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Species Assessment for Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Ludovicianus)

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Species Assessment for Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Ludovicianus) SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 DOUGLAS A. KEINATH AND CATHERINE SCHNEIDER 1 Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] 2 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming February 2005 Keinath and Schneider – Lanius ludovicianus February 2005 Table of Contents CONSERVATION SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 3 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 3 Voice ...............................................................................................................................................5 Similar Species................................................................................................................................5 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 6 Taxonomy .......................................................................................................................................6 Distribution .....................................................................................................................................8 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................10 Breeding Habitat ...........................................................................................................................10 Foraging Habitat............................................................................................................................16 Roosts and Perches........................................................................................................................19 Area Requirements........................................................................................................................21 Landscape Pattern .........................................................................................................................23 Movement and Activity Patterns ............................................................................................24 Migration.......................................................................................................................................24 Activity Patterns............................................................................................................................25 Dispersal........................................................................................................................................26 Reproduction and Survivorship..............................................................................................27 Breeding Phenology ......................................................................................................................27 Breeding Behavior.........................................................................................................................29 Development .................................................................................................................................32 Population Demographics......................................................................................................32 Fecundity.......................................................................................................................................33 Survivorship ..................................................................................................................................34 Metapopulation Dynamics ............................................................................................................36 Food Habits...........................................................................................................................37 Community Ecology...............................................................................................................40 Predator-Prey.................................................................................................................................40 Other Interactions..........................................................................................................................41 CONSERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 42 Conservation Status ..............................................................................................................42 Federal Endangered Species Acts .................................................................................................42 Bureau of Land Management........................................................................................................43 Forest Service................................................................................................................................43 State and Provincial Wildlife Agencies.........................................................................................43 Heritage Program Ranks ...............................................................................................................43 Biological Conservation Issues..............................................................................................44 Population Trends .........................................................................................................................44 Abundance and Abundance Trends ........................................................................................44 Habitat Trends ........................................................................................................................49 Extrinsic Threats ...........................................................................................................................51 Anthropogenic Impacts...........................................................................................................52 Direct Mortality.............................................................................................................................52 Habitat Reduction..........................................................................................................................53 Invasive Species......................................................................................................................55 Page 1 of 82 Keinath and Schneider – Lanius ludovicianus February 2005 Natural Threats .......................................................................................................................55 Other .......................................................................................................................................57 Intrinsic Vulnerability ...................................................................................................................57 CONSERVATION ACTION ................................................................................................................ 59 Conservation Elements..........................................................................................................59 Habitat Preservation and Restoration............................................................................................60 Inventory and Monitoring .............................................................................................................62 Research ........................................................................................................................................65 TABLES AND FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... 67 Table 1: Abundance trend estimates for Loggerhead Shrike by Bird Conservation Region. .......67 Figure 1: Photo of Loggerhead Shrike ..........................................................................................68 Figure 2: Photo of Northern Shrike ( Lanius excubitor ). ...............................................................68 Figure 3: Rangewide distribution map for the Loggerhead Shrike ...............................................69 Figure 4. Estimated change in distribution of Loggerhead Shrike................................................70 Figure 5: Distribution of Loggerhead Shrike in Wyoming. .........................................................71 Figure 6: State Heritage Ranks of Loggerhead Shrike and its subspecies. ...................................72 Figure 7: Loggerhead shrike distribution and abundance in summer. ..........................................73 Figure 8: Trends in Loggerhead Shrike abundance (1966 – 2003)..............................................74 LITERATURE CITED ........................................................................................................................ 75 Page 2 of 82 Keinath and Schneider – Lanius ludovicianus February 2005 Conservation Summary
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