Catching birds is not easy, but interesting and unusual. There are many ways, tricks and techniques that experienced birders use to catch birds. One of the safest and most humane devices for catching birds is bird glue.
How birds are caught
As a rule, songbirds become the object of the hunt. They are small in size, have a fragile skeleton and muscles, and therefore, to catch them, the most sparing devices are needed. The most common devices for catching such birds are bird nets and snares.
The poultry net is a rectangle of thin strong threads 2 by 1 m. The width of the net cells is only 1.5 cm. However, getting into the net, the bird clings to it with its paws, beak, wings and can get hurt.
A more humane method of fishing is a snare, a small cage made of thin twigs. This device has a hinged perch, which bends under the weight of the bird, and the victim is trapped. But even here the bird has a chance to get hurt. Therefore, the safest and most gentle way to catch birds was and remains bird glue.
Catching birds with bird glue
Bird glue is a sticky compound designed for catching mainly small birds. Unlike snares and nets, it gives the birder the opportunity to catch the bird alive without causing any mechanical damage to it. Catching birds with bird glue is one of the most ancient methods, which is still very popular today.
According to the opinion of birders using this composition, it should be very sticky, rather stringy and thick. The adhesive must not drip or drip. When spreading, it should lie down in an even layer and not be exposed to temperatures: do not freeze in frost, do not become covered with a film in the wind, do not become liquid in the sun.
Bird glue can be used in different ways, but the essence of catching birds with it comes down to one thing - the bird flies up to the bait, sits on a branch treated with this compound, and sticks. But this method of hunting has its own nuances. For example, a stuck bird must be grabbed as quickly as possible, otherwise it can pull out the adhering feathers and free itself.
To make bird glue, you can use ordinary vegetable oil and rosin. The oil must be brought to a boil and the rosin must be gradually introduced into it. After that, the mixture should be cooked for some time over low heat. When cooking glue, you can also add turpentine. You can also prepare a sticky mass for catching birds using plant materials - holly leaves or arrowheads in combination with any starchy grains.
The resulting glue is usually lubricated from the inside of a paper bag, on top of which a bait is placed. In an attempt to reach it, the bird sticks to the paper.
The mention of bird glue and methods of its preparation can be found in the works of the classics of world literature. For example, in Mine Reed's novel Plant Hunters, a recipe for making this composition from fig juice is described in detail, which, according to the author, "was almost as good as the glue made from holly."
