birds through the openings that they
originally entered.
It has been found that when the spacing between bars
is too great, or the bars are of too great a diameter, that birds
are able to fly to the roof of the structure and grasping the
bars with their feet are able to pull themselves up through the
openings. However, the inventor has also discovered that this -~
procedure is not possible for starlings or corbirds when the
retaining bars are of a large or small diameter because the feet
of these birds are unable to obtain proper purchase on such bars
to enable the birds to lift themselves up through the openings.
Of course, the spacing of the bars is important for the bars must
be of such spacing that the birds freely drop down through the
openings but must be close enough to prevent the birds from simply
flying directly out of the enclosure.
When used as a trap to imprison starlings the spaced
bars 18 are positioned from about 1-1/2" to about 2" apart and
with this spacing the starlings freely drop through the openings
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to gain access to the bait but then are unable to fly or move
upwardly through the bars to gain freedom.
Using a trap of the present invention, the inventor
living in Nova Scotia has established that the trap assembly is
extremely efficient in the trapping of starlings and cowbirds
and nuisance birds of these varieties, and in a few weeks over
1,000 starlings have been trapped.
After the birds are entrapped in the enclosure, a col-
lection of the birds is simply done by positioning collection
sacks or containers exteriorly of release doors 22, and the birds
will move into these sacks or containers as a result eithex of a
person entering the enclosure through a suitable entrance door 24
- or in some circumstances it is necessary simply for the person
to walk around the enclosure at a close distance and the birds
will then seek escape through the release doors 22 and then be
captured by the positioned containers or sacks.
One method of collecting the birds from the trap is
shown in Figures 2 and 3, and in this embodiment an elbow ar-
rangement 26 is positioned in the access door opening, and a
-- 20 transparent or mesh sack or bag 28 is secured to the outer end of
- the elbow in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3. By entering
the enclosure or by simply walking-around the enclosure, a person
causes the birds to seek escape from the enclosure and these
birds simply follow the elbow down into the sacks into which they
can be collected for transport to other areas. Of course, other
means for moving the birds into transportable containers is pos-
sible, and in place of the sacks and elbow arrangement as shown
in Figures 2 and 3, a suitable open mesh crate could simply be
positioned exteriorly of the release doors 22 and the doors opened
and the birds then forced into the transportable open mesh crate
for transport elsewhere.
Figure 6 is a top view of an ingress opening 14, 16,
or 20 illustrating two embodiments. To the left in Figure 6
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,aced and p~rallel bars 1~ are shown, and to the right a crossed grid
arrangement 30 is illustrated. V~hile either arrangement is sa,isfactory,
the embodiment using the spaced parallel bars 18 is preferred.
As a result of extensive observation the applicant has determined ~~
that the ef,ectiveness of the trap is based upon the following:
a) The feeding habits of birds including the sound of birds when
food is located or when eating.
b) The manner and flight path of birds when landing.
c) The manner and flight paths of birds in taking off from a
stationary position and in particular that having regard to the
size, weight and design of the bird it requires a certain take-
off distance to obtain a specified elevation at a given distance. ~ -
If the birds are capable of a vertical take-off from a stationary ~ -position, such as the smaller birds, then the size of the grid
st; ucture or opening which allows ingress, prevents egress of
the bird because of the outstretched wings of the bird in flight.
While it is preferred that the trap structure be covered with an
open mesh material to provide airiness to the enclosure, it will be appreciated
- that other material such as transparent plastic material such as acrylic or
20 even glass could be used in the enclosure without departing from the scope
of the prevent invention.
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SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 7 illustrates in perspective view a further ~
embodiment of the trap according to the present invention; ,
Figure 8 illustrates in perspective view a portion of an
ingress opening provided centrally and longitudinally in the top
surface of the structure as shown in Figure 7; and
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of `
Figure 8.
The invention of this embodiment provides a trap for ~ ;
birds and small animals comprising a container or structure of
"see-through" material and at least one ingress opening in the `
top of the container and stationary members in the form of down- '-- -
wardly extending transverse baffles provided in the ingress open- -~
ing which permit free entry and prevent exit.
; More specifically, the trap of this embodiment comprises
the structure as above recited wherein the downwardly extending
baffles comprise longitudinal baffles extending alongside of the
ingress opening and spaced transverse baffles providing a series
of ingress ports open at the top and bottom.
The trap housing shown in Figure 7 is similar in con-
struction and materials to that shown in Figure 1 and basically
differs only in design. With the structure as shown in Figure 7,
however, it is preferred that only a central longitudinal ingress
opening be provided in the same manner as the central ingress
opening 20 as shown in Figure 1.
Figures 8 and 9 show an ingress opening of somewhat
different arrangement to that shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, and
in the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 the ingress opening 20' is
provided with downwardly extending longitudinal 32 and transverse
34 baffles providing a series of ingress ports 36 open at top
and bottom.
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The baffles 32 and 34 which are of opaque material act
: to obstruct the view of the ingress ports by birds held within
the trap from most positions within the trap, and it has been
:` found that a trap utilizing the ingress opening structure of
Figures 8 and 9 can be used to trap small animals such as squirrels,
~ weasels, and small predators in addition to birds.
The size and spacing of the baffles 32 and 34 will be
dependent upon the size and type of the bird or animal to be
trapped. In the case of starlings, grackles, cowbirds and the
like however the baffles 32 can suitably be spaced apart a dis-
tance of about 8 - 9" and the baffles 34 can suitably be spaced
apart a distance providing about a 2" opening therebetween.
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