Tweeters,

Since the big snow weather, the local Northern Shrike has been hanging
around the property, quite often using the bigleaf maple out front as a
hunting perch. Two days ago, the shrike dove from the perch toward the niger
feeder and the finches that were there. (Interesting pose as it dropped -
wings tucked, but wingtips flared, tail cocked up, body at about a 75-degree
angle.) The shrike chased a siskin, but didn't catch it.



A few minutes ago, the shrike had success. A siskin was in the birdbath out
back, and the shrike came out of nowhere (probably from the maple it's been
using) and took off after the fleeing siskin. I grabbed the bins and watch
the shrike keep after the siskin out over the wetland, and then back toward
the house. The siskin appeared to falter (could be because its feathers were
damp?), and the shrike hit it, then hit it again. The siskin appeared to
lose altitude rapidly, fluttering down into the meadow out of my view.



The shrike dropped down, but not directly. It appeared to drop six or so
feet at a time, adjusting its horizontal position relative to the ground
after each drop. It finally disappeared from view behind some trees.



I stalked to the area where I thought the shrike and siskin ended up, and
spotted the shrike attacking the siskin on the ground. I decided to let this
tableau play out without me "spooking" the shrike, and backed off.



Note: I've seen the shrike (possibly the same or another) go after finches
several times during the past three winters. It seems an energetic exercise
for the shrike (not to say that it isn't energetic for the target bird!),
but must yield dividends for it to hunt this way.



Another note: I've heard the Northern Shrike repeatedly give a two-note call
that I don't have on any bird sound CD or tape. The call is much more
musical than the chattering sounds on most of the song collections I have.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com