Embedded Files
Loggerhead Shrike*
(formerly Migrant Shrike)Lanius ludovicianusLoggerhead Shrike*
RBA members on an outing amidst searing heat on 22 July 1978, took heart when they pulled up to the Sawyer Road borrow pit near the Lake Ontario State Parkway. A family of Loggerhead Shrikes came “swooping from the hedgerow and cavorted upon the hot asphalt darting at bees and grasshoppers hovering over the pavement,” Chip Perrigo reported. “It was certainly relieving to see that at least one pair had nested in the region.” (LG, August 1978)And yet, the behavior of this family could not have been cause for celebration. In his profile of this species for The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State, Robert Spahn described how, “within a few days after fledging, 4 of 7 young produced from 3 nests in Orleans County were found dead on the road in an area with very low traffic density . . . During a 1986 study of nesting Loggerhead Shrikes, fledged young were observed to sit on road surfaces for periods as long as five minutes.” (Andrle, p. 338) These words read almost like an epitaph. For all practical purposes, this southern counterpart of Northern Shrike has been extirpated as a breeding species here, and is seldom seen even as a migrant.
Background
This is the only true shrike that occurs only in North America, breeding as far north as the Canadian prairie provinces and residing year round, often on the same territories, across the southern half of the U.S. into Mexico. It feeds primarily on insects, but also takes mammals and birds. The habit of impaling its prey “represents a unique adaptation to the problem of eating large prey without benefit of the stronger feet and talons of raptors,” notes Reuven Yosef in a profile of this species for The Birds of North America series. However, the hooked upper mandible is “functionally similar to the notched upper bill of falcons. . . .Being both passerines and top-level predators, these birds occupy a unique position in the food chain.” This species prefers open country with short vegetation, especially pastures, but also old orchards, mowed roadside, cemeteries, golf courses and agricultural fields. It no doubt benefited from the clearing of virgin forests in central and eastern U.S. during the 1800s. “During (the) first decades of 20th century, farm fields were small and included considerable acreages of grassy pastures in which (this) species thrived. Later in 20th century, change from horsepower to tractors initiated a slow decline in the East as small pastures were converted to larger crop fields with few hedgerows and trees.” Abandonment of other farms, and conversion to woodland or suburbs has also hurt this species. In mid 1900s “so many birds were observed passing through New England that reports did not include numbers of birds seen.” It has since plummeted in numbers and no longer breeds in most of northeastern range. This is one of the few North American passerines that have declined continent-wide in recent decades. (BNA 231: 1-7) Local history
With the clearing of the forests by 1870, this species had increased and “moved eastward into western and central New York, as had the Horned Lark,” Bull (1974) noted. (Bull, p. 451) First breeding in the state was documented near Buffalo in 1869, nine years after breeding was reported at Hamilton, Ontario, “suggesting movement into the state through the Niagara Frontier region,” Spahn notes. (Andrle, p. 338)Frank Lattin recounted that about 1875 he found three nests while walking one mile home in Gaines, Orleans County, which straddles the current western boundary of Region 2. (B&M, p. 354)“The high point of its abundance,” Bull added, “was apparently during the last two decades of the nineteenth century . . . The species continued to be fairly common during the first quarter of the twentieth century. Agriculture was at its zenith and pastureland with an abundance of hawthorn or thornapple was plentiful, as were apple orchards, the two preferred breeding habitats of shrikes.” For example, Eaton (1910) considered it a fairly common summer resident in Monroe County, uncommon in Livingston and also occurring in Wayne. (Eaton I: county charts) R. E. Horsey, in his listing of birds seen at Rochester and Monroe County from 1913 to 1936, indicated single birds were the norm, with a maximum count of three, but was “seen every month.”Hawthorns liberally supplied with thorns, apple trees with sharp-pointed terminal twigs, as well as the many roadside barbed-wire fences “were greatly desired by these predatory passerines for impaling their prey.” Indeed, at one time Monroe County had the largest number of documented breeding locations, according to Bull. (Bull, pp. 451-453)Four were at Reed Road (O’Hara) on 28 June 1949 (GOS, May/July 1949) and eight were reported along the west lakeshore on 7 April 1951. (GOS, April/June 1951) It was reported nesting at Bergen Swamp in 1955 (GOS, April-December 1955) when the Moons found an adult with two young in June. However its decline began as early as the 1930s. (Bull, p. 451) Tanghe, in his 1953 listing of breeding birds in the Rochester area, considered it a rare nester here, and reported it breeding at North Greece Road and in Hamlin. (GOS, May/August 1953) Indeed, when he examined 1,665 outings by Genesee Ornithological Society members from 1951-1954, this species was reported only 11 times within a 50-mile radius of Rochester during the summer months. It was encountered most frequently – 34 times – as a migrant in April. And even then average counts were usually no more than 1-3 birds. (KB 5: 69: 5A-5B)Even in 1966, this species’ unfortunate habit of flying onto roadways in search of insects and other prey was noted; when a pair apparently raised a brood successfully near Shore Acres that summer, Mary Ann Sunderlin reported picking up “one immature on the road that had been killed by a car.” (BA, 14 July 1966) Status
The Monroe County annotated list (1985) described this as a casual, rare (formerly uncommon) summer resident and an occasional, rare winter visitant. Now virtually extirpated as a breeding species in our region.Livingston County, Fox (1998) considered this a casual very rare spring transient and summer resident, but formerly a regular uncommon summer resident.
Occurrence
Spring: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 10 March to 19 April, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 23 March to 4 April. However, even earlier: one on 1 and 8 March 1953 (Listman) at Shore Acres (GOS, March/April 1953) and one on 4 March 1984 (Griffith) at Greece. (GOS, May 1984) Formerly a regular spring migrant, now seen only sporadically. One on 20 March 2006 (D. Tetlow, Griffith) at Parma was reported to be the first record since 2000. (LG, May 2006)
Spring maxima: 6 on 4 April 1956 (Kemnitzers) at Sodus Bay. (GOS, January/June 1956) 8 on 7 April 1951 (O’Hara, Folker) west lakeshore. (GOS, April/June 1951) 6 on 10 April 1965 (Starling) along the west lakeshore. (KB15: 166) 9 on 16 April 1972 (T. Tetlow) along the west lakeshore was considered “unusual.” (KB22: 129)
Summer/breeding status: As early as 1977 the “nearly complete absence” of this nester in open country here was noted. (KB 27:217) During the first BBA project a pair was observed nesting in an apple tree along the Monroe-Wayne County Line Road in 1981 and fledged two young. (BA, 23 July 1981) The only other confirmed breeding came in a cluster of three blocks near Point Breeze, where the last successful nesting may have been near the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Sawyer Road in 1983. (LG, August 1988)Even in that “very low traffic area” one of two young were killed by vehicles in 1981 and again in 1982. (KB 31: 239; 32: 273) By 2001, local observers reported it had “disappeared from the Region as a breeder and is only sporadically found during migration.” (KB 51:783) That assessment appears to have been confirmed by the second BBA project. “Possible” breeding was reported for only two blocks in Region 2 and in only four blocks statewide.Its decline has caused New York to put this species on its endangered list. “One hypothesis suggests that the abandonment of many farms and orchards, overgrown from neglect, has created unfavorable nesting habitat,” suggests an online DEC fact sheet on this species. “Roadkills and pesticide contamination may also be factors.”
Summer maxima: 6 on 24 June 1967 (Listman) at Shore Acres. (GNR) 6 on 25 June 1967 (Listman) at Parma. (GNR)
Fall: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of departure dates from 31 August to 30 October (1976), with a mid range, or “normal departure time” of 9 September to 3 October. Even later, however, were one from 16-29 November 1981 (N. Henderson) at Braddock Bay (GOS, January 1982) and one on 9 November 1984 (F. Dobson) at Kendall. (GOS, January 1985) Winter: “An individual now and then elects to remain all Winter,” Horsey and Edson noted in 1929. (“Now Is the Time to Watch for Shrikes Hunting in the Hedges,” D&C, 11 November 1929) One was at Scottsville (Nelson) on 22 January 1950 (GOS, January/March 1950); another at Nine Mile Point, Webster (R. Spahn) on 8 January 1978 – a date more appropriate for Northern Shrike. (GOS, March 1978) Yet another was reported on 29 January 1984 (M. and J. Tetlow) at Sodus. (GOS, February 1984) February records include one on 24 February 1976 (Perrigo) at Braddock Bay (KB 26:103), and another on 28 February 1975 (Weld et al) at Durand Eastman Park. (KB 25:96)
Misc.
Neil Moon was surprised to find a Loggerhead Shrike catching minnows along the parkway near East Manitou Road on 21 March 1980. “This particular shrike was perched in the top of a small tree near a grassy ditch that was flooded with spring run-off from melting snow,” Moon noted. “At least four times the shrike flew to the ditch and pounced on minnows in the shallow water that barely covered the grass in spots. The shrike jumped around in the wet grass . . . At least twice it carried a minnow to its perch but I could not determine if it ate the minnow. One time it dropped the minnow but did not retrieve it.” (GOS, May 1980)
Northern Shrike
Lanius borealis A bitter wind at the lake was the setting for a dramatic moment witnessed by members of an RBA field trip at the east spit of Braddock Bay on 22 November 1975. A Dunlin “suddenly flew by, closely pursued by another bird which turned out to be a Northern shrike, not much bigger than the sandpiper,” John Brown reported. “The sandpiper doubled, dodged and turned, but to no avail. Its relentless pursuer struck, the Dunlin dropped, and the shrike pounced, delivering the coup de grace with its strong beak. It then picked up its quarry and carried it to a nearby small tree where it wedged the neck into a crotch of a branch.” One of the birders went over to “inspect the remains” and “was treated to a couple of threatening swoops by the apparently fearless shrike.” It was last seen removing its prey and flying across several hundred feet of open water to a “more secure storage place.” (BA, 26 November 1975) “Since Peterson lists body length of Northern Shrikes at 9-10.5 inches and Dunlin at 8-9 inches, the observers were fascinated by the closeness in size of hunter and hunted,” added a note in the Little Gull. (LG, December 1975)Smaller prey attracted another shrike in the fall of 1977. During a heavy movement of migrating chickadees on 26 October, Jeanne Skelly glanced up at the West Spit and found the top of a big willow tree “covered with chickadees. . . As I watched a small group of chickadees head for the willow, I was aware of a larger bird among them. I had just identified it as a Northern Shrike, when I saw it pluck a chickadee from the flock and fly to a nearby tree. The swiftness and accuracy of the shrike amazed me. He struck the chickadee against the limb several times and then began plucking it.” (LG, November 1977)Northern Shrike
Background
“Typically perched atop a tall tree or shrub, exposed in a lollipop-like silhouette surveying its world, the Northern Shrike appears innocuous and non-predatory,” notes the profile of this species in The Birds of North America series. And yet, despite its often tame and unsuspicious nature when it winters with us, this predator is a “determined pursuer of small birds and mammals, which it impales in typical shrike manner on thorns and barbed-wire or wedges in forks of branchlets.” Northern Shrikes breed primarily in the taiga and tundra regions of Alaska and northern Canada, wintering in highly variable numbers to the south, with some individuals remaining within the breeding range. They occupy a much broader latitudinal range in Eurasia, nesting as far south as northern Africa through the Middle East to India, though southern birds there may be a separate species. Northern Shrikes seem “genetically programmed” to kill in excess of their immediate needs, storing surplus prey to compensate for their lack of a crop and small gizzard, and also because their prey can be so variable in occurrence. There is much speculation about why this bird occasionally sings in winter; one theory is that shrike songs imitate other birds, or incorporate distress sounds, or are filled with such odd gurgles and squeaks, that they help draw songbirds closer as prey. Population trends are poorly understood because this species is “naturally so sparsely and irregularly distributed over a vast range and naturally fluctuates…” (BNA 671: 1, 2, 5, 12, 15, 24)
Local history
Eaton (1914) lamented how this “bloodthirsty assassin” would impale chickadees and juncos and leave them untouched (see explanation in Background above). “However . . . considering the fact that he so often feeds upon English sparrows and meadow mice, I have no doubt he might be considered among our beneficial species. . .” He listed this winter visitor as uncommon in Monroe County, rare in Livingston and occasional in Wayne. (Eaton II: 360, I: county charts)R. E. Horsey, in his listing of birds seen at Rochester and Monroe County from 1913 to 1936, indicated single birds were the norm, with a maximum count of three, on dates ranging from 30 October to 27 March.When Leo Tanghe examined 1,665 outings by Genesee Ornithological Society members from 1951-1954, he found this species listed 94 times within a 50 mile radius of Rochester, occurring from late October through mid April, usually 1 to 3 birds. (KB 5: 69: 5A-5B)
Status
The Monroe County annotated list (1985) described this as a regular, uncommon winter visitant.Livingston County, Fox (1998) considered this a (presumably regular) uncommon to rare winter visitant.
Occurrence
Fall: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 3 October to 27 December, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 24 October to 25 November. However, single birds on 1 October 1972 at Sodus Bay (T. Tetlow) and Hamlin Beach SP (Lloyd, Sunderlin) were even earlier. (KB 23:44)A gray robin-sized bird perched high in a sapling or small tree in the middle of winter is worth a second look. Numbers fluctuate from year to year. One can get a pretty good sense of their relative abundance simply by driving through open areas, since they are fairly easy to spot. There were 15 reports in November 1986 (GOS, January 1987); 17 records in March 1954 (GOS, March/April 1954) and 17+ in January 1983. (GOS, March 1983) At least 13 were tallied in the region on 28 and 29 January 1984 – six along the parkway between Hamlin and Point Breeze, four in the Sodus area and three others south of Rochester. (LG, February 1984)During the winter of 2004-05, there were a total of 28 reports in December, 27 in January and 15 in February. (KB55: 172)On the other hand, this species was “completely unreported all winter” during the 1950-51 season. (KB 1: 2: 34) There are at least eight instances of six being seen at a time.
Other maxima: 7 on 30 November 1975 (F. and R. Dobson) west lakeshore. (GNR) 11 on 27 December 1970, Rochester CBC. (GOS, January 1971) 8 on 29 January 1956 (R. Dobson) at Payne Beach. (GOS, January-June 1956) 22 on 26 February 2004 (D. Tetlow) west lakeshore was considered “unprecedented.” (KB 54:147) 7 on 28 February 1954 (Van Beurden) along lakeshore. (GOS, January-February 1954) Spring: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of departure dates from 6 February to 26 April, with a mid range, or “normal” departure time of 14 March to 5 April. Subsequently, one on 7 May 2002 (Guerard) at Braddock Bay set a new record late date. (GNR)
Misc.
Birders who spend enough time tramping around in winter may have the kind of encounter Richard O’Hara had on 22 December 1938, while walking through the state-owned fields along Elmwood Avenue south of Highland Park. “My shrike was a beautiful adult bird . . . perched atop a bush about 5 feet (in) height. I watched him about 5 minutes . . . at about 30 feet distance. “Then he dropped down and flew rapidly, with fast beating wings and slight undulations till nearing his perch, when he rose and glided sharply upward to the topmost limb where he perched again. I watched him change perches 4 times and this was invariably the procedure.”Many people encounter this bird for the first time at their feeders. One of Frank Dobson’s friends suddenly noticed a lack of activity at his feeder during the winter of 1981-82. Then he spotted the shrike. “An unwary House Sparrow was the first victim,” Dobson reported. “After the kill, the shrike struggled for some time to pull the sparrow up into a honeysuckle bush, where it finally wedged it into a crotch.” The shrike would feed on the carcass for several minutes, then fly off, then return to feed again. “After several hours the prey would be consumed and then the shrike would show up with another unlucky house sparrow.” After a few days, the ground under the bushes “became littered with gray and brown feathers.” Then the shrike left and activity at the feeder returned to normal. (Birds, 17 January 1982)John Brown marveled at the “single-minded ferocity” of these birds. This often made it the bane of the bird bander, he reported, because they “will recklessly enter a banding trap and kill before considering a means of escape.” Two shrikes had been caught within a very short time by a Rochester bander in January 1957. “One was an adult and one an immature bird. These he banded and carried several miles away before releasing. So far they have not returned.” (BA, 17 January 1957)One in Badgerow Park on 4 December 1995 dropped into a lower branch so that this birder could watch it head on from very close range. “In fact it seems he is the one looking me over. What is interesting is that the branch – and bird – are really swaying in the breeze, but he appears to hold his head completely steady, ‘locked in’ on his target. Very impressive.” (Marcotte diary entry)
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