Illegal trapping of little birds.

[Silki]

With the start of the rain last week the tell tale signs of the persons doing this barbaric act were plain to see. When I walked my dogs clearly large areas of ground had been dug to collect the flying ants used as bait. Anyone walking in the countryside, please be aware of stones placed in trees, holes dug in the ground in little nooks with a stone strategically placed. On these stones and sometimes in the trees are then placed metal traps with the flying ant as bait waiting for some unsuspecting little sparrow or robin to get caught. This morning while walking on the land at the top of Praia do Carvalho, I found three such traps, one had caught a robin which was thankfully still alive.I freed him and hopefully he will survive his ordeal. This is a very delicate subject so please keep your remarks sensible as I want this topic to continue for a while to make everyone reading this forum aware of the terrible practise going on.
It can be reported to Setna, the same number in Silves, part of the GNR, who were contacted about the large birdfound last week.
282 440290 If you are outing walking, please take the time to look for the traps, spring them with a stick and then throw them somewhere in the bushes so they won't be found and used again.

[Michael Crane]

What do they do with the trapped birds?

[miramyra]

This is disturbing!

[EMM]

This is a ancient rural tradition ( which still goes on in some places in the UK ).
The birds are trapped for food or for resale in the markets.

[laserblazer]

Do these trappers do it to provide food for people who would otherwise go hungry?

[kappa]

It´s part of tradition - the "PASSARINHOS" are quite yummy by the way ...

[Ellie]

This brings back ghastly memories for me...
Living in Lagoa we often went to our friends Carlos & Maria's house. One evening we were there having some vinho.....then Maria said "Come, see this"
She opened her freezer and there on top were 2 frozen Robins...I sort of gasped and took a step back....
she even offered one to me but I declined the offer.
How can people eat songbirds?

I can understand when people were starving,way back when..but not today.....
The French do it too.

[laserblazer]

Have you ever been to rural France in September. They shoot anything that moves and much that doesn't!

[maccasa]

I understand its very common in Rural europe - Italy is renowned for shooting them -fortunately I understand that there are also a lot of shooting accidents and the hunters get injured and killed - justice!
However just to reinforce the story of it going on in England - I have an old cookery book, dated 1933 - in it there are references to several small bird dishes - the one begins "take 24 fresh larks".....!!

[Silki]

How much meat is on a robin or sparrow? Surely not enough to feed a starving family who would go hungry without!
Last time I found a bird in a trap it had died hanging by its feet, not trapped by its head which would at least be a quick death.
I have just repeated my walk this afternoon but the gentleman in question was already there, presumably checking the traps and re-setting them, horrible.

[Bristle Si]

I'm afraid this is typical of southern europe. One can look at this kind of practice from 2 separate viewpoints (i) it's disgusting and a practice that should be outlawed (after all the UK gets things imposed on us by the EU, why not the other way around) or (ii) it's an ancient custom which is none of our business.

When we were in Gran Canaria a few years ago loads of places had birds in cages; some cages were no bigger than a lampshade and had about 10 birds in them. Not v.pleasant to be honest.

[maccasa]

whereabouts is it that you walk - I will go myself and take great pleasure in ripping the traps apart.

[EMM]

Is this on Public or Private land, if private I doubt that expats would get much sympathy from the local population of the GNR if called.

Much as we may dislike certain local traditions we must be carefull how we show our distaste.

[maccasa]

Quite agree EMM, but if you accidently walk on the trap and crush it there's no need to call the GNR ! - however I think we need to clarify this "law" - if it's illegal to trap them, surely it's illegal whether on private or public land? I have no qualms about confronting anyone who is doing things which are illegal and I feel sure the GNR wouldn't either. Anyone know the people to talk to - what about the lot who sorted the vulture out - sepna? If we aren't clear about this has anyone got the number? I can call them when I am there on sat.

[maccasa]

Apologies Silki - just saw that you have put the number in your first post. Howevr I would like to clarify the illegality of it this practice.