I've just got back from walking our dog on the piece of open ground that runs from the top of Mato Serrao to Boa Vista bordered on one side by the road that runs from L'Orange to the 'war' memorial outside the main entrance to Monte Santo.

I came across 4 circular primed spring loaded traps set on open ground about 10 feet apart. They were placed on top of small mounds (like a freshly dug sod folded back) of earth that had been strategically shaped to expose the open ground underneath - with the trap perched on top of the mound. I suspect this is designed to catch any birds attracted to the prospect of a worm emerging from the freshly exposed soil.

I set all the traps off but couldn't help thinking as I looked for more - is this a Portuguese tradition and is it lawful? Being conscious that we are guests in someone else's country - I merely sprung the traps and did not damage them - this time. Damaging somebody else's property is not something I make a habit of doing but I am angered at the thought that some callous bas&%$d could place these 'weapons' in an area where many people walk their pets - with nothing to warn you of their existence.

Can anyone shed any light on this practice

yes they sell them at the local markets,when I saw them I went to some gnr leaning on a post smoking and asked if they were legal, all I got was a shrug, these are the markets by the way the dreaded ASAE police raid with masks and machine guns for people selling fake t shirts but for really dangerous things like traps couldn't care two cents.

if had been there I would have sprung them and then picked them up and thrown them in the nearest lixo bin..not only are they horrible for animals but children could be harmed as well

Martin
Should I see them again - I will break and dump them and live in hope that the person who placed them takes issue with me - if he has the balls to come out in the open

The legality of the traps may be in question as is the morality for those of us from the UK however there is anothe point to consider the land in question belongs to someone. If the owner has set these traps and they are legal ????? then anyone who destroys them could be breaking the law !!!.
We like some of you do walk across undeveloped land in this area and at this time of year also have to be aware that hunters are active on certain days of the week.
Of course if you accidentally step on one of these traps then that is another matter.

shanagarry wrote:Martin
Should I see them again - I will break and dump them and live in hope that the person who placed them takes issue with me - if he has the balls to come out in the open

Well done. What you have done is to prevent an animal being trapped in these disgusting cruel devices spending hours or possibly days in excruciating pain.

How on earth a person can knowingly set these devices to deliberately cause injury and terror to a defenceless animal is sickening.

1. Hunting and the nature protection legislation in Europe
The Bern Convention (BC) and the Birds Directive (BD) set out the following obligations1 in relation to the
protection of bird species, to be implemented trough national laws:
a. A general system of bird protection - All wild bird species naturally occuring on the territory must be
protected, including by national or regional law (BD: 1, 5; BC: 1, 6).
b. Regulate legitimate hunting - Each country may permit certain species (for EU countries, from the 82
species on Annex II of the Birds Directive) to be hunted providing that their populations can sustain this and
that there is a closed season. The closed season must cover the breeding season and for migratory birds the
prenuptial (spring, return) migration to their breeding grounds, according to the Directive (BD: 7; BC 7).
c. Methods of hunting - All large scale or indiscriminate methods of catching or killing birds are prohibited,
in particular, the use of snares, bird lime, live decoys, nets, traps, poison

this was passed in june 2011 birdlife.org / europe

They were there again on Monday and today - this time only three as I broke one when it caught my stick - there will only be one tomorrow - unless they are replaced.

I am conscious that breaking or damaging another person's property is a criminal offence in the UK - regardless of the rights and wrongs of the trapping process - they are the property of someone/somebody. Undoubtedly the land belongs to somebody as it has an old ruin on it - but I would have thought that given its public accessibility the owner (should that be the person responsible for setting the traps) is required to make the public aware of their presence?

It matters not as I will destroy them at every opportunity and face the consequences - should there be any

shanagarry wrote:...Undoubtedly the land belongs to somebody ...

Therefore aren't you trespassing on 'private' property? Just because it has "public accessibility" doesn't mean you are allowed to access it. And, if it is 'private' property I'd think they can put down as many traps as they want (if they are legal) without informing trespassers of their existence.

Many of walk land in the area to watch birds , take photos etc and are tolerated by the local population and the land owners.
Expats who are deemed to be destroying legal private property could have a negative effect on the tolerance that we all enjoy.
Shanagarry you may not like it but if it is legal you have to accept it or at the very least try and find the owner and discuss your views with them.
How would you feel if someone came into your garden and let your dog or cat out if they thought that your behaviour was unacceptable.

The birds they catch are for food, you eat meat don,t you ??

I remember a post earlier this year from someone else walking land in this area that the owner had the nerve to place bee hives on his land much to their inconvenience.

you can take someone out of the suburbs but you can,t take the suburbs out of them.

EMM

Not quite sure I understand your stance on this matter. When I first posted this matter I did ask if this was a traditional pursuit - from what you are suggesting - it is? Apart from the fact it is illegal (apparently) - are you suggesting we turn a blind-eye?

Mine is straightforward - I do not like or want to see animals tortured in any way - this trapping I have come upon is just that - inflicting unnecessary injury and suffering on defenceless animals. I am no animal rights activist but I won't stand back and leave this happen. By the way I am not from the suburbs and even if I was - it changes nothing.

As I understand it the birds caught are sold in the markets and not for feeding those who catch them. The land I am referring to also has a lot of beehives - I don't have any problem with them. In fact I enjoy watching (from afar) when the keepers empty them - its a natural thing.

I do eat meat but I expect that the animals slaughtered for the purpose of creating food to be humanely killed - not trapped and forced into a lengthy and agonising death.

Are you suggesting I leave the traps in situ and ignore them? - as I might be depriving somebody of a meal

shanagarry wrote:.....Are you suggesting I leave the traps in situ and ignore them? - as I might be depriving somebody of a meal

Let them eat cake.

What birds do they hope to catch and eat? pheasants? geese? ducks? chickens? seagulls? can you explain.

I got a pm today from a Lady who has experienced all of this trapping for some time and has contacts with the GNR and other bodies responsible for the preservation of wildlife. She tells me the birds that are caught in these traps are of medium size - in UK terms I suppose a Thrush!

I couldn't imagine anything larger as the traps are no weight at all and a larger bird (Seagull) could fly with it attached to its leg. The area where the traps are appears to attract only the little birds - I don't know what they're called. I did see a number of Pigeons there about an hour ago today but they steered clear of the traps and the exposed soil - even after I sprung the traps.

That's somebody gone without their dinner tonight

Can anyone actually confirm whether or not this is a legal or otherwise act in Portugal ( Not the UK ).
If it is illegal then Shanagarry why don,t you take the traps to the GNR with details of where you found them.
It is then up to them to take the necessary action.
There are many activities which take place in the Portuguese countryside which seem alien to us, collecting tiny snails to eat ( cruel for the snail ) shooting anything that moves ( probably including expat trespassers ).

Morally I do not see any difference in trapping birds for food to eating massed produced meats such as the chicken, beef etc that most of us consume. cruelty is a matter of degree, yes it is cruel to leave a small bird caught in a spring trap for hours just as it is cruel to do the same to a fox or to ship animals miles in cramped trucks to factory type slaughter houses or eat fish which have suffocated in a net or on the deck of a fishing boat or gutted when still alive.

I know all this and have still chosen to eat meat, if these acts were unaceptable to me I would as many have become a vegetarian or even an animal rights activist.
Pato they are usually small birds such a blackbirds, etc, which we no longer eat in the UK but are still eaten in much of southern continental europe.
In his book about his life in the hills around Monchique the author refers to his neighbours deep frying small birds caught in the wild probably using this method.

Not sure this has moved the debate/issue forward EMM. Who was the author you referred to (is it you?)

EMM wrote:in the hills around Monchique the author refers to his neighbours deep frying small birds caught in the wild

For my part I will take every opportunity to prevent the trapping of these birds and as for going to the GNR with the traps - I went with a friend 2 weeks ago when his property was burgled and ransacked and the lack of interest was underwhelming. Just imagine their enthusiasm for little birds caught in traps