Table Of ContentGL684
Meadowlark
. 13
M4
v. 9
no. 3
2000
A JOURNAL OF ILLINOIS BIRDS
Volume 9, Number 3 2000
S■T V: Vs y \f *a I\ %x \ 11 yyj.
Mm. i It!
Illinois Ornithological Society
Publisher
President’s Message
Illinois Ornithological Society
I remember Mr. Cantor. He was my older brother’s high school
Geoff Williamsom, President
biology teacher, and he led bird walks at the school every Wednesday
Sheryl De Vore, Chief Editor
morning during spring and fall. My brother knew I was interested in birds
Keith McMullen, Vice-President
so he arranged for me to go on one of the walks. It was with suspense
Michael Hogg, Treasurer and uncertainty that I arrived that morning, and when Mr. Cantor asked
Board of Directors me if I had binoculars, I had to sheepishly say, “No.” But that was no
Steven D. Bailey problem: the trunk of his car was filled with spare pairs and I could
Vic Berardi borrow one. Wow!
Mary Hennen
Then the fun started. I was introduced to Barn Swallows, whipping
Michael Hogg
across the ball fields as we approached the adjacent woods. It didn’t
Keith McMullen
matter that I couldn’t quite get the binoculars on the swallow, because
Robert Montgomery
soon we were looking at the meadowlark perched on a post. After enter¬
Joe Suchecki
ing the woods, Mr. Cantor was telling our group that the bird saying
Douglas Stotz
“teacher Teacher TEACHER” was an Ovenbird. A what? I had no clue
Geoff Williamson
what an oven bird was, nor did I have a clue as to how he found this little
Recording Secretary
thing, motionless, but singing, in the middle of the woods. With great
Denis Bohm
patience, he got me on my lifer Ovenbird. I also remember Dick Evans.
Associate Editors
I met Dick through the Cayuga Bird Club in Ithaca, New York, the first
Steven D. Bailey
bird club I ever joined. Dick took me on my first Christmas Bird Count.
Paul R. Clyne, David B. Johnson
He let me look through his telescope at my first Common Loon. He
Christine Williamson
passed to me countless tidbits of bird lore, explained to me why this bird
Staff Photographers
was this and that bird was that. When I was getting ready to move to
Joe B. Milosevich
Chicago he told me, “I’ll bet you'll see a lot of Dickcissels out there.”
Dennis Oehmke
He was right. I think of Dick every time I see one.
Staff Illustrators
Here in Chicago and in Illinois I’ve met many others who have gener¬
David Athans, Denis Kania
ously shared their passion for birds with me. My life is very much the
Brian K. Willis
richer for it. I’m still learning, and through IOS I continue to meet people
Pre-Press Production
like Mr. Cantor and Dick Evans who open windows big and small to help
Kathy Ade
me better experience the birds around me. I am deeply in debt to all the
Printing
people who have given so much to me through birds and birding.
CityWide Printing
Des Plaines, Illinois One of IOS's objectives is “To encourage others to become interested in
birds and birding in Illinois.” I hope we all make this one of our own,
Membership Secretary
personal objectives, and take advantage of every opportunity to give back
Denis Bohm
to the birding community and to the public at large what we’ve been so
Editorial Advisory Board
lucky to receive. I know I feel privileged to do so. Take a first-time
Steven D. Bailey
Christmas Counter out. Speak to community groups, and introduce them
Laurence C. Binford
to birds. Spread the word about our birds. Not only does it make a
Dale Birkenholz, H. David Bohlen
difference, but you'll also enjoy sharing what you have to offer other folks.
Kenneth J. Brock,Victoria J. Byre,
Robert T. Chapel, Mary Hennen Through IOS you’ll have many opportunities to learn from your
Scott Hickman, L. Barrie Hunt fellow members. Take advantage of these. Also take advantage of your
Vernon M. Kleen, Peter Lowther opportunities to share what you have to offer. Together we can bring
William Moskoff the wonder the birds to everyone around us.
Scott K. Robinson
W. Douglas Robinson
Robert Szafoni, David Willard
MEADOWLARK
A Journal of Illinois Birds
Volume 9, Number 3 - 2000
ISSN 1065-2043
Visit Our Website at: http://www.chias.org/ios
Articles
__
Letter from the editor
Many of you probably don’t know that Coral
The Widespread Invasion of Northern Shrikes 82
Ackerman introduced me to birding. I was a young
(Lanins excubitor) in Illinois in winter 2000/2001
reporter at the time (15 or 16 years ago) and saw
with comments on the species'
a press release about a College of Lake County
non-breeding demographics
birding class. 1 decided to write a story about it. The
- Steven D. Bailey
first class, I saw a duck. Not just any duck. A blue¬
winged teal. A duck with soft-blue patches on its
wings when in flight. A Remarkable First Illinois Record: 91
Do you remember the excitement of finding Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum)
your first Hooded Warbler? Black-throated Blue Pam Sprout
-
Warbler? Connecticut Warbler? 1 do. I found them
all at Ryerson Woods. I can tell you exactly where 1
A Rare Central Illinois Record for 93
saw them, and I have Coral Ackerman to thank for
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombi/cilla garrulus)
introducing me to the Lake County Forest Preserves.
Dave Johnson instilled in me a passion for
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 94
breeding birds. One day 10 or more years ago, 1 ran
into him at the post office and he said, “Hey, want to Livens Winter in Urbana
do some breeding bird atlases?” He gave me a block in - Elizabeth J. Chato
Grayslake, Illinois, and 1 spent one of the happiest
summers of my life finding birds and nests and adults
The 1999/2000 Illinois Christmas Bird Count 95
feeding young, and learning about bird behavior.
- David B. Johnson
Seeing young Spotted Sandpipers trying to pump
their not-yet-developed tails, or hearing the distinctive
call of Yellow-headed Blackbird young begging for Departments
_
food in a marsh - that was heaven on earth.
Many IOS members have helped me understand The 1999/2000 Winter Season 107
the finer points of bird identification and bird distri¬ - Kelly J. McKay
bution - people like Steve Bailey, Eric Walters, my
friends from the Palos region, and my friends from
southern Illinois. The people who willingly share
their knowledge and expertise with others are those
who make a difference that will reverberate long
after they are gone.
I’ll let you in on a secret. When you teach, you
learn. You also experience an indescribable joy.
What strikes me most about teaching birding classes
is that I get to experience vicariously through them,
About Our Cover:
what it’s like to see or hear your first Sedge Wren,
Dickcissel, Kentucky Wabler, White-eyed Vireo... Peter Olson drew the cover art of a Scott’s Oriole. See
Please share your knowledge. Teach others. Not page 91 for an account of a first Illinois record of this species.
only for them. But also for you. Peter is a professional artist working at the Northern Illinois
University Art Museum. You can view his work on line at
www.nature-as-metaphor.com
Sheryl De Vore
Natural Editions Copyright© by the Illinois Ornithological Society. No pail of this journal may be
sde vore @ voyager, net reproduced without the written permission of IOS and the chief editor, except brief
passages of a paragraph or less in which attribution is made to the journal and author.
Vol. 9, No. 3 81
The Widespread Invasion of
Northern Shrikes (Lanius excubitor)
in Illinois in winter 1999/2000 with comments
on the species' non-breeding season demographics
by Steven D. Bailey
N
orthern Shrikes south as St. Louis, and the
(Lanins excubitor) have last report of the species for
been little studied over this region was on 19 Feb¬
much of their circumboreal ruary 1950 in St. Charles
range, especially for the County (Webster Groves
North American population Nature Study Society 1998).
(Davis 1937, Davis & However Mengel’s (1965)
Morrison 1988, Atkinson reference to this species as
& Cade 1993). This fact is “casual” for Kentucky, and
especially true of winter¬ specimen evidence for Ten¬
ing birds in North America. nessee (see Robinson 1990)
Therefore, any findings on suggest that birders in
this species, even if anec¬ southern Illinois should not
dotal, are valuable additions assume that every shrike is
to the natural history of Il¬ a Loggerhead.
linois’ avifauna.
The widespread nature
The incursion of North¬ of the 1999/2000 Northern
ern Shrikes in Illinois the Shrike invasion was also
t<jL i
J
winter 1999/2000 season WAm#' evident in other parts of the
may well have been one of country. “The winter of
-M ^
the largest, if not the larg¬ 1999/2000 was one of the
est, in the state’s history. largest and most wide
Bohlen (1989) mentions no spread (invasions of North¬
particularly large irrup¬ ern Shrike) on record,” said
tions, but see Chapel (1999) and Immature Northern Shrike in a Matt Young, bird population studies
Graber et al. (1973). Based on the Downers Grove (DuPage County) researcher for the Cornell Lab of
number of birds reported, the incur¬ backyard. 31 January 2000. Photo by Ornithology. “We broke a record,
sion is larger than any previous ones, Karen Fisher. seeing 9 just on the Ithaca Christmas
including what was the largest docu¬ Bird Count alone,” he said. Re¬
mented invasion before this writing, ernmost documented Northern Shrike searchers for the Lab’s Birdsource
in the winter of 1995/1996 (Danley for the state. Interestingly, an observer program, utilizing volunteer report¬
1996). also reported a Northern Shrike for ers across the U.S., showed large
Even more noteworthy, however, nearby St. Charles County, Missouri, numbers moving into the Northwest,
is the extent to which the species (approximately 20 miles from the Midwest, and even the extreme
penetrated the state. Observers re¬ Madison County bird) from at least southwestern part of the species’
ported at least 24 separate central 12 December 1999 through 3 January range in central and southern New
Illinois records, and even one for 2000, an exceptional record (see Mexico during November and De¬
southern Illinois in Madison County. Robbins and Easterla 1992). The cember. Unfortunately no data were
If accepted by the Illinois Ornitho¬ Northern Shrike is considered hypo¬ available for January and February
logical Records Committee, the Madi¬ thetical in the St. Louis, Missouri when more southerly penetrations
son County record will be the south- region. It is seldom observed as far may have been noticed.
82 Meadowlark
Subspecies and Status season, at least 105 Northern Shrikes
were seen in 32 Illinois counties. Of
The Northern Shrike is also known
that number, 80 birds were reported
as the Great Grey Shrike in Europe.
from 20 northern Illinois counties,
The scientific name, Lanins excubitor,
and a record 24 birds were reported
can be roughly translated as sentinel
from 11 central Illinois counties, plus
or watchman butcher, or the watchful Table 1.
the aforementioned southern Illinois
butcher (Terres 1991). Illinois birds A summary of
record (Table 1). Of these, 39 were
are presumably from the L. e. borealis Northern Shrikes reported by
reported on Christmas Bird Counts
race (Bohlen 1989), which nests from county during the 1999/2000
(CBCs), plus an additional during
northeastern Ontario to northeastern winter season in Illinois.
count week. Another was found on
Labrador, although this would assume
an Illinois/Iowa CBC, but is not in¬
the birds entering Illinois would ei¬
County No. Birds Age cluded because it was observed in
ther have to cross the narrow land
Iowa. Graber et al. (1973) found
DuPage 17 5a,3i,9u
bridge in Michigan's Upper Penin¬
Northern Shrikes were fairly uni¬
Cook 16 7a,4i,5u
sula, then work their way due west,
formly distributed from 20 October
Lake 14 10a,4u
and then south along Lake Michigan,
through March, except for three
Will 6 5a, li
or they would fly west, then southeast
definite peaks - in late October, late
McDonough 5 3a, li.lu
around Lake Superior. It would be
March, and during the Christmas Bird
DeWitt 4 3a, li
just as likely that some birds observed
Count period. The Grabers suspected
Sangamon 4 3a, li
in Illinois are coming from the ex¬
inaccuracy in some of the October
Winnebago 4 3a, 1 i
treme eastern populations of L. e.
and March records of Northern
Jo Daviess 3+ 2a, 1 u
invictus, with the closest populations
Shrikes, since those months overlap
McHenry 3 2a, li
of that subspecies breeding in north¬
with Loggerhead Shrike migration.
Champaign 3 la, li.lu
western Quebec and northern
However, today ornithologists gen¬
Lee 3 2a,li
Manitoba. These populations are only
Boone 2 la.li erally believe Northern Shrike mi¬
relatively slightly farther away and
gration also occurs during these
Ogle 2 2u
would enter Illinois from the north¬
Vermillion 2 2a periods. December through early
west with the prevailing fall north¬
January, Northern Shrikes retreat
Carroll 1 + lu
westerly winds. However, few sight¬
from increased cold and snow cover
Cass 1 la
ings have been reported in Missouri,
farther north.
DeKalb 1 la
even though it would be expected
Grundy 1 la The first shrike appeared on the
that birds of the invictus subspecies
Henderson 1 la near record early date of 10 October
would visit here if they visited Illinois
Kane 1 la 1999, an immature at Northwestern
(see Robbins and Easterla 1992). A
Kendall 1 la University landfill in Evanston, noted
check of museum specimens, which
Iroquois 1 la by Josh Engel and Bob Hughes. The
are few and far between, would be
LaSalle 1 la last report was the latest since the
needed to confirm the hypothesis.
Madison 1 la 1995/96 invasion. The report came
As summarized by Chapel (1999),
Marshall 1 la from Sangamon County in central
the status of the Northern Shrike in
McLean 1 la Illinois on 29 March 2000, where it
Illinois, especially in central Illinois,
Piatt 1 la was noted by D. Bohlen as “very
has changed rather dramatically. Birds
Rock Island 1 la actively fly-catching.’’ Of the 105
are now observed annually in central
Stephenson 1 la birds seen, 61 (58%) were identified
Illinois, where until the mid-1980s the
Whiteside 1 la as adults and 15 (14%) as immatures.
species would have been considered
Woodford 1 la The rest, 29 (28%) were not aged. In
accidental by the number of sight
addition, observers reported at least 4
records (see IORC 1999). Changes in
Total Birds N= 105 Loggerhead Shrikes, 3 in northern
observer effort and ability, at least in a = adult, i = immature, u = unknown
Illinois and 1 in central Illinois, as
central Illinois, would not seem to be Total Adults: N = 61(58%)
well as several shrike species. Ex¬
Total Immature: N = 15( 14%)
the reason for this increase, as many
Total Unknown: N = 29(28%) treme dates of arrival and departure
of the pre mid-1980s observers are
N = Northern Illinois, for Northern Shrikes in Illinois are 7
responsible for most of the recent
C = Central Illinois, October 1981 at Illinois Beach State
records as well (pers. obs.). S = Southern Illinois
Park and 16 April 1932 at Blue Island
In all, for the winter 1999/2000
Vol. 9, No. 2 83
(Cook Co.) (Bohlen 1989). central Illinois. Perhaps a Northern timal areas. It would be interesting to
Shrike incursion causes at least some know if a latitudinal segregation oc¬
Identification
observers to look more closely at any curs within this species with respect
At this point, it makes sense to say shrike they come across, while caus¬ to age and/or sex. This type of differ¬
a few words about shrike identifica¬ ing others to I.D. (perhaps incorrectly) ential migration has been noted in
tion. A juvenile Northern Shrike is a shrike simply by location. many species such as Dark-eyed
Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, and
easy to separate from Loggerhead and In separating the two shrikes, ob¬
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Howell
Northern adults. Juvenile Northern servers should look for several differ¬
Shrikes are broadly washed in brown ent field marks. Several excellent ar¬ 1953, King et al. 1965, Ketterson and
Nolan l976),tonameafew. Kerlinger
over much of the dorsal area, and the ticles discuss some of the more sa¬
and Lein (1986) showed another cy¬
wing coverts, tertiaries, and second¬ lient field marks (see Zimmerman
aries are edged with brown, and even 1955, Baleh 1988, Granlund 1995) I clical species, the Snowy Owl, has a
the bar through the eye is dull brown. can do no better than repeat these preponderance of 1st year birds in
some areas during their irruptive
Juvenile Northerns also usually have criteria (from Baleh 1988) for sepa¬
much stronger barring on the ventral rating Loggerhead and Northern movements, as well as a segregation
surface than adults. If a shrike is not Shrikes: of males and females.
seen well enough to deter¬
Territories
mine the age, then it’s prob¬
The bird is a Northern Shrike if it has any of the
ably not been seen well One problem encoun¬
following:
enough to be called a Log¬ tered when trying to sort
• A larger, longer, heavier bill. through the Northern Shrike
gerhead or Northern.
• Much white or gray in the lores (a broken mask) with reports from regions with ex¬
All the popular field
ceptional concentrations the
conspicuous whitish feathers at the base of the upper
guides, including National
winter of 1999/2000 was
mandible.
Geographic, oversimplify
determining just how many
the ease to which these two • A white spot below the eye.
birds were actually present.
species can be separated. • Light color on the bill after mid-February
The problem was especially
Kaufman (1990) apparently
• Light color on the upper mandible (any month).
true for Fermi-Lab and
does not consider the chal¬
The bird is a Loggerhead Shrike if it has any of the Morton Arboretum in
lenges of separating the spe¬
following: DuPage County, as well as
cies difficult enough to de¬
the numerous sightings
• A smaller, stubbier bill.
serve mention in his ad¬
around Clinton Lake in cen¬
vanced birding guide. Yet • An all dark bill before mid-March.
tral Illinois. Northern Shrikes
many shrikes go unidenti¬ • Black nasal tufts.
occupy large territories dur¬
fied over a large part of their • Black feathers at the base of the upper mandible. ing both the breeding and
range where temporal as¬
winter ranges; this phenom¬
pects of their migration or winter range
enon occurs across the species’ range.
place them together. In fact, the aver¬ Along with the high numbers of
Some Ohio Northern Shrikes hunted
age annual departure date for Logger- shrikes, a significant percentage of over great circular routes. An observer
head Shrike in Sangamon County is immatures (14%) was observed in the followed one Northern Shrike for 2.5
one week after the earliest arrival 1999/2000 winter population in Illi¬ miles during 30 minutes, and it still
dates for Northern Shrike in the state nois. Typically, most birds in Illinois had not completed its circle
(Bohlen 1989). Bohlen also shows are reported as adults. The only other (Zimmerman 1955). Atkinson (1993)
many of the earliest spring arrivals age-related data I could find for this measured average wintering territo¬
for Loggerhead as being before or species’ occurrence in winter was ries of six color-banded and six radio-
near the same time as departures of McPeek & Adams (1994) for Michi¬ tagged birds in Idaho and found the
the latest wintering Northern Shrikes. gan birds. Specimen data who “most average shrike occupied 540 acres,
Additionally, one or more Logger- of our winter visitors to be immature although more than one-half of the
heads are relatively frequently found birds.” Voles represent a large part of activity was confined to a core area of
wintering in central and or northern the Northern Shrike's diet in its north¬ about 125 acres. In Sweden, scien¬
Illinois. The 1999/2000 winter sea¬ ern breeding grounds as well as the tists estimated 3.7 wintering individu¬
son was no exception; as mentioned wintering grounds. It’s possible that als occupied approximately 35 square
above, at least 3 Loggerheads were in years when the vole cycle crashes, miles each (Lefranc 1997). It is un¬
reported in northern Illinois, and 1 in adults force immatures out of the op¬ clear if any of these studies occurred
84 Meadowlark
during invasion years. Given that Illi¬ perches (utility lines and scattered,
nois lies at the periphery of this species’ medium-sized trees). At least three
wintering range, especially central Illi¬ other sites in central Illinois during
nois, territories are probably even larger the 1999/2000 season included linear
in the state. This may also be partially sites, all along Interstate right-of-
due to habitat fragmentation and degra¬ ways. These sites could be some of
dation. In addition, the density of the the only substantial wintering habitat
wintering western subspecies seems to available in the corn and soybean
be higher than the density of eastern desert of central Illinois (R. Chapel,
subspecies (Cade 1967). Given these pers. comm., pers. obs.). Unfortu¬
data, I felt it prudent to eliminate some nately, these kinds of territories have
multiple bird sightings in DuPage also been shown to create a high source
Adult Northern Shrike. Lake Villa,
County and Clinton Lake. of mortality for shrikes (Lefranc
Illinois. Lake County. The bird
A number of the birds observed dur¬ stayed a remarkable 120 days. It 1997).
ing the 1999/2000 invasion appeared to was first seen on 25 October 1999
Site fidelity
set up fairly discrete territories. Although and last seen 21 February 2000.
it is impossible to tell if any of these Photo by Richard Biss. Studies as well as numerous anec¬
birds were actually the same individuals dotal accounts strongly suggest the
noted on subsequent visits, it is likely 25 Oct. - 21 Feb., and Ron Beese Northern Shrike is site faithful to win¬
many were. In several cases, some of Park (117 days) 19 Nov. - 14 Mar. ter territories, and possibly even mi¬
the birds could even have been birds All of these were adults and repre¬ gration stop-over sites. Site fidelity
seen in previous winters at those loca¬ sent exceptional attempts by the may be an important strategy in this
tions (see Rimmer and Darmstadt 1996). two birders involved (Carolyn species’ life cycle for surviving the
However, some of the shrikes birders Fields and Richard Biss) to find non-breeding season, since winter
thought were the same individual could and report their sightings. The long¬ mortality has been suggested as the
have been other birds. For example, est downstate area reporting a shrike consequence of an inability to main¬
Atkinson (1993) noted that after one of was Dave Bohlen’s immature bird tain home ranges (Rimmer &
his study birds died, another appeared in at Lake Springfield (113 days) from Darmstodt 1996). In fact. Cade &
the same territory within a week. And 8 Dec. - 29 Mar. Northern Shrikes Swem (1995) postulate the survival
this phenomenon occurred in a region were also reported from Fermi-Lab of these shrikes during the winter
where densities of wintering birds are from 28 Oct. - 9 Mar., but due to season is never high enough to allow
lower than in the East. lack of information it was not pos¬ nesting populations to reach their
sible to determine how many indi¬ potential carrying capacity in the
Fourteen locations, involving seven
viduals may have been involved at breeding ranges. (See also Cadman
counties, reported Northern Shrikes for
any one location. 1985 and Brooks 1988.) That theory
a period of two months or longer (in¬
may be the reason large areas that
cluding eight with stays of over three Linear habitats also appear to
seem suitable for breeding and win¬
months). All but one of these (Sangamon be important for wintering North¬
tering grounds for Northern Shrikes
Co.) involved northern Illinois areas, ern Shrikes. Territories of three
are not utilized, and it also may be the
especially Cook, Lake, and DuPage birds near Frondenberg, Germany,
reason why territories in Illinois dur¬
Counties. An additional seven locations were found to be approximately
ing the winter, are so large.
reported birds for over a month. Most 100 to 150 acres, with each being a
other sightings were of only one or a few long strip along the banks of the Many Illinois observers men¬
days, especially those that were reported Ruhr River (Mester 1965). At the tioned to me that areas where they
from CBCs. Of those identified to age, Idaho study site, each of the 12 saw Northern Shrikes in the 1999/
all but two were adults. The average territories contained two or three 2000 season were the exact areas
length of stay for the 14 longest over¬ types of linear habitats, which in¬ where they saw shrikes in past win¬
wintering areas was about 98 days, or cluded country roads (with utility ters (D. Johnson, J. Milosevich, D.
well over three months. The four areas lines for perches) and riparian Wenny, B. Glass, M.J. Easterday, D.
where shrikes were noted the longest stretches (Atkinson 1993). I have Williams, G. Wagner pers. comm.).
were from Cook and Lake Counties, observed similar linear habitats in Illinois’ birding listserve, IBET (Illi¬
with sightings from Crabtree Nature central Illinois birds, including nois Birders Exchanging Thoughts)
Center (142 days) 24 Oct. - 13 Mar., roadsides where favored habitat also had posts with the same com¬
Paul Douglas Forest Preserve (138 days) (thorny scrub and wet meadow) ments. Regions where the phenom¬
30 Oct. - 15 Mar., Lake Villa (120 days) was combined with convenient enon seemed to be the most pro-
Vol. 9, No. 2 85
nounced include Cook, Lake, and High counts for Illinois appear to other bird of prey in response to fluc¬
DuPage Counties. Fermi-Lab be 8 (Waukegan CBC) 1 January tuating rodent numbers, that species
(DuPage County) and Illinois Beach 1996; 7 (Fermi-Lab CBC) 16 Decem¬ would be the Northern Saw-whet Owl,
State Park (Lake County) seem to be ber 1995; 6 (Kishwaukee CBC) 30 whose prey base might overlap with
especially common areas to find December 1995; 5 (Evanston CBC) the shrike’s prey base. In the winter of
Northern Shrikes on any given winter 30 December 1995; and 5 (Fermi-lab 1995/1996, observers reported record
in Illinois (see DeVore 2000). It’s CBC) and 5 (Lisle Arboretum CBC) movements of Northern Shrikes and
likely some of the same birds return 18 and 19 December 1999 respec¬ Northern Saw-whet Owls nation¬
year after year to the same site in tively (Johnson & Stokie 1996, D. wide. If nothing else, a connection
Illinois. Karl Bartel of Blue Island, Johnson, personal communication). may exist between the two species
Illinois, banded a Northern Shrike at A non-CBC high count of 3 was seen since both have difficulties finding
Palos (Cook County) in November at Illinois Beach State Park on 13 prey after heavy snows or extreme
1981, then retrapped it in fall 1982 November 1983 (Mlodinow 1984). drops in temperatures, when favored
and on 13 January 1983, demonstrat¬ prey become unavailable. LeBaron
Like the Davis & Morrison (1988)
ing winter site fidelity for this species (1996) noted this possible relation¬
study, Atkinson (1995) found North¬
in Illinois. Winter site fidelity has ship as well, and mentioned a record
ern Shrike winter numbers have been
been shown several times throughout movement of Northern Saw-whet
cyclic, but only in the eastern subspe¬
the species’ range (Rimmer & Owls, although they apparently did
cies from 1960 to 1989. His data
Darmstadt 1996). not irrupt as far as Illinois that year
showed the most significant cycles
were of eight years duration, and (see Johnson & Stokie 1996).
Cycles
showed a pulse of shrikes in the east
Habitat
National CBC data from 1900 every four and 15 years. Western
through 1980 show that Northern shrikes appeared to have two rela¬ Reports of wintering Northern
Shrikes go through irregular series of tively strong pulses at four- and nine- Shrikes invariably associated these
cycles or fluctuations. Davis & year intervals. birds with riparian or other mesic
Morrison (1988) showed the abun¬ areas where wet, tussocky grasses
Researchers have hypothesized
dance of shrikes was cyclical, from provided good habitat for its favored
that Northern Shrike irruptions corre¬
about 1900 to 1940, then fluctuated prey species, voles and small birds
late well with Snowy Owl invasions.
irregularly after 1950, with the last (Atkinson 1993). Most accounts of
Davis (1949) offered data disputing
big fluctuation (up to 1988) occurring the Northern Shrike's winter habitat
the hypothesis. Snowy Owls from
from 1956 to 1958. Their study shows from other mid-western states are
1947-1969 had peaks that corre¬
cyclicity is temporary, at least for rather vague and can be summed as
sponded well to shrike invasions, but
some species including Northern open areas with scattered trees and
only four times, and after 1965, the
Shrike. They also state the typical bushes (see Mumford and Keller 1984,
synchrony ended (Davis & Morrison
predator-prey relationship may not Peterjohn 1989. Robbins 1991, Kent
1988). Research in Arctic Alaska
necessarily be the only reason for and Dinsmore 1996). The same can
showed lemmings, a major prey base
fluctuation in this species’ numbers. be said of Illinois birds. However,
of Snowy Owls, were not a major
Atkinson (1993), analyzing CBC prey base of Northern Shrikes (Cade reports garnered from IBET during
data, found that unlike the Logger- 1967). Additionally, Northern Shrikes the 1999/2000 invasion as well as
head Shrike, both the eastern and west¬ are rare or absent in most places where my past experience show the birds
ern subspecies of the Northern Shrike lemmings are cyclic, and no real cor¬ overwhelmingly seem to prefer
have been reported in a greater pro¬ relation between shrikes in western habitats in Illinois with a large per¬
portion of CBCs over the past three states and declines of lemmings ex¬ centage of marsh or at least wet. gras¬
decades. Bias such as observer aware¬ ists (Davis 1974). Limited attempts to sy areas. Bohlen (1989) also states
ness and identification skills, better correlate winter shrike movements they “seem to prefer marshy situa¬
optics, and other reasons are given as with large invasions of one of its tions” in Illinois.
possible explanations for this increase, common prey bases, small birds, From site locations described on
although I would reject that explana¬ showed no clear associations (Bent IBET, the wintering habitat of North¬
tion for the increase in central Illinois 1965). Based on these findings, it’s ern Shrikes in Illinois occurred in
records. It does seem clear, however, more probable that Northern Shrikes and around the perimeters of shallow
that in light of this species’ apparent are cyclic in response to their own, and deep water marshes (e.g., McKee
decline in numbers in the eastern U.S, more localized prey. Marsh, Moraine View State Park,
CBC data showing an increase in num¬ Volo Bog State Natural Area, Cuba
It also seems to me it’s more likely
bers does contain biases, which may Marsh Forest Preserve, Goose Lake
that if shrikes corresponded with an¬
mask actual declines (Atkinson 1993). Prairie State Park, Nelson Lake
r
86 Meadowlark
Marsh), the edges of rivers or lakes bird at Camp Sagawau in the Palos
(e.g. Horseshoe Lake, Clinton Lake, area of southwestern Cook County
Windfall Lake, Third Lake, Kish- the winter of 1999/2000. Simms said,
waukee River, Rock River, Lake “My fingers will remember this for a
Michigan, Silver Lake, Lake Shab- long time.” Cade (1967) summarizes
bona. Lake Springfield, Sangchris the actual treatment of both avian and
Lake State Park, Baker's Lake, Her¬ mammalian prey, but says “the attack
rick Lake), and sites in wet prairie is always immediately directed at the
and other marshy habitat (Chain O’ neck of the quarry... the cervical ver¬
Lakes State Park, Fermi-Lab, Crabtree tebrae often being severed in two or
Nature Center, Meredosia National three places,” exactly as in falcons.
Wildlife Refuge, West Chicago Prai¬ Cade continues: shrikes "usually catch
Illinois’ southernmost documented
rie, Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, birds in their feet... although they
record (pending IORC review) of
Springbrook Prairie). One ornitholo¬ occasionally try to strike them down
Northern Shrike on 28 November 1999
gist commented the Northern Shrikes with their beaks... On the other hand,
near Horseshoe Lake in Madison
seen at the Savanna Army Depot did a shrike does not grab a rodent in its
Count}’. Photo by Frank Holmes.
not utilize the drier grasslands where feet, because it (the shrike) is likely to
Loggerhead Shrikes breed at that site be bitten. Instead it harasses the ro¬
have been one of many reasons for
(D. Wenny personal communication). dent by jumping and dancing errati¬
the decline of Loggerhead Shrikes,
Atkinson’s (1993) Idaho birds fre¬ cally around the prey, then delivers a
and may have implications for man¬
quented riparian areas more than ex¬ series of quick bites.” Cade
agement of Northern Shrikes (whose
pected and grassy areas less than ex¬ (1962,1967) reported most birds are
numbers are also decreasing) on their
pected. Observers did report Illinois taken by surprise and rarely while in
wintering grounds.
birds in dry, upland grassy areas in¬ flight; this is further substantiated by
cluding pastureland at the base of The Northern Shrike possesses Mester( 1965). Many times the North¬
wooded bluffs in Marshall County extremely acute vision. Cade (1967) ern Shrike drops off a high perch and
and in a few other areas. has noted shrikes wintering in New begins flying low to the ground
York fly directly from tree-top perches through fairly dense shrubs trying to
Feeding Habits
to traps baited with mice or small flush avian prey into the open. Failing
One of the more interesting char¬ birds, over courses in excess of 200 this method, the shrike may actually
acteristics of Northern Shrike behav¬ yards. Cade has also witnessed wild enter a bush and move about the
ior involves what it eats and how it shrikes attack caged shrikes or free- branches flashing its white wing
catches and disposes of its prey. Like flying trained birds from distances patches and twisting its tail around to
other members of its family. North¬ approaching 1,000 yards. One of his scare prey into more open areas
ern Shrikes catch their prey, then store trained birds could even spot flying (Mester 1965). I observed a shrike at
them in caches known as larders by bumblebees at least 100 yards away. Moraine Hills State Park (McHenry
impaling them on many types of sharp Northern Shrikes spend long hours County) on 8 January 2000 perched
projections including barbed wire and on perches scanning their hunting in a small area of brush, marsh, and
the spines and thorns of trees and grounds. The perches are usually 3 to wet prairie. Suddenly it dropped to
shrubs. Hawthorns, crab apples, osage 24 feet high. The bird sometimes re¬ just above the marsh vegetation and
orange and barbed wire are common mains in one spot for up to 30 min¬ began a quick flight through the small
sites for Loggerhead Shrikes in Illi¬ utes, but usually changes perches more willows and dogwoods. At one point,
nois (pers. obs.), and are likely sites frequently. Wintering shrikes in Swe¬ it dropped to the ground and seemed
for wintering Northern Shrikes as well. den covered distances of 7.3 miles per to disappear, but was back up to its
day, using about 3.5 perches per mile perch a few minutes later, apparently
In a study by Yosef (1993), North¬
(Lefranc 1997). unsuccessful.
ern Shrikes on their breeding grounds
in Israel responded to the placement Shrikes catch most invertebrate
Prey Species
of barbed wire fencing on their hunt¬ prey by simply mashing them. The
Studies of winter shrikes have
ing grounds by reducing territory size. hooked beak and powerful jaw
shown most prey consisting of
The shrikes immediately began using muscles can be lethal weapons to ver¬
the barbed wire for impaling sites tebrate prey, and can leave bloody arthropods (mainly large beetles and
and each male’s territory size shrank fingers to those vertebrates “lucky” grasshoppers) and small animals in¬
almost immediately. Loss of exten¬ enough to catch one during banding cluding lizards, frogs, birds, and
sive areas of barbed wire fencing in operations. Just ask Jonathan Simms mammals (Mester 1965, Atkinson&
the Midwest and other locations may of Lombard who caught an immature
Vol. 9, No. 2 87
Cade 1993). In the eastern U.S, in¬
cluding Illinois, the main prey items
are likely voles (Microtus sp.), mice
(Peromyscus sp.), and small birds up
to robin or starling size. Very little
specific prey of Northern Shrikes seen
in Illinois has been mentioned in the
literature. In studies done on winter¬
ing shrikes in Idaho, arthropods and
small mammals (mainly Microtus sp.)
were the most important prey items,
as measured by number (63.9% and
Adult Northern Shrike preparing to
29.8% respectively). Small mammals
regurgitate a pellet in a Lake Villa
were the most important items by
backyard in Lake County during the
biomass (83.1 %); birds only contrib¬
1999/2000 winter invasion. Photo by
uted 1 1.8% by biomass (Atkinson &
Richard Biss.
Cade 1993). Atkinson and Cade made
some direct observations during the These bones, likely from a vole, were
extracted from a pellet regurgitated by
Idaho study, but they mostly used
HR *
the Northern Shrike that visited Richard
pellet analysis to identify shrike prey.
Biss' Lake Villa (Lake County) backyard
(See Mester 1965, Bent 1965, and
during the 1999/2000 invasion. Photo by
Cade 1967 for some interesting direct
Richard Biss.
observations of shrikes taking prey.)
Northern Shrikes form pellets much
Partridge caught in deep snow, al¬ it seems, is endless. Though the shrike
like hawks and owls do, from the un-
though the shrike probably found the mainly takes small passerines, ob¬
digestible parts (fur, bones, and chiti- bird as carrion. Several authors men¬ servers have witnessed Northern
nous materials) of their prey. tion Northern Shrikes as having a Shrikes attacking birds as large as
A long list of prey items exists for propensity toward scavenging (Bent Pine Grosbeak, Killdeer, American
the Northern Shrike, among the most 1965, Lefranc 1997). Shrikes likely Robin, Red-winged Blackbird,
unusual are worms, snails, and cray¬ turn to a more avian prey base when Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Hairy
fish (Lefranc 1997). Species of spi¬ severe climatic conditions such as Woodpecker, and even Least, Semi-
ders, caterpillars, flies, wasps, bees, extreme cold and heavy snow cover palmated and Baird’s Sandpipers
and other insects have been taken make it harder to obtain both insect as (Bent 1965, Mester 1965, Cade 1967,
during the breeding and non-breed¬ well as small mammalian prey. High Atkinson & Cade 1993, Cade & Swem
ing seasons (Bent 1965, Cade & Swem mortality is the probable outcome of 1995).
1995). Among mammals, small ro¬ large incursions of this species into
Shrikes take advantage of birds in
dents, especially voles, come first in Illinois and elsewhere during the non¬
vulnerable situations, including at
importance (Mester 1965, Lefranc breeding season, and is probably one
banding operations in traps and mist
1997). However, deer mice, harvest of the main limiting factors in this
nets, at bird feeders, and even enter¬
mice, wild house mice, and shrews species life cycle.
ing buildings (see Bent 1965,
(Sorex sp.) also supply the shrike
Few studies exist regarding de¬ Mumford and Keller 1984). I found
with food (Cade 1967, Atkinson &
tails on avian prey in the winter in Illinois records of a shrike entering a
Cade 1993, Cade & Swem 1995).
North America. For Illinois, Graber bird trap at a banding station of a W.
Cade (1962) found shrikes kill small
et al. (1973) mention only Dark-eyed A. Lyon in Waukegan (Lake County)
rodents up to 25 grams within a few
Juncos and House Sparrows as shrike going after a j unco on 20 March 1921.
seconds. The largest rodent a shrike
prey. Atkinson & Cade (1993) show Lyon (1930) also had at least 6 North¬
can handle, weighing in at 80 to 100
shrikes also favored juncos, followed ern Shrikes enter his yard one winter
grams, may take many minutes and
by White-crowned Sparrow and after birds in his traps, and apparently
several bites.
Horned Lark, while another exami¬ shot the first five. As mentioned ear¬
Birds as a prey species seem to nation of pellets of wintering shrikes lier, Karl Bartel caught shrikes in his
have drawn much attention in the contained 7 House Sparrows, 5 jun¬ traps in Blue Island, Illinois on sev¬
literature. In fact, Mester (1965) ob¬ cos, and 3 American Tree Sparrows. eral occasions (Bohlen 1989).
served a shrike feeding on a Gray The list of Northern Shrike avian prey.
Few reports of shrike attacks in
Meadowlark
88
