Afring News 34(1) 5

If you have access to property with damsor lakes that have a variety of waterfowl,this trap could provide you with a new andeffective way of catching more speciesthroughout the year, particularly during thedry season when food becomes less abun-dant.

The design (Figs 1&2)The design is based on the ‘AbbertonDuck Trap’ and although somewhatsmaller it is capable of catching good num-bers of duck, coot, moorhen, waders andrails. The design is a simple box structureup to 2 × 2m across and 1m high with oneor two entrance funnels, is lightweight andinexpensive to build. The trap can be takenin any vehicle, assembled in 30 minutesand can catch during the day or night if leftfor 6 to12 hours.

The 2 × 2 × 1m size will suit most condi-tions, but smaller box sizes of 1.5 × 1.5 × 1mwill also work and all can be rolled up (in-cluding the funnel) fitting into most carboots. The design is an all–plastic frame-work consisting of 1m and 2m lengths of20mm diameter PVC electrical conduit with

A portable duck trapMalcolm Wilson

32 Second Avenue, 2nd Rd Hyde Park 2196

shoebill@mweb.co.za

20mm junction boxes for the corners anduprights. There are only two 2m lengths,one for the roof and one for the base, act-ing as struts bracing each side across thetop and bottom giving rigidity. The rest ofthe frame is made of 1m sections, formingthe box, all joined by the junction boxes.There are therefore 8 upright, 8 top and 8bottom 1m sections. There is no need for abase as long as there are no gaps. The 2 ×2 m roof should be covered withshadecloth. The walls are made of 30mmplastic garden trellis, which is far kinderon trapped birds than wire mesh for obvi-ous reasons. An 8m length is needed forall the sides, with an extra bit needed forthe funnel (the material comes in a 1m widthoff the roll from most hardware shops). It isthen attached to the framework with cableties. The entrance funnels are also made oftrellis mesh and are made in an arch 150–180mm diameter high tapering down to 80–100mm inside with a gap above the watersurface. The idea is for the entering bird tosee the gap and push forwards to the wait-ing bait inside. Birds as large as EgyptianGeese will push through this gap just toget to the bait inside the trap. It is onlynecessary to have one funnel, but asmaller one can be made on the dry landside for waders and others.

Once the trap has been erected, it isstaked down with stout metal tent pegs orreinforcing metal, making sure there are nogaps.

Taking a catchOnce the trap has been positioned and

baited in the afternoon or morning, it is leftfor 6 –12 hours depending on the densityof birds present. If there are hundreds ofloafing coots, then a check can be madeafter a few hours to make sure the trap is

Fig. 1. Photograph showing the designand use of the portable duck trap

Afring News (2005) 34: 5-7

6 2005

Fig. 2. Diagram showing specifications of the portable duck trap.

not congested. It is a good idea to be ableto check the trap from a distance with bin-oculars to avoid scattering birds that havejust found the bait.When it is decided to empty the trap, itshould be approached swiftly and the ca-ble ties cut from one corner holding theshade–cloth roof to allow the catcher toenter the trap and close it again (a doorcan also be made by the more enterprisingringers!). A landing net can be used orbirds can be caught by hand but oneshould be careful with the latter techniqueas coots are fearsome beasts when roused.Birds are passed out to a fellow ringer tobe put into large sacks with secured tops.

Waterfowl can be kept for up to an hourin cool conditions and once ringed shouldbe released near to the trapping site. It ispossible to catch ducks and coots, etc,ring them and catch them the next day inthe same trap!

Guidelines

There are some very important guidelinesto using the trap, which really amounts tocommon sense.• It is important to make sure the trap is

not found by vagrants (who couldsteal any caught birds or the entiretrap), or predators such jackal and mon-goose. The trap should preferably notbe used in or near a public place. I havetried the trap with great success atBarberspan Nature Reserve in North–west Province where there were quite afew jackal and mongoose. The best usefor this trap is over a weekend whereits use does not attract predators overa longer period of time.

• The trap must not be left permanentlyunless it has a side removed renderingthe trap useless or can be checked bysomeone on a regular (i.e. daily) basis.

Wilson: Duck trap design

Afring News 34(1) 7Wilson: Duck trap design

• The trap must not be placed wherethere is the potential of sudden risingwater levels.

• The trap can be situated in amongreeds where species such as PurpleSwamphen, Allen’s Gallinule, Commonand Lesser Moorhen, Black Crake, Afri-can Jacana, small ducks and rails couldbe targeted. More exposed areas willcatch coots, ducks and geese if the trapis placed in regular loafing areas.

• It is best erected in the margin alongsuitable waterbodies (i.e. half in andhalf out of the water), the deep end nomore than 150mm. It should be baitedwith corn leaving an enticing trail from

the entrance funnel (which should bepositioned in the water) to the middle ofthe trap. The bait is important as in coldweather enough corn will keep thetrapped bird(s) occupied with feedinguntil the trap is checked. Apart frombait on the shore, some will float andthis is how the majority of birds find thebait.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Alan Kemp, Arie and LynnWilliams for their helpful input in gettingthis design together.