tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post5500730939748274509..comments2024-03-27T11:18:59.924+00:00Comments on Sun Dried Sparrows: Sex, violence and Easter eggsChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-12124645827945931512012-04-09T18:51:14.189+01:002012-04-09T18:51:14.189+01:00PS - I did once find a blackbird in the humane tra...PS - I did once find a blackbird in the humane trap! Don't know how/why he went in there but poor thing was obviously distressed - all was ok though and I was able to release him a bit the worse for wear but unharmed. Just thought I should mention though - I wouldn't use it now if I wasn't going to be around to check frequently, just in case anything else got mistakenly trapped.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-68655465793544113372012-04-09T10:52:10.339+01:002012-04-09T10:52:10.339+01:00Oh I can totally understand your concerns! It may...Oh I can totally understand your concerns! It may be worth you trying a humane trap, especially if there's no birdfood around and you use a piece of bacon or something equally irresistable to it as bait - here's where we got ours: http://www.trapman.co.uk/rat-trap-multi-catch-humane-rat-trap.htm (sorry don't know how to do hyperlink in comments!). We have a friend who did have success with humane traps, so fingers crossed. I wish you luck!<br />Yes I know what you mean about the chaffinch call: "a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese"... !Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-45761443927052439042012-04-09T08:18:25.547+01:002012-04-09T08:18:25.547+01:00Exactly the moral dilemma I'm having. I'd ...Exactly the moral dilemma I'm having. I'd be happy if it'd just hang out for a bit & then move on - naive I know! The trouble is that it has set up home under the shed which is just a few feet from our back door which leads straight into the kitchen & which we like to leave open when we can. I worked in catering for 10 years and have seen the havoc rats can wreak when they get inside - my biggest concern. Your contraceptive bait idea sounds like a winner though - get onto the patent office quick!<br /><br />By the way, the noisiest bird in our garden (on a size to output ratio) has to be the chaffinch - crikey can those little guys belt it out!The Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237251779370596904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-12318645090982092572012-04-08T16:54:28.964+01:002012-04-08T16:54:28.964+01:00I can very much relate to your dilemma over Ratty!...I can very much relate to your dilemma over Ratty! Over the years we've had many similar visits - thing is I do rather like them too, they are intelligent, sociable creatures and of course they don't know that all that tasty seed lying around wasn't put there just for them... At one time though we had a Big Mama Rat and she did unfortunately have babies. Lots. We and our nearest neighbours felt maybe we could all cohabit as long as they stayed in the gardens and fields beyond, but were always anxious about it getting out of hand. I tried humane traps in the hope of just moving them on, but they were far too clever for that! Eventually someone else poisoned them - but I was sorry it came to that. Now new neighbours have brought cats in to the area and that seems to be keeping them at bay - unfortunately I'm now worrying about the safety of the bird chicks, though... Ah, it's tough out there! (I reckon someone should invent non-poisonous but contraceptive bait for rats one day.. that might help!)Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-57528999448534170132012-04-08T14:26:21.295+01:002012-04-08T14:26:21.295+01:00Blimey! Your garden sounds like Studio 54 compared...Blimey! Your garden sounds like Studio 54 compared to ours! Mind you, we've had to temporarily suspend services for the birds while we deal with Mr (hopefully not Mrs) Norvegicus who this week arrived as an unwelcome guest in the garden of Swede towers!The Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237251779370596904noreply@blogger.com