[CT Birds] Shrikey Story

[Pam Holden]

I couldn't agree more!    :-)

Pam
Colchester


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda & Steve Broker" <ls.broker at cox.net>
To: "Clay Taylor" <ctaylor at att.net>; "CTBIRDSGROUP BIRDS" 
<ctbirds at 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 at 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
>