The Butcher Bird

Off-topic discussion and public chitchat.
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Colino
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Joined: April 12th, 2014, 11:01 am
Location: Whitla Ab. (SouthEastern Alberta)
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The Butcher Bird

Unread post by Colino »

I was checking my bees the other night and found this unfortunate sparrow.https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0wm7x6tbh7zz ... dswirl.png He had the misfortune to be caught by a Northern Shrike http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_shrike/id or as they are commonly called a Butcher Bird. They get the name because they have no talons to hold their prey, they impale them on a thorn or piece of barbed wire to hold the prey so they can dismember it with the hook on the end of their beak. I've also seen them use the fork of a bush to hang a small bird by the neck for butchering. They will also take Prairie Voles and Field Mice. I used to discourage them from taking up residence in our Russian Olive trees but once I realized that the only small birds that nest in our yard are just Sparrows I leave them alone. They are no match for an adult Robin or a Black Bird.
Narcissism is easy because it's me or I, Empathy is hard because it's they or them.-Colino
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