Using ladder entrance traps to capture azure-winged magpies, brown-eared bulbuls and black-billed magpies in Korea

Abstract

Azure-winged magpies (AWMs, Cyanopica cyanus), brown-eared bulbuls (BEBs, Hypsipetes amaurotis) and black-billed magpies (BBMs, Pica pica) cause damage to trees, vines and soft fruits. We assessed the efficacy of modified ladder entrance (MLE) traps for the capture of these pest species in Korea. Using fruit bait and a ladder-entrance size of 9 × 9 cm, latency to capture was faster for AWM and BEB with live lure birds than without lure birds. AWM and BEB but not BBM were effective lure birds for either species. The trap with a 9 × 11 cm entrance size and baited with meat successfully removed BBM. They were caught only when the meat-baited traps were placed adjacent to roosting areas. The use of lure BBM birds did not reduce the latency to first capture of this species. The MLE trap is a useful tool for removing these three species of pest birds in horticultural areas of Korea when used with appropriate baits and entrance sizes, and using lure birds for AWMs and BEBs. Positioning of the traps is more important than the use of lure birds for the capture of BBMs.