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This past spring I caught no fewer than 35 carrion crows in a single Larsen trap. In previous years the totals for this same trap have only been in single figures.
Our carrion crow population is divided into territory-holding pairs and non-breeders.
Territorial birds are dominant, with the males in turn dominant over the females.
Studies have shown the boundaries of a pair?s territory are most vigorously defended against unknown intruders, while familiar individuals from the adjoining territory are more likely to be tolerated.
This has the advantage of mutual defence against non-territory holders on the borders.
Thus it follows that a decoy bird brought in from some distance away is more likely to excite the residents than a local bird.
It would be interesting to hear from other readers whether they have noticed anything similar.
Given a choice of decoy bird I would always opt for the bird caught as far away as possible from the area in which I was trapping.
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