WINTER 2004-05 EASTERN LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE Manitoba Recovery Action Group Update

Shrikes holding on

With the help of many local residents and birdwatchers, the Manitoba Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Action Group (EMRAG) was able to locate eight pairs of nesting eastern loggerhead shrikes over the summer of 2004. Five nests were found in the rural municipality (RM) of West St. Paul, two nests in the RM of Funding for EMRAG activities through 2004 Rosser, and one in the RM of Headingley. was provided by a grant from the federal While this is great news, there still is grave Habitat Stewardship Program, Environment concern for the eastern loggerhead shrikes Canada (Prairie & Northern Region and survival. With such a low number of east- Ontario Region), Manitoba Conservation ern loggerhead shrikes breeding in the and Ducks Unlimited Canada. Have you seen this bird? province, one stochastic event, such as a spring storm, has the potential to wipe out Slightly smaller than a robin,with grey and white The only known nesting populations the entire Manitoba breeding population. markings,the eastern loggerhead shrike has black Eastern loggerhead shrikes (Lanius of eastern loggerhead shrikes in on its wings and tail and a raccoon-like mask of black ludovicianus migrans) breeding in Mani- around its eyes.Shrikes are unique grassland songbirds. Manitoba occurs near Winnipeg in toba are proving to be different from the They prey on mice,voles and insects,especially grass- eastern loggerhead shrikes in Ontario. West St.Paul, Rosser and Heading- hoppers.After killing their prey,shrikes often hang or While Ontario’s shrikes choose open impale it on thorns or barbed wire fence.Since the ley.This suburban habitat,where the grasslands and pasture areas for nesting, bird lack talons,securing prey in this manner helps the Manitoba population nests in small bird uses small trees in front and them tear off pieces,and serves as a method of storage residential lots, golf courses and parks. It for later consumption.The eastern loggerhead shrike back yards for hunting and nesting, seems that in Manitoba they are adapting nests in isolated trees and shrubs.It uses fences,power to live with people, which over the long is not characteristic of the broad lines and other elevated perches to swoop down on term may actually lead to species recovery. prey.It can be seen from May to September while its pastureland expanses that the Research is also suggesting that the Mani- similar,more common cousin,the northern shrike,can toba eastern loggerhead shrike may be eastern loggerhead shrike prefers. be spotted in Manitoba from October until early April. genetically different from the Ontario eastern loggerhead shrike. A bird in decline

Grassland birds have shown were assessed in 1991 as an Endangered Nesting Pairs of Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes in Manitoba the greatest declines of any bird Species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COS- 12 species in North America. EWIC) and later listed as Endangered in 11 Manitoba in 1998. This means that the 10 9 And to make matters worse, logger- eastern loggerhead shrike is in imminent 8 danger of becoming extinct. At one time head shrike numbers are declining faster 7 than any other grassland bird in North the eastern loggerhead shrike was found 6 America. throughout Manitoba’s Interlake region, 5 A widespread decline that started in south to the American border and east 4 the 1950s has reduced the population lev- into Ontario. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 els of the eastern loggerhead shrike. They

Manitoba home to three types of shrikes

Manitoba is home to three kinds of shrikes:the western (or prairie) logger- head shrike,eastern loggerhead shrike and the northern shrike. The western,or prairie,loggerhead shrike is a subspecies found in south- western Manitoba.It too,is declining in population and is currently listed as threatened by COSEWIC – meaning if population trends continue to decline it will become endangered as well. The northern shrike (right) is slightly larger,has lighter grey colouring and a less pronounced facial mask.It summers in the northern tundra and taiga and migrates through southern Manitoba in the fall and winter.If you see a shrike in the late fall or winter in Manitoba,it will be a northern shrike. Species at risk recovery strategies and action plans

A recovery strategy outlines The National Recovery Plan for the logger- A recovery action plan outlines the long-term goals and short- head shrike was first approved in 1993 projects or activities required and published in 1994, and is in the pro- 2 to meet the goals and objectives term objectives for recovering a cess of being updated. outlined in the recovery strategy. This includes information on the species species at risk. This includes information The short-term goal is to halt habitat, protection measures, and an eval- on what is known about the species, the population decline of the uation of the socio-economic costs and what we need to learn, the threats benefits. It is the second step of the two- 1 to its survival and an identification eastern loggerhead shrike,while part recovery planning process, and is used of its critical habitat. It is the first step the long-term goal is a viable to implement activities to improve the of a two-part recovery planning process, species’ status. A recovery action and is used to identify what needs to be breeding population in Canada. plan is being developed. accomplished to help the species recover. The butcher bird The eastern loggerhead shrike is affectionately referred to as the “butcher bird.”Shrikes lack strong talons (or claws) necessary to tear their prey into bite-sized pieces.Instead,the birds will impale food on thorns or barbed wire fences – “hanging meat”so they can tear their prey into smaller pieces.If there is a shrike nesting in your area,you may often see mice,voles,grass- hoppers,small birds,frogs and even snakes impaled on thorny objects.

Right:A bee impaled on a barbed-wire fence marks the work of a shrike. Where do shrikes spend the winter?

This question remains one of the largest missing pieces to the in the feathers, it is hoped that the regions eastern loggerhead shrike puzzle. where eastern loggerhead shrikes over- winter can be identified.

Biologists still do not fully know not viable for tracking shrikes, so biolo- where the shrikes go once they leave gists have turned to feathers to help solve Manitoba for their wintering grounds. the puzzle. A procedure called stable iso- Discovering where eastern loggerhead tope analysis is being used to help discover shrikes overwinter and understanding where shrikes overwinter. Feathers main- the migration routes is critical to species tain an isotopic record of where they were conservation. It is believed that many of grown. Isotopes are stable forms of chem- the shrikes die during migration and in ical elements that differ in their atomic their wintering habitat. weights. When a shrike eats a grasshopper, Banding studies have yet to put the the bird incorporates a geographic tag pieces of the puzzle together. Radio trans- into its bones, muscles and feathers. And Above:Feathers are collected for stable isotope analysis. mitters and satellite transmitters are still by ‘reading’ this information contained

Banding eastern loggerhead shrikes

Each year, EMRAG attaches small coloured leg captured bird a unique number combination or bands on shrike chicks – and on adult shrikes – to name. Different colour bands are used each year. help find out where these birds go after leaving “We’re finding out that the shrikes banded in Manitoba,and also to find out if the same birds Manitoba are returning to the same residential return to Manitoba and who is “mating”with who. areas in West St.Paul,and in some cases to the The chicks are banded at the nest,while adults are same nesting tree used in the previous year”reports captured using a special potter’s trap and a live EMRAG biologist Cory Lindgren.“In one case,shrikes mouse.A coloured leg band and a silver aluminum have returned to the same tree and the very same Above:Biologist Ken De Smet uses a potter’s trap to capture a shrike for banding.Banding provides crucial band are placed on each bird,essentially giving each nest three years in a row.” information on where shrikes are hatched and where migration takes them. PARTNERS Monitoring nestling survival EMRAG gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and organizations Monitoring eastern loggerhead shrike nestling survival is that have united under the common goal an important part of species recovery. Information is collected annual- to conserve eastern loggerhead shrikes ly in order to determine population and reproductive trends. Biologists and habitat protection:

• Manitoba Conservation monitor nesting activities of eastern logger- fledgling stage. According to this infor- • City of Winnipeg head shrikes in Manitoba through weekly mation, there should be more shrikes • Ducks Unlimited Canada nest checks. Every precaution is taken to returning each year to Manitoba. But this • Portage Natural History Society ensure that nest checks do not affect the has not been the case. • West St.Paul Landowners shrike’s nesting success. Information on “While we know the populations of • Ryan Porteous the number of eggs laid, the dates the eggs eastern loggerhead shrikes are declining, were laid, hatch dates and fledging dates the factors contributing to the decline are recorded. remains uncertain,” says Species At Risk The Eastern Manitoba Loggerhead In 2004, eight pairs of eastern logger- biologist Ken De Smet. Shrike Recovery Action Group (EMRAG) head shrikes produced a total of 56 eggs. It is thought that these factors may was created in 2000 to establish a sustainable Nest monitoring indicated that of the 56 include habitat loss as traditional breed- population of Manitoba’s rare eastern logger- eggs, 42 hatched and all the chicks survived ing habitats have been reduced and frag- head shrike through voluntary,cooperative to fledgling – the age when the chick has mented, pesticides applied to pastures or habitat stewardship projects with landowners, developed its feathers and is ready to leave turf areas, insecticides applied for mos- partnerships with stakeholder groups,and the nest. This represents an increase in quito control, collisions with vehicles, by promoting stewardship through public productivity when compared to 2003 data climate change, parasites and diseases such education. where six pairs produced 49 eggs, 24 eggs as West Nile Virus. hatched and 23 nestlings survived to the More Information A new generation of shrike stewards For more information on habitat stewardship programs for the eastern loggerhead shrike, The West St.Paul School grade or to report a sighting of a shrike,contact Ken 5 class has begun the process of De Smet with Manitoba Conservation in Win- building new generations of shrike nipeg at (204) 945-5439 or Cory Lindgren at stewards.The students have been Oak Hammock Marsh at (204) 467-3269. studying Species at Risk issues in their class using the eastern logger- head shrike as a teaching tool. Web Sites “We’re fostering awareness,”says More information on eastern loggerhead biologist Cory Lindgren.“The stu- shrikes can be found at www.naturenorth.com dents are discovering that their very own yards provide critical Species At Risk Information breeding habitat for a Species at Risk and are learning where to look • www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca for shrikes this coming spring.” • www.manitoba.ca/conservation/wildlife