Helmi Hess Presents at the Hamilton Naturalist’s Club

Posted onJune 14, 2024byHelmi Hess|Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery, Loggerhead Shrike, News and Events

After a precipitous drop in the wild eastern loggerhead shrike population in the 1990s, Environment Canada invited Wildlife Preservation Canada to lead the multi-partner recovery effort in 2003. Since then, the wild population size has fluctuated. Studies have shown that although the recovery effort has prevented the species from disappearing from Canada, more work is required to identify and address the causes of the species’ decline.

We work to prevent the eastern loggerhead shrike from disappearing by building the wild population in Ontario, and studying the species to learn more about the threats they face.

This past February, Helmi Hess, WPC’s Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program Research Biologist, shared her experiences and expertise at a special event hosted by the Hamilton Naturalist’s Club.

Discussing what’s involved in our shrike recovery program, its success stories and what you can do to help, Helmi dives into all things shrike and shows some cool pictures and footage as well!⁠⁠

Watch the entire presentation below.

Helmi Hess

Research Biologist – Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery

Helmi joined the WPC loggerhead shrike team in 2023 from a background in wildlife biology, rehabilitation and education. She has worked in grassland and aquatic avian research across Canada since 2015, with species including savannah sparrows, chestnut-collared longspurs and American dippers. Helmi has co-authored peer-reviewed papers in both avian physiology through the University of Guelph and in ecotoxicology through the University of British Columbia.