V-netting with playback: an active cost-effective method for trapping small rails

Abstract

Small rails remain poorly known due to their secretive habits and the lack of adequate methods for their study. Here we describe and test a novel method for trapping small rails. The playbacked V-netting consists in the arrangement of two 12-m mist-nets placed at ground level forming a V on previously cleared trails. The bottom of the mist-net is positioned on the ground facing inwards the ?V? and staked to prevent birds from escaping. Birds are lured inside the ?V? using playback and led into the mist-nets by two people that monitor and adjust dynamically to bird responses. We tested this method across the Neotropical region with six species of Laterallus crakes, capturing 20 individuals in 20 attempts, including three Gray-breasted Crakes L. exilis, three Black-banded Crakes L. fasciatus, five Red-and-white Crakes L. leucopyrrhus, three Rufous-sided Crakes L. melanophaius, four Ruddy Crakes L. ruber, and two Rufous-faced Crakes L. xenopterus. Although variation was large, mean capture success resulted in one capture per setup. Our method for capturing small rails in tall and dense habitats provides a new, efficient, and safe alternative that is focused, actively monitored, and dynamic. It may be profitably used to trap other territorial land birds of dense and tall habitats.