Shrike Question
This question may be directed to the more long standing members of the birding community or to people that follow the RBA' s of other states. I have had 7 Northern Shrikes in the Hartford area this winter and was wondering if this year is considered an "invasion year" for the species. I have never experienced a shrike incursion before, but it seems there is one in every farm field I visit. With so much focus being directed toward the invasion of finches this winter, I was also wondering if Shrike numbers were flying under the radar.
Paul Cianfaglione
Canton
Hey Paul -
The remarkable fact is that they, in some cases, have stuck around for so
long. Typically, a N. Shrike sighting in CT was a 1-day wonder, or an
"invasion" of multiple birds / sightings would hit and two weeks later there
were none within a hundred miles.
I'd say this qualifies as a remarkable year.
----- Original Message -----
From: "paul cianfaglione" pcianfaglione@hotmail.com
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 11:13 AM
Subject: [CT Birds] Shrike Question
This question may be directed to the more long standing members of the
birding community or to people that follow the RBA' s of other states. I
have had 7 Northern Shrikes in the Hartford area this winter and was
wondering if this year is considered an "invasion year" for the species. I
have never experienced a shrike incursion before, but it seems there is one
in every farm field I visit. With so much focus being directed toward the
invasion of finches this winter, I was also wondering if Shrike numbers were
flying under the radar.
Paul Cianfaglione
Canton
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
I agree with Clay that it is sort of unusual that some of these birds have remained so loyal to locations...though I have noted a few one-day birds this winter as well. I would say that this is a reasonably good year and is an "invasion year"but still shy of the year about 10 years ago when I saw 23 different shrikes in the same winter in Connecticut!
Mark
---- Clay Taylor ctaylor@att.net wrote:
Hey Paul -
The remarkable fact is that they, in some cases, have stuck around for so
long. Typically, a N. Shrike sighting in CT was a 1-day wonder, or an
"invasion" of multiple birds / sightings would hit and two weeks later there
were none within a hundred miles.
I'd say this qualifies as a remarkable year.
----- Original Message -----
From: "paul cianfaglione" pcianfaglione@hotmail.com
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 11:13 AM
Subject: [CT Birds] Shrike Question
This question may be directed to the more long standing members of the
birding community or to people that follow the RBA' s of other states. I
have had 7 Northern Shrikes in the Hartford area this winter and was
wondering if this year is considered an "invasion year" for the species. I
have never experienced a shrike incursion before, but it seems there is one
in every farm field I visit. With so much focus being directed toward the
invasion of finches this winter, I was also wondering if Shrike numbers were
flying under the radar.
Paul Cianfaglione
Canton
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
Are there any particular places where it would be more likely than in others to find a northern shrike? Do they stay in specific areas at all? Are they still around?
Thank you; I appreciate any information.
Sharon> Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 14:06:38 -0800> From: birddog55@charter.net> To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org; ctaylor@att.net; pcianfaglione@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Shrike Question> > I agree with Clay that it is sort of unusual that some of these birds have remained so loyal to locations...though I have noted a few one-day birds this winter as well. I would say that this is a reasonably good year and is an "invasion year"but still shy of the year about 10 years ago when I saw 23 different shrikes in the same winter in Connecticut!> > Mark> ---- Clay Taylor ctaylor@att.net wrote: > > Hey Paul -> > > > The remarkable fact is that they, in some cases, have stuck around for so> > long. Typically, a N. Shrike sighting in CT was a 1-day wonder, or an> > "invasion" of multiple birds / sightings would hit and two weeks later there> > were none within a hundred miles.> > > > I'd say this qualifies as a remarkable year.> > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "paul cianfaglione" pcianfaglione@hotmail.com> > To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> > Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 11:13 AM> > Subject: [CT Birds] Shrike Question> > > > > > >> > >> > > This question may be directed to the more long standing members of the> > birding community or to people that follow the RBA' s of other states. I> > have had 7 Northern Shrikes in the Hartford area this winter and was> > wondering if this year is considered an "invasion year" for the species. I> > have never experienced a shrike incursion before, but it seems there is one> > in every farm field I visit. With so much focus being directed toward the> > invasion of finches this winter, I was also wondering if Shrike numbers were> > flying under the radar.> > >> > >> > > Paul Cianfaglione> > > Canton> > > _______________________________________________> > > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)> > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.> > > For subscription information visit> > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > > > > > _______________________________________________> > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > > _______________________________________________> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
On Shrikes:
The Christmas Bird Count season, now defined as December 14 through
January 5, represents a limited slice of early winter. There
obviously is a lot more that takes place during Connecticut's winter
season than is represented by this three week period. Nevertheless,
it's interesting to look at the CBC data for shrike and see how the
numbers play out over the course of the last half-century.
The huge shrike incursion referred to by Mark Szantyr undoubtedly was
the winter of 1995-96, when a total of 67 Northern Shrikes was
recorded on Connecticut Christmas Bird Counts. This is far and away
the biggest shrike incursion on record since 1950, at least as
suggested by CBC data. The winter of 1999-2000 ranks second for
numbers of shrikes counted on Connecticut CBCs, with 24 total.
During the current (2007-08) winter's CBCs, 16 Northern Shrikes were
reported, the third highest total since 1950. The only other double
digit shrike year was 1978-79, when 14 Northern Shrikes were counted
on Connecticut CBCs.
Dividing Connecticut's statewide CBC data into northern, mid-state,
and coastal subtotals - that is, the 6 northern CBCs, 5 mid-state
CBCs, and 7 coastal CBCs - the picture gets somewhat more
interesting. This winter, 12 of 16 Northern Shrikes were seen on
northern counts and just 2 each were seen on mid-state and coastal
counts. We can reasonably call this a shrike incursion year, but it
helps if you have been birding in the northern parts of the state
(again, based only on CBC data). The winters of 1978-79 and
1999-2000 had somewhat more equal distribution of shrikes on CBCs
throughout the state: 5 northern, 4 mid-state, and 5 coastal in
1978-79; 12 northern, 7 mid-state, and 5 coastal in 1999-2000. Most
interestingly, the incursion year of 1995-96 had Northern Shrike
found well-distributed throughout Connecticut, with 31 recorded on
northern CBCs, 16 on mid-state CBCs, and 20 on coastal CBCs. A
statewide incursion, indeed!
Zeranski and Baptist (1990) states, "[d]uring the winters of
1921-1922, 1926-1927, 1930-1931, and 1949-1950 large numbers [of
Northern Shrikes] were reported in southern New England." My Excel
spreadsheets have not yet been extended back to the first half of the
20th century, so I can't comment on these winters. I'll leave it to
others to use BirdSource on-line data to see what these CBC years
were like.
The other half of the shrike equation in Connecticut is Loggerhead
Shrike. Remember them? During the period 1950-51 through 1979-80,
Connecticut CBCs recorded 41 Loggerhead Shrikes while counting 94
Northern Shrikes during the same period. From 1 to 4 Loggerhead
Shrikes were seen in most years up to the earliest 1980s. The last
Loggerhead Shrike seen on a Connecticut CBC was on the New Haven
Christmas Bird Count in mid-December 1984. While I don't
specifically remember, this may have been the bird that was hanging
out at the Tire Pond in Hamden, edge of the Quinnipiac Marshes. That
bird I specifically remember. It's the last Loggerhead Shrike I've
seen in Connecticut. Again from Zeranski and Baptist: "[Loggerhead
Shrike] decreased as a migrant and winter visitor in the 1970s and
1980s, and its nesting range retreated westward to western New York
state."
Steve Broker
Cheshire
Steve -
I marvel at what treasures you mine from your CBC spreadsheet. Keep it up!
As for Loggerhead Shrikes, there was one that overwintered in Old Lyme on Rt
154 by the powerlines and Old Salem Turnpike. The horse farm there was
named Cricklewood Farms back then, and Jay Hand and I used to keep track of
it. It was initially called the "Cricklewood Farms Shrike", but after a
while we actually named it "Shrikey".
It was present for at least two or three consecutive winters, but never made
it onto the CBC data because its "patch" was in between the Salmon River and
Old Lyme CBCs.
The last Loggerhead Shrike I ever saw in CT was a bird I banded one August
at Hammonasset Beach S.P., while I worked at the Meig's Point Nature Center.
That would have been either 1986 or 1987. It was using my mist net poles
as a vantage point, flying down to catch crickets and grasshoppers, then
back up to the top of the pole to dine on its meal, avoiding the mist nets
as it did. The bird was driving me crazy, but I didn't want to try and
scare it into the net, for fear it would simply leave the area.
Having one of those "Eureka!" moments you read about other people having, I
ran over to the sand dunes behind the beach and caught a few of those large,
white-sand-colored grasshoppers that live on the dunes. I tied a piece of
black thread to the thorax of each grasshopper, and tied the "bait" into the
middle of each mist net. I had no sooner returned to the Nature Center,
when the shrike was squawking and fussing in the mist net. Cool! I have
to say that bird was THE noisiest, wildest bird I have ever handled - like a
big chickadee with a hooked beak! It even struggled and squawked when we
put it into the holding can for weighing - most every bird I have ever
handled will calm down when you place them in a snug, dark place - even
goshawks. Not this one! We took a few photos, and released it. It was
seen later that day over by Williard's Island, but not re-found the next
day.
Shrike on,
Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor@att.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda & Steve Broker" ls.broker@cox.net
To: "CTBIRDSGROUP BIRDS" ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Shrike Question
On Shrikes:
The Christmas Bird Count season, now defined as December 14 through
January 5, represents a limited slice of early winter. There
obviously is a lot more that takes place during Connecticut's winter
season than is represented by this three week period. Nevertheless,
it's interesting to look at the CBC data for shrike and see how the
numbers play out over the course of the last half-century.
The huge shrike incursion referred to by Mark Szantyr undoubtedly was
the winter of 1995-96, when a total of 67 Northern Shrikes was
recorded on Connecticut Christmas Bird Counts. This is far and away
the biggest shrike incursion on record since 1950, at least as
suggested by CBC data. The winter of 1999-2000 ranks second for
numbers of shrikes counted on Connecticut CBCs, with 24 total.
During the current (2007-08) winter's CBCs, 16 Northern Shrikes were
reported, the third highest total since 1950. The only other double
digit shrike year was 1978-79, when 14 Northern Shrikes were counted
on Connecticut CBCs.
Dividing Connecticut's statewide CBC data into northern, mid-state,
and coastal subtotals - that is, the 6 northern CBCs, 5 mid-state
CBCs, and 7 coastal CBCs - the picture gets somewhat more
interesting. This winter, 12 of 16 Northern Shrikes were seen on
northern counts and just 2 each were seen on mid-state and coastal
counts. We can reasonably call this a shrike incursion year, but it
helps if you have been birding in the northern parts of the state
(again, based only on CBC data). The winters of 1978-79 and
1999-2000 had somewhat more equal distribution of shrikes on CBCs
throughout the state: 5 northern, 4 mid-state, and 5 coastal in
1978-79; 12 northern, 7 mid-state, and 5 coastal in 1999-2000. Most
interestingly, the incursion year of 1995-96 had Northern Shrike
found well-distributed throughout Connecticut, with 31 recorded on
northern CBCs, 16 on mid-state CBCs, and 20 on coastal CBCs. A
statewide incursion, indeed!
Zeranski and Baptist (1990) states, "[d]uring the winters of
1921-1922, 1926-1927, 1930-1931, and 1949-1950 large numbers [of
Northern Shrikes] were reported in southern New England." My Excel
spreadsheets have not yet been extended back to the first half of the
20th century, so I can't comment on these winters. I'll leave it to
others to use BirdSource on-line data to see what these CBC years
were like.
The other half of the shrike equation in Connecticut is Loggerhead
Shrike. Remember them? During the period 1950-51 through 1979-80,
Connecticut CBCs recorded 41 Loggerhead Shrikes while counting 94
Northern Shrikes during the same period. From 1 to 4 Loggerhead
Shrikes were seen in most years up to the earliest 1980s. The last
Loggerhead Shrike seen on a Connecticut CBC was on the New Haven
Christmas Bird Count in mid-December 1984. While I don't
specifically remember, this may have been the bird that was hanging
out at the Tire Pond in Hamden, edge of the Quinnipiac Marshes. That
bird I specifically remember. It's the last Loggerhead Shrike I've
seen in Connecticut. Again from Zeranski and Baptist: "[Loggerhead
Shrike] decreased as a migrant and winter visitor in the 1970s and
1980s, and its nesting range retreated westward to western New York
state."
Steve Broker
Cheshire
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
Clay,
These stories from out in the field really provide a richness to
ctbirdsgroup. Thanks for Shrikey's story. I'm beginning to picture
a future book with the word "Highway" in it. I hope you are, too.
Steve
Cheshire
On Mar 3, 2008, at 11:11 PM, Clay Taylor wrote:
Steve -
I marvel at what treasures you mine from your CBC spreadsheet.
Keep it up!
As for Loggerhead Shrikes, there was one that overwintered in Old
Lyme on Rt
154 by the powerlines and Old Salem Turnpike. The horse farm
there was
named Cricklewood Farms back then, and Jay Hand and I used to keep
track of
it. It was initially called the "Cricklewood Farms Shrike", but
after a
while we actually named it "Shrikey".
It was present for at least two or three consecutive winters, but
never made
it onto the CBC data because its "patch" was in between the Salmon
River and
Old Lyme CBCs.
The last Loggerhead Shrike I ever saw in CT was a bird I banded one
August
at Hammonasset Beach S.P., while I worked at the Meig's Point
Nature Center.
That would have been either 1986 or 1987. It was using my mist
net poles
as a vantage point, flying down to catch crickets and grasshoppers,
then
back up to the top of the pole to dine on its meal, avoiding the
mist nets
as it did. The bird was driving me crazy, but I didn't want to
try and
scare it into the net, for fear it would simply leave the area.
Having one of those "Eureka!" moments you read about other people
having, I
ran over to the sand dunes behind the beach and caught a few of
those large,
white-sand-colored grasshoppers that live on the dunes. I tied a
piece of
black thread to the thorax of each grasshopper, and tied the "bait"
into the
middle of each mist net. I had no sooner returned to the Nature
Center,
when the shrike was squawking and fussing in the mist net.
Cool! I have
to say that bird was THE noisiest, wildest bird I have ever handled
- like a
big chickadee with a hooked beak! It even struggled and squawked
when we
put it into the holding can for weighing - most every bird I have ever
handled will calm down when you place them in a snug, dark place -
even
goshawks. Not this one! We took a few photos, and released
it. It was
seen later that day over by Williard's Island, but not re-found the
next
day.
Shrike on,
Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor@att.net
I couldn't agree more! :-)
Pam
Colchester
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda & Steve Broker" ls.broker@cox.net
To: "Clay Taylor" ctaylor@att.net; "CTBIRDSGROUP BIRDS"
ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:11 AM
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Shrikey Story
Clay,
These stories from out in the field really provide a richness to
ctbirdsgroup. Thanks for Shrikey's story. I'm beginning to picture
a future book with the word "Highway" in it. I hope you are, too.
Steve
Cheshire
On Mar 3, 2008, at 11:11 PM, Clay Taylor wrote:
Steve -
I marvel at what treasures you mine from your CBC spreadsheet.
Keep it up!
As for Loggerhead Shrikes, there was one that overwintered in Old
Lyme on Rt
154 by the powerlines and Old Salem Turnpike. The horse farm
there was
named Cricklewood Farms back then, and Jay Hand and I used to keep
track of
it. It was initially called the "Cricklewood Farms Shrike", but
after a
while we actually named it "Shrikey".
It was present for at least two or three consecutive winters, but
never made
it onto the CBC data because its "patch" was in between the Salmon
River and
Old Lyme CBCs.
The last Loggerhead Shrike I ever saw in CT was a bird I banded one
August
at Hammonasset Beach S.P., while I worked at the Meig's Point
Nature Center.
That would have been either 1986 or 1987. It was using my mist
net poles
as a vantage point, flying down to catch crickets and grasshoppers,
then
back up to the top of the pole to dine on its meal, avoiding the
mist nets
as it did. The bird was driving me crazy, but I didn't want to
try and
scare it into the net, for fear it would simply leave the area.
Having one of those "Eureka!" moments you read about other people
having, I
ran over to the sand dunes behind the beach and caught a few of
those large,
white-sand-colored grasshoppers that live on the dunes. I tied a
piece of
black thread to the thorax of each grasshopper, and tied the "bait"
into the
middle of each mist net. I had no sooner returned to the Nature
Center,
when the shrike was squawking and fussing in the mist net.
Cool! I have
to say that bird was THE noisiest, wildest bird I have ever handled
- like a
big chickadee with a hooked beak! It even struggled and squawked
when we
put it into the holding can for weighing - most every bird I have ever
handled will calm down when you place them in a snug, dark place -
even
goshawks. Not this one! We took a few photos, and released
it. It was
seen later that day over by Williard's Island, but not re-found the
next
day.
Shrike on,
Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor@att.net
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org