Introduction to Extracting

Jon Van Arragon

Beaverhill Bird Observatory

Introduction to Extracting

• Extracting is the process of removing birds from mist nets
• At a banding station, the highest risk to a bird’s safety is during extraction
• Extracting is a hands-on skill, and must be learned through experience, the information in this guide is intended to supplement what you learn in the field
• Extracting requires good dexterity, hand-eye coordination, patience, and problem-solving ability
• Not everyone is suited for extracting
• Please remember that every role at the banding station is equally important and your skills are valuable in other roles

Introduction to Extracting

• When you are learning to extract birds, you will always be under the supervision of a staff member
• Generally, you will watch a staff member extract several birds in different stages of entanglement before trying yourself
• We will train you on bird handling and grips prior to teaching extraction
• If you find yourself stuck, confused, or not making progress on an extraction, don’t hesitate to have a staff member take over
• There is no shame in seeking help. We do this all the time!
• Don’t be discouraged when this happens, it is part of the learning process
• Don’t let pride get in the way of asking for help: remember that bird safety always comes first. There will be more birds in the future for you to practice on!

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Bird Safety Concerns: Stress

• Birds can become stressed during extraction, either due to prolonged handling or poor weather
• The important signs to watch for are if a bird starts closing its eyes and fluffing up its feathers. If this happens, immediately have a staff member take over
• In general, the more efficiently birds are removed from nets, the less stressful it is for them
• Don’t try to rush when extracting, efficiency comes with experience
• Note that hummingbirds are especially sensitive species and should only be handled by staff. We do not band hummingbirds, so they just get released at the net.
• Look for a band before releasing it!
• Hummingbird still get recorded as captures, so make a note of which net the bird was in and inform the banders so they can record it

Bird Safety Concerns: Tonguing

• Birds have a tongue that is forked backwards, and this can become tangled in the net when a bird is captured
• If you see a bird with netting in its mouth, have a staff member handle it, as it can be quite difficult to free
• Any bird can get its tongue caught, but certain species are more prone to it. These include thrushes, waxwings, and blackbirds.

Extracting Techniques

• There are many ways of untangling birds from nets, at the BBO we emphasize 2 main methods: feet first and the body grasp
• Feet first: you start the bird in the photographer’s grip untangling the bird’s feet, then the wings (typically), and then lastly the head
• This is the method we will train you on first as it is more intuitive
• Certain species should not be extracted using this technique due to having fragile legs. (See species specific section)

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Figure taken from the NABC Bander’s Study Guide

Extracting Techniques

• Body grasp: you begin by holding the bird in the bander’s grip or loosely around its body, pulling the netting forward off the head and wings, then freeing the feet last
• This technique is often faster, but is less intuitive when first learning
• The body grasp also reduces the amount of pressure on the bird’s wing and thus lessens the chance of wing strain
• Once you are proficient with this technique it is the best one to use for relatively untangled or passive birds (such as warblers)
• Certain species must be extracted using this technique

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Extracting Tips

• Getting netting off the bird’s head is often tricky when first starting out
• It is easiest to remove the netting off the bird’s head if it is held in the bander’s grip
• If you brace one of your free fingers against the bird’s bill while holding the netting, you can get a bit more leverage to pull the netting up and over the head
• This takes practice!

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Figure taken from the NABC Bander’s Study Guide

Extracting Tips

• Freeing a bird’s feet can also be quite tricky at first, but is essential to master
• The easiest way to free a bird’s foot from the net is to peel back the hind toe, then gently roll the netting off the remaining 3 toes
• If you extract a bird using the body grasp method, birds will often let go of the netting with their feet once the rest of their body is free
• When extracting a bird, be mindful of where the rest of the net is while you’re working
• If you have the bird’s feet or a wing free, try and keep these parts of the bird away from the net so they do not get retangled
• Be especially mindful of this if you need to rotate or reposition a bird: don’t rotate the parts of the bird you just untangled back into the net and lose all your progress!
• Do not flinch if a bird bites you!
• While a bird’s bite can hurt, flinching suddenly while the bird is still tangled can injure it

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Extracting: Order of Priority

• If you come up to a net with a lot of birds in it, radio for help and then plan the order you will extract them in before you begin
• Birds should be prioritized according to these guidelines:
• 1^st: Any bird in immediate distress or danger should be extracted right away
• 2^nd: Smaller birds that are next to larger birds
• 3^rd: Sensitive species such as flycatchers or hummingbirds (a list of these species can be found posted on the wall of the lab)
• Once all priority birds have been extracted, remove birds from the bottom pocket of the net first, and then work upwards one pocket at a time
• Any prioritized birds should have their bird bags marked with a priority pin. These are located on the net guy lines.

Extracting Tips

• When extracting birds from higher levels of the net, lower the net so that the bird is no higher than shoulder height before extracting it
• If other people are extracting at the same net, communicate with them before pulling the net down
• In the case of a difficult extraction where the bird’s safety is a concern, the scissors you carry can be used to cut a bird out of the net
• This is a last resort and only minimal netting should be cut.
• As a volunteer you should pass the bird off to a staff member rather than do this yourself
• Crochet hooks are handy tools for extracting and can be used anytime to manipulate the net when it is difficult to do so with your fingers
• They are especially helpful when the netting is caught tightly around a bird’s wing

Species-Specific Tips: Robins

• Robins are one of the largest birds we regularly catch and can be somewhat tricky to handle as a result
• Robins have strong legs and will kick frequently while being handled, so it’s important to always have a solid grip on them
• If any bird gets away from you, don’t try and grab it. Just let it fly away!
• Avoid extracting robins feet first as they can dislocate or break legs easily

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Species-Specific Tips: Large Sparrows

• Larger sparrows such as White-throated, White-crowned, and Song Sparrows also tend to kick a lot when handled
• These sparrows can suffer leg dislocations if held in an improper photographer’s grip and thus require extra care during extraction
• These birds should be extracted using body grasp when possible. If you need extract these feet first, be extra certain that the fingers holding the bird’s legs are tight up against its body.

Species-Specific Tips: Kinglets

• Kinglets are the smallest songbirds we capture, so they require extra care during extraction and handling
• Kinglets have very thin and delicate legs that are easily broken
• Avoid extracting these birds feet first

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Species-Specific Tips: Blackbirds

• Blackbirds have very strong feet and often clench the net tightly when captured
• The best approach with these birds is often to leave the feet until last, as they will often let go of the net once the rest of their body is free
• If you need to free their feet first, remember to peel back the hind toe, then roll the netting off the remaining 3 toes by gently rolling it forward

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Species-Specific Tips: Grosbeaks and Woodpeckers

• It is always best to remove grosbeaks and woodpeckers from the net using the body grasp method since their bites and pecks are very painful
• If you need to extract them feet first, transfer them to bander’s grip the second you have the feet and one wing free
• You can give them something to bite on
• Remember: even if you get bit, it’s important not to flinch

Species-Specific Tips: Chickadees

• Chickadees are one of the hardest birds to extract thanks to their feisty nature, they will bite you the entire time you are extracting them
• It is often easier to use the body grasp method and do the feet last when possible, as chickadees tend to hold the net tightly
• Remember not to flinch when you get bit and just know extracting these birds takes extra patience

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Signature look of indignant fury

Species-Specific Tips: Raptors

• Raptors have sharp talons that can be quite dangerous, so call a staff member for help right away if one is caught in the net!
• The grips for larger raptors are different than those used for songbirds, we will show you if we get the chance

Final Notes

• Remember that not everyone makes a good extractor, and that’s ok. If it isn’t for you, there’s lots of other ways to get involved at the BBO!
• Don’t be discouraged if you need to ask for help frequently at first, this is how you learn
• And remember that bird safety always comes first!

Great Horned Owl

• Her name is Tansi (pronounced tawn-say)
• She prefers to sit on top of the box, rather than inside it
• She is super cute but also a sassy weirdo

That’s All!

• Contact information if you have questions:
• Jana Teefy, Head Biologist: biologist@beaverhillbirds.com
• Jon Van Arragon, Assistant Biologist: assistant.biologist@beaverhillbirds.com