3D-printed decoys are as effective as taxidermied decoys in attracting red-breasted sapsuckers for mist-netting

Abstract

Decoys often improve targeted mist-netting efforts by drawing the species of interest to a specific area nearer the net. Traditional decoy constructions include taxidermied carcasses, hand-made wood or clay figures, or professionally made products purchased from companies that provide a limited number of species, sizes, shapes, and markings. 3D-printing allows ornithologists to customize decoys to their own study species' specifications using cheap, durable, and replaceable materials. We show that red-breasted sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus ruber ruber) respond with equivocal aggression towards 3D-printed decoys and taxidermied decoys, demonstrating 3D-printed decoys as an effective tool in attracting birds towards a mist net for capture.