4. Birds in the hand
Andrew Gosler
4.1 Introduction
This chapter is concerned with the trapping of birds for research with a view to
releasing them as soon as possible, after having “processed” them as necessary.
The goal is to release the bird, none the worse for its experience, back into the
wild, where it will behave normally.
However much we might discover about the lives of birds through simple
observation, there is a point beyond which we cannot do more without direct
physical contact. Thus the skills needed to catch birds with minimal disturbance
are central to ornithological research, but this also raises welfare, ethical, and
legislative issues that do not apply in observational studies (but see Chapters 9
and 10). Nevertheless, the bird in the hand is a mine of useful information that
cannot be obtained otherwise, and my main focus is on how to obtain the maxi-
mum information in the minimum time (thus reducing disturbance and stress to
the birds). Developing the necessary skills requires experience, which cannot be
obtained without training. Without these skills, you would endanger the birds,
reduce the quality of data obtained, and in many countries would be acting illeg-
ally. In my experience, however, few people lack the aptitude to become safe and
competent bird-handlers, and a conscientious approach at the outset will bring
rewards long term.
There are broadly three reasons why researchers might need, temporarily, to
take birds from the wild: (a) for individual marking or attachment of tags, (b) to
observe details at close-quarters that cannot be recorded otherwise, (c) to con-
duct some scientific procedure or obtain material (biopsy) that cannot otherwise
be obtained. Accomplishing such procedures (a–c) is known as processing. I shall
consider each in some detail, but first we should consider some broad ethical and
legislative issues, and then how to catch the birds.