I've trapped, and banded, thirty-five Northern Shrikes from 1991 to and
including 1998. They enter a ground trap an kill everything in the trap.
So I set Bal-Chatri traps on top of the ground trap to minimize predation
by them of other birds. They are especially hard on Dark-eyed Juncos and
will take birds up to the size of Spotted Towhees.

I find that I have to release them at least 5 miles away from banding
sites because they will return to the site. They are persistent. The same
for Loggerhead Shrikes I banded in California and Oregon , 27 of them
during 1956-64. They have blood in their eyes and woe betide other
passerines..

You have to handle them carefully because they will draw blood from your
fingers with their hooked bills. Ouch, damn, leggo!

Gene Kridler
Ye Olde Retired Broken Down Biologist
Sequim, Wa.
ekridler at olympus net.
sanjer at televar.com wrote:

> This afternoon we had a Northern Shrike in the yard. It dove right
> into some thick brush after some House Sparrows. After about one
> second a HOSP flew out of the brush with the NOSH hot on its tail
> (literally). They flew about 50 yards out and then right back into the
> brush. At this point we lost sight if it, but if the NOSH is rewarded
> based on it's aggressiveness it should have a House Sparrow....a la
> carte.
>
> We did not know they would take on a bird that size.
>
> Jerry and Sandy Converse
> Grand Coulee, WA
> mailto:sanjer at televar.com
>
> http://members.tripod.com/nature_scenic_photos/
>
> Never be afraid to try something new.
> Remember, amateurs built the Ark and
> Professionals built the Titanic.