{"id":14271,"date":"2021-05-13T09:15:20","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T14:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/?p=14271"},"modified":"2023-01-24T16:46:07","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T21:46:07","slug":"birding-natures-treasurer-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/birding-natures-treasurer-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"Birding – nature’s treasure hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/div><\/div><\/main><\/div><\/div>

I have joined the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Team<\/a> as a seasonal biologist, and am thrilled to be contributing to the conservation breeding and release program. I am stationed in Napanee, one of Ontario’s core areas for the shrike, and began my first week in May in the field looking for these “perch and wait” predatory songbirds.<\/p>\n

Following the reports of volunteer sightings, I selected my first site to visit. Within a few minutes of arriving, I saw my first ever loggerhead shrike! After excitedly smiling and bouncing around a bit, I remembered I had a job to do. <\/span><\/p>\n

Each year, captive bred young and wild adults are banded with colour-coded bands to monitor the population. Colour-banding helps biologists identify each individual and keep track of how many birds come back each year. After identifying one leg of bands (birds do not sit still for long), I started thinking: <\/span><\/p>\n

What makes it so exciting to see a new bird species for the first time?<\/strong>
<\/span><\/p>\n

Is it the bragging rights as you add the species to your growing list? For me, it comes down to several things.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

[et_pb_team_member name=”Life history strategies” image_url=”https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/32083748923_87dc623367_o.jpg” _builder_version=”4.2.2″]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n

\u00a0Have you ever seen a songbird stick prey on barbed wire to eat it? I haven’t, and that is exactly what loggerhead shrikes do. A sight to see for sure. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/section>
\n
<\/div><\/section>
\n
<\/div><\/section>
\n
<\/div><\/section>
\n
<\/div><\/section>
\n [\/et_pb_team_member]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>
\n[\/av_textblock]
\n[\/av_textblock]
\n[\/av_textblock]
\n[\/av_textblock]
\n[\/av_textblock]

[et_pb_team_member name=”Habitat” image_url=”https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/carden-plains.jpg” _builder_version=”4.2.2″]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p>\n

Many bird species are habitat specialists, meaning their needs for breeding and eating are found in specific habitat types such as grasslands or forests. Surveying a new habitat means seeing unique plant species, breathtaking landscapes and, of course, a new group of co-existing birds. <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member]

[et_pb_team_member name=”Colour and shape” image_url=”https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/LOSH-Close-up_UNK_San-Clemente_A.-Samuelson-1.jpg” _builder_version=”4.2.2″]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p>\n

The black mask of the loggerhead shrike against the white throat with that beautifully hooked bill is a treat for the eyes.<\/p>\n

Photo: A. Samuelson<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member]

[et_pb_team_member name=”Migratory Species” image_url=”https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/eLOSH-Flight.jpg” _builder_version=”4.2.2″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p>\n

There is something extra special about species that migrate south for the winter. Knowing they are here for a limited time adds to the excitement of seeing one for the first time. <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member]

[et_pb_team_member name=”Rarity” image_url=”https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/i-spy-2.jpg” _builder_version=”4.2.2″]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p>\n

    \n
  • While this one can be a bit bittersweet because rarity often means endangered. With only 16 wild pairs of loggerhead shrike located in 2020, seeing one of these birds can feel a bit surreal. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    [\/et_pb_team_member]

    [et_pb_team_member name=”The challenge” image_url=”https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/CuriousCows2-e1401468003135.jpg” _builder_version=”4.2.2″]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p>\n

    Sometimes searching for birds can test your dedication. For example, at a new site, I flooded my boot, fell in cow poop, walked through a large patch of thorny shrubs, which shrikes use to store and pick apart their prey, and lost my bear spray somewhere along the way. All of this, and I did not see a loggerhead shrike at this location. The thrill of knowing I could find one keeps me going. <\/span><\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_team_member]

    Ultimately, the best part of seeing a new species for the first time is that it feels like you won nature’s treasure hunt. Like you caught a real-life mystical creature in your binoculars. After staring at the first loggerhead shrike I have ever seen, I attempted to take pictures through my scope. Even when these photos turn out blurry, and you can only see the bird’s back, it is still worth keeping.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I look forward to seeing more loggerhead shrike’s and hopefully sharing better photographs in the future<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n