Trapping birds in the Atalaya??

Walking in the Atalaya just over a week ago, a park on the outskirts of town, I came across something which I thought really had no place there, nor anywhere for that matter – a bird trap!

Trap in a public park

It was made from fine chicken wire with a flap at the top so the birds can enter. Inside there was bread and some bowls for water. Instead of removing it, I closed the entrance flap and went to visit the Guardia Civil in town, where I reported it and showed them the photos. I was assured that SEPRONA, the Servicio de Protección de la Naturaleza (a branch of the Guardia Civil responsible for protecting the environment), would be notified and it would be investigated. 

After the weekend, which was the weekend of the International Day of the Birds, I went back up to see if it had been removed by said police. No…it was still there as I had left it. Not noticing a 24hour watch of camouflaged Guardias, nor surveillance cameras I decided the best thing to do was to take it, flatten it and throw it in a bin. Which I did.

Having read the blog of CABS activities on Malta and Cyprus trying to stop the slaughter of migrating birds over the past few weeks, I felt I was doing my own little bit. I know that people must capture songbirds for competitions they hold here locally to see who has the finest singing songbird, but surely this method is illegal? According to CABS certain species, such as Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Serin are eligible for capture with nets on the Spanish mainland, with a special license. 

My conclusions are: 

1. That I doubt very much this trap falls within any guidelines nor had a license. 
2. You have to be stupid to put a trap 10 metres from the path in a public park. 
3. The Guardia Civil do not always take note of reports.
4. You just got to do things yourself.

Join us for our guided birding, wildlife and butterfly tours in La Mancha, Spain with Oretani Wildlife.