AU2003200631B2

AU2003200631B2 - Bird Trap Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2003200631B2
Application number: AU2003200631A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher R. Tidemann
Original assignee: Australian National University
Current assignee: Australian National University
Priority date: 2002-02-25
Filing date: 2003-02-25
Publication date: 2009-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-25
Also published as: AU2003200631A1; AU2009200167A1; AUPS075002A0; AU2009200166A1

Description

2-03 ;17:41 6/ 26

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant(s): The Australian National University, of Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia Actu Inventor(s): Christopher R. TIDEMANN Addre Rs for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, of I Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia Inven on Title: "Bird Trap Assembly" Detail of Associated Provisional Application No: PS0750/02 The f lowing statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of perfor ing it known to us.

Q:9"aPm*atI617655 apdo IS W 2-03:17141 7/ 26 -1- BIRD TRAP ASSEMBLY IELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to traps for birds, in particular pest bird species such as lynas, Starlings and Pigeons.

ACKGROUND

lird traps are devised for many reasons such as collection of birds for xamination, labelling or relocation. They can also be used to control nuisance pecies. Many bird trap devices are known, however, certain types of devices kill r injure the pest birds upon trapping. Some prior art traps are only operable to tch one bird at a time and require resetting for each bird trapped. Some devices equire a source of energy such as a spring, battery or the like to operate the trap.

would be highly desirable to provide a humane and efficient bird trap with no oving parts which does not require an energy source to operate, which does not quire resetting after each bird trapped and does not cause harm to the trapped irds.

UMMARY OF THE INVENTION ccordingly there is provided a bird trap assembly including an enclosure having n upper and a lower end, the upper end having a light source positioned therein, t e lower end having a passageway extending upwardly into the enclosure, the g assageway including a uni-directional valve towards its upper end, wherein the I ht source encourages birds to travel up along the passageway and through the ive into the enclosure where they are trapped.

Se enclosure is preferably composed of open wire mesh. The use of open wire esh makes the trap light and easy to transport. It is also economical and easy to semble. The enclosure can be formed from a steel frame covered with steel n esh. It can be of any shape, square, circular, conical etc. However, preferably it is tubular and elongated. In one embodiment it has a cylindrical, galvanised, t bular-steel frame, covered with galvanised steel mesh. In another form the trap has a square cross section.

At the upper end of the enclosure, the roof has a skylight positioned therein to encourage birds that have entered the passageway to move upwards towards the light. The skylight can be in the form of a clear or transparent sheet material, preferably sheet polycarbonate.

The roof at the upper end of the enclosure is preferably conical of sheet galvanised steel with an apical skylight of sheet polycarbonate. In addition or in the alternative a coloured light can be placed at the upper end of the trap. The light is preferably coloured green to imitate the light coming through a tree canopy.

The passageway extending into the enclosure from its lower end can also be made of open wire mesh. However, for birds to be attracted to the skylight above, the wire mesh passageway is preferably covered in shadecloth to block out the external light. A shadecloth may be used to cover the walls of the passageway. In a preferred embodiment, the passageway as well as the enclosure is cylindrical. The enclosure and passageway can be composed of concentric cylinders of galvanised steel mesh, the inner cylinder being covered by 70% shadecloth.

In a preferred embodiment, a perch assembly is provided in the passageway to assist the birds to travel upwards. Preferably, the perch assembly includes a central trunk and horizontal perches arranged at intervals along the trunk. The perches may be arranged so they are mutually perpendicular to assist the bird in hopping from perch to perch up towards the skylight. Even further preferably, the perches extend out of the passageway into the enclosure to provide further support positions for the birds in the enclosure.

Once the birds enter the passageway through its open end at the lower end of the enclosure, they travel upwards towards the skylight and through a uni-directional valve into the enclosure where they are trapped. Any uni-directional valve may be utilised in this invention although the size of the valve may be used to select the species of bird.

Once the birds have passed through the uni-directional valve, they are trapped in the confines of the enclosure. Food and water can be placed in the enclosure and the trapped birds can even roost overnight in the enclosure, in conditions that mimic natural roosts.

The enclosure can be easily transported, or the occupants can be humanely destroyed by 1929784 I:JIS enclosing the enclosure within a shroud and flooding it with carbon dioxide. The birds can be removed from the enclosure via an access door in the base of the enclosure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the enclosure is positioned on a base compartment, larger than the enclosure thus making it more attractive for the birds to enter. The birds in the base compartment can access the open passageway at the lower end of the enclosure. Preferably, the perch assembly within the passageway extends downwardly, roughly centrally of the base compartment to the floor of the base compartment. Thus the birds travelling upward along the perch assembly will naturally enter the open passageway up into the enclosure. The trunk of the perch assembly is preferably made of two halves and joined by a sleeve at the junction between the base compartment and the enclosure. Thus, the enclosure can be detached from the base compartment together with its portion of the perch assembly during transport of the trapped birds away from the trapping site.

The base compartment is preferably made of open wire mesh and access to the compartment is via at least one uni-directional valve. Such a valve is positioned at the lower end of the base compartment, where it meets the ground. Thus a bird can walk directly into the compartment through the valve(s). Each valve preferably includes a cover plate with a central rectangular entrance slot. The walls and roof of each valve extends into the compartment, slanting downwardly so the exist slot into the compartment is smaller than the entrance slot, preferably several times smaller. The size of the exit slot can be used to select the species of bird to be trapped. Thus, a further valve is provided with no moving parts and not requiring an energy source to operate, and can be used repeatedly to entice several birds into the enclosure.

The birds are guided to the slots by shadecloth strips stretched out around the entire circumference of the trap base, except for the slots. Also, food is provided in the base compartment. This can be achieved by the provision of a central feeding cute of wire mesh that extends from the top of the base compartment to the ground. Preferably, an elevated feeding dais is positioned next to the feeding chute so that on entry to the compartment birds hop onto the elevated feeding dais to feed from the central chute. The elevated position adds to the lack of clarity as to how the birds entered the compartment and seemingly the only way out is via the perch assembly into the passageway of the enclosure towards the skylight.

1929784 I:JIS Free feeding for several days before trapping greatly enhances trapping success.

Therefore, the valves in the side of the compartment are removed and the enclosure is placed to one side, thus birds entering the compartment can eat from the central feeding shute and leave via a portal in the roof of the compartment made accessible by removal of the enclosure. Once enough birds are visiting the trap, the enclosure is aligned with the portal in the top of the base compartment and valves are inserted into each of the openings.

Another way in which birds may be attracted into the base compartment is by the use of 1o decoy birds. Decoy birds greatly increase trapping success because of the highly social nature of nearly all pest birds, although the trap will work without them.

Decoy birds may be utilised by the provision of a second base compartment 1929784 I:JIS 2-03 17: 11/ 26 aving no entrance slots and no valves. The second compartment can be placed ext to the base compartment and the central feeding chute may be shared by oth compartments. The use of open wire mesh confuses the birds into thinking hey are entering a single compartment. The second compartment preferably has s own enclosure, similar to that described for the base compartment except it ces not include an inner passageway or valve to trap birds in its enclosure.

ather, it is open between the base compartment and the enclosure so the birds n freely enter the enclosure and fly back to the base to feed again from the ntral shute.

referably, the two compartments resemble a single cylinder with a central artition. The two enclosure structures are placed on top in the form of two etachable turrets. The bottom of each compartment is preferably uncovered and its directly on the ground, grass or pavement.

RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ome embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example nly, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: ig 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure forming part of the bird trap assembly accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

igs 2a and 2b are perspective and top views respectively of a uni-directional Nalve towards the terminus of the passageway in accordance with a first mbodiment of the inventionig. 3 is a perspective view of the enclosure, base compartment and decoy ompartment together with a decoy enclosure forming part of the bird trap ssembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

ig. 4 is a perspective view of the uni-directional valve in the base compartment in Scordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

fg. 5 is a perspective view of the feeding dais in an upright position, in S:cordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 2-03 17:41 12/ -6- IG. 6 is a schematic elevation of the bird trap assembly according to a second rmbodiment of the invention; IG. 7 is a plan view of the upper or disposal unit of the assembly shown in FIG. 6; and 8 is a plan view of the lower or base unit of the assembly shown in FIG. 6.

ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ig. 1 illustrates a trap assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of e present invention, for trapping birds such as mynas, starlings and pigeons in n efficient and humane manner. The trap assembly 10 includes a substantially bular elongated enclosure 12 having a lower end 14 and upper end 16, and inclosing a tubular passageway 18. The roof of the enclosure is shown detached or purposes of illustration.

ile it is preferred that the enclosure 12 and passageway 18 be substantially bular and elongated, more preferably in the shape of two concentric cylinders 12 nd 18, the cross sectional configuration of the enclosure and passageway can be f any preferred shape or configuration, for example, rectangular as will be escribed in relation to the second embodiment. In the embodiment shown in Fig.

the enclosure has a cylindrical, galvanised, tubular steel frame, covered with alvanised steel mesh. The passageway is made of the same material, but its als are covered in 70% shadecloth, thus blocking a substantial amount of light om entering the passageway along its length. In a preferred embodiment the nclosure is about 700mm in diameter and about 1000mm in height, and the assageway is about 250mm in diameter.

I accordance with the present invention, the passageway 18 has an opening the lower end 14 of the enclosure. Once birds have entered the passageway.

t ey are attracted up, further into the passageway 18 by the presence of a skylight in the enclosure roof 24 at the upper end 16 of the enclosure. The skylight 22 this preferred embodiment is an apical skylight of sheet polycarbonate and the r mainder of the roof 24 is of metal, preferably sheet galvanised steel. A s adecloth skirt extending from the roof junction to about 400mm below it shields 2-03:17t41 13/ 26 -7he top of the enclosure from the weather and provides reassuring cover for the irds inside.

he birds are assisted in their travel upwards by a perch assembly 26 which ncludes a central wooden trunk 28 and horizontal perches 30 which are arranged long the trunk at specific intervals so that they are mutually perpendicular. This ssists the birds in hopping from one perch to the next with ease. Although not hown in figure 1, the horizontal perches can extend through the walls of the assageway and into the enclosure 12 to provide support positions for the birds nce they have entered into the enclosure.

irds that reach the top of the perch assembly can enter the enclosure 12 through uni-directional valve 32 and are encouraged to do so by the skylight 22. The alve has two sections, an outer cylinder 34 of wire mesh and an inner section 36 f stiff wires tapering inwardly at the apex. The valve can be seen in further detail Figs. 2a and 2b.

ig 2a illustrates the outer cylinder 34 of the uni-directional valve 32, preferably of Omm wire mesh, about 100mm in height and about 100mm in diameter, covered ith 70% shadecloth (not shown). The inner section 36 is roughly conical and ade up of stiff, stainless steel wires 38 of 0.6mm diameter, spaced at about Omm around the base 40 and tapering inwardly at the apex 42. Fig. 2b is a view f the valve 32 from above showing the birds cannot travel in the reverse direction.

1 accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to assist in ttracting birds into the passageway opening 20 of the enclosure 12, the enclosure placed on a larger base compartment 50, as shown in figure 3. The base mpartment is preferably formed from one half of a cylindrical, galvanised steel ame, covered with galvanised steel mesh, although it is not essential that it is lindrical it may be of any other shape. The bottom of the base compartment 52 Spreferably uncovered and sits directly on the ground, grass or pavement.

e perch assembly 26 from the enclosure extends downwardly into the base mpartment, 54, substantially to ground level, so that birds in the base partment can hop from perch to perch up into the passageway 18. The birds e attracted into the base compartment by the presence of food within the 2-03;17:41 14/ 26 -8ompartment. A central feeding chute of wire mesh 56 extends from the top of the ase compartment to the ground. An elevated feeding dais 58 is provided on the round next to the feeding chute. Birds can access the food by entering the base ompartment via one of three slots 60 in the wire mesh of the base compartment nd hopping onto the feeding dais.

he slots 60 are fitted with uni-directional valves 68 (not shown in figure the etail of which can be seen in Figure 4.

3nce birds have entered the base compartment via the valves and stepped onto he feeding dais, they are unable to see how they entered the trap. The only way hey perceive they can leave is by climbing the perch assembly 54 Into the >assageway 18 and out of the skylight 22. However, when they follow this route hey enter the enclosure 12 and are trapped.

n accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is also provided second base compartment having no entrance slot or valves. The second base ompartment 62 has its own enclosure 64. Both base compartments can form a ingle cylindrical structure with a central partition 66, although the compartments an be separate individual structures in this embodiment, the central feeding chute accessible from both compartments. Decoy birds in the second base ompartment which are free to move between the compartment and its enclosure ttract further birds into the entrance slots 60 of the first base compartment he preferred dimensions of the cylinder forming the base compartment and the econd compartment are about 1600mm in diameter and about 1200mm in height.

irds are guided to the entrance slots 60 by 70% shadecloth strips 68 of about 00mrm in height stretched around the entire circumference of the base ompartment, except for entrance slots ig. 4 illustrates further detail of the uni-directional valves placed in the entrance ots. The three base valves 68 are rectilinear and are constructed of uare wire mesh. Each is attached to a cover plate 70 of about 500mm in height nd about 300mm wide, with a central entrance slot 60 of about 80mm wide and 0mm high. The valves are about 500mm in length and the roof 72 of each valve ants downwards from the cover plate 70 to the inner end 74, culminating in an to Sit slot 76 into the base compartment of about 80mm wide and 100mm high. The 2-03 17:41 15/ 26 -9pper end of the walls 78 of each valve can also slant downwardly in corresponding fashion to the roof.

ig. 5 illustrates the elevated feeding dais 58 in an upright position and shows the wo levels 78 and 80. Once the bird is positioned on the elevated dais to feed, it is nable to perceive how it entered the base compartment. Its natural instinct is to ravel upwardly to escape and the presence of the passageway opening and the skylight above attracts it upwardly into the passageway and into the enclosure.

^igs. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the bird trap assembly 100.

,orresponding parts of the bird trap assembly 100 have been numbered with the ame numbers preceded by the suffix The bird trap assembly 100 is generally imilar in operation to that described above in relation to the first embodiment.

he bird trap assembly 100 is square in cross-section and does not include the econd base compartment 62 or enclosure 64 for decoy birds. The entire base ortion of assembly 100 forms the base compartment 150 and the upper portion orms an enclosure 112. As will be apparent from the drawings the dimensions of le square cross-section of the enclosure 112 are smaller than those of the base ompartment 150. This allows the enclosure 112 to be telescopically mounted \ith the base compartment 150 so as to be raised and lowered. The enclosure 12 is shown in the raised position in Fig. 6 and is held in that position by pins These pins 170 are removable so as to allow the enclosure 112 to slide ownwardly into the base compartment 150 thus reducing the overall height of the ssembly for transport. The enclosure 112 is connected with the base ompartment 150 by passageways 118 which include a uni-directional valve (not hown) of the type described in relation to the first embodiment. A feeding tray 59 is also provided in the enclosure 112 to encourage the birds to move through assageways 118. Horizontal perches 130 extend diagonally across the nclosure 12. Base compartment 150 includes entrance slots 60 fitted with one ay uni-directional valves 168 of the kind described in relation to the first mbodiment. A feeding platform or dias 158 is provided above the height of lves 168 to encourage the birds to move upwardly toward the passageways 18. Base compartment 150 also includes spaced diagonally extending perches 0 which facilitate the birds climbing toward the passageways 118.

I will be apparent that the enclosure 100 of the second embodiment operates in a 2-03 :41 4 1 6/ 2 6 imirar manner to that described in relation to the first embodiment. That is. birds nter through slots 160 and move upwardly to food placed on the elevated feeding ais 158. They then are attracted upwardly by the light at the top of the assembly nd move to the top of lower compartment 150 by ascending the perches 30. The irds then move through passageways 118 and the valves (not shown) into the nclosure 112. In addition to being moveable downwardly into base compartment the enclosure 112 may also be detached and removed for disposal of the irds in a manner similar to that described above in relation to the first Imbodiment.

Ithough the present invention has been described with reference to specific mbodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognise that changes may be made form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

2-03:17:41 17/ 26 -11- HE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A bird trap assembly including an enclosure having an upper and a lower end, the upper end having a light source positioned therein, the lower end having an open passageway extending upwardly and into the .nclosure, the passageway including a uni-directional valve towards its upper end, wherein the light source encourages birds to travel up along the passageway and hrough the valve into the enclosure where they are trapped. A bird trap assembly according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure is omposed of open wire mesh. S A bird trap assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source is a kylight. A bird trap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lassageway is composed of open wire mesh covered by a 70% shadecloth. A bird trap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the uni- irectional valve is positioned at the upper terminus of the passageway and Scludes an outer cylinder and an inner substantially conical section of stiff wires t pering inwards at the apex. A bird trap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further including perch assembly enabling birds to travel up to the passageway along the perch ssembly. S A bird trap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the iclosure and passageway are concentric cylinders.
8. The bird trap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the enclosure is positioned onto a base compartment, wherein birds in the base compartment can access the open passageway at the lower end of the enclosure.
9. The bird trap assembly according to claim 8 wherein the base compartment is composed of open wire mesh. The bird trap assembly according to claim 8 or 9 wherein access to the base compartment is via at least one uni-directional valve.
11. The bird trap assembly according to claim 10 wherein the uni-directional valves are positioned at the lower end of the base compartment and are rectangular entrance slots with side walls which decrease in length and a roof which slants downwards to an exit slot much smaller than the entrance slot.
12. The bird trap assembly according to claim 11 wherein the uni-directional valves are composed of an open wire mesh and to prevent birds seeing how they entered the base compartment once they have passed through a valve.
13. The bird trap assembly according to any preceding claim, further including a decoy base compartment and enclosure positioned thereon in which birds can access and depart the enclosure freely from the decoy base compartment.
14. The bird trap assembly according to claim 13 wherein the decoy compartment and base compartment form a cylinder partitioned in two sections. A bird trap assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 or Figs. 6 to 8 of the accompanying figures. Dated 15 January, 2009 The Australian National University Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 1929784 I:JIS