Building and setting an arapuca bird trap

pict

pict

Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
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I took my kids out to the bush this week for two nights. Among other things we shot a video of how to build and set an arapuca. This trap is very common in Brazil, most rural kids can whip one up in a few minutes. You only have to have cordage, a pocketknife helps alot, but a sharp rock can substitute to grind the notch on the trigger.

Building and Setting an Arapuca Live Bird Trap

Mac
 
great video!! I have heard of that trap, but never saw one made before, thanks for sharing!!
 
Thanks for posting!
I'm gonna have to try my hand at making one of those soon;:).
 
Some time ago, when Pict first posted the Arapuca, I had to try it out. There is something about trap triggers that fascinate me. I don't do any trapping here except for snaring rabbits a couple of times, because it's illegal. (Rabbit snaring is legal, with some qualifications). Regardless, I learn and experiment with as many as I can.

I set my first Arapuca on my balcony, with some bread as bait. I had a little bird in no time. Needless to say he was released, unharmed. My buddy, Phil, also set the trap up at his place, but he used a milk crate as the pen. He caught a squirrel, that promptly escaped through the hand hold. No worries, though, as, like me, he was testing the trigger.

When I was experimenting with it, I used a mesh basket for the pen. One of these weekends, I going to try building the pen with the stalks of Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). I think these will work very well due to the rough nature of the stalk - this should lend itself to the sticks staying in place on the pen.

Learning about the Arapuca bird trap was one of my personal high points of being in BladeForums. Thanks again, Mac.

Doc
 
wow!
the trigger mechanism looks pretty cool and VERY simple.
I always experiment with trigger mechanisms and because I apperently suck at them, I like the most simple to make, and effective (sensitive) mechanisms.

awesome vid.
thanks.
I should try that out.
:D
 
The nice thing about this trap is that it can be made on the spot. If you find a place with lots of birds chances are there will be ample material to construct the trap within easy reach. The materials I used were gathered from a little burned out grove of arnica scrub in front of our campsite and we used jute from the fire kit. I've made these traps with bark cordage made at the same location as the trap.

I can't trap legally in Brazil so I don't ever leave them set. I do know several people who have supplimented their income (and diet) back when trapping birds was legal. They would set the traps in the morning and head off to work in the fields, then check and set the traps for the night. This is a poor man's trap for sure but they are effective. They keep on producing as well. Birds will often get spooked by a killing trap that has been reset but these are reusable and easily moved from place to place.

I wanted to have a how-to video up on my youtube page as this trap is definetely one contribution from central Brazil I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere (similar but not exactly like this one).

The arapuca is a good trap to carry in your head as it will work wherever you have ground feeding birds, dry sticks, and a bit of string. Mac
 
Neat project I'll try with my son on our next outing. Seems much more likely to succeed than a snare, about which I know nothing. I'm sure snares work, but I have a lot to learn about them. This seems VERY easy.

G
 
Thats a neat trap. I think I could actually make it. The trigger looks much simpler then a figure 4.
 
Great video. That looks a lot simpler and more effective than a lot of the other methods I've seen.
 
The arapuca is quick and easy, no special tools needed. Mechanically speaking they work very well. They are also very stable once set properly. How well you do depends on bait and location like any other trap but at least they are easy to build and quick once you get the hang of it.

Rodents will trip them and usually break out. If you are finding them tripped alot then most often it is rats or mice. When a bird trips it, he'll be there for you. MAc
 
Very cool. I've been meaning to contribute over there but time is a restriction at the moment. Thanks for the links and the embed. I'm sure that one is going to get more play.

Mac
 
Pict, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
This is a great trap to mount with no need of special tools.



Abraço de Portugal.
 
Darklight,

Lots of my videos wind up being in Portuguese. I have a sort of American Mineiro accent. Someday I'd lke to get to Africa.

Widowmaker

I should put subtitles on this one but its self explanitory.

Ate Logo,

Mac
 
One neat thing that is worth mentioning: it is a whole lot easier to find a place with lots of birds, than a place with lots of almost any other wild potential food animal. I really like having the know-how to turn this fact into food, should an emergency arise. Thanks, Mac/Pict.
 
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