Conservationists who work in this field know how important these projects are just ask Earth Rangers Science Advisor, Dr. Of the 699 re-introduction programs for birds, migratory songbird re-introductions are the most rare, which is something we may have to change as increasingly these amazing birds are in need of our help. Conservation power!Ībout 10,000 species of birds have been described, with 12% facing the threat of extinction. And, many of released shrikes come home! Scientists found that 34 of the released shrikes have returned to Ontario, paired with wild shrikes, and laid their own eggs! These birds and the amazing scientists that work with them have helped make this conservation success story possible as the wild population of Eastern loggerhead shrikes has been saved from extinction, so far. Around 75% of the released birds survived through the summer and went on to migrate south for the winter. They discovered that after being released these songbirds traveled an average of 4.2 km from their outdoor enclosures to local grasslands and fields.
It’s tough trying to keep up with a flying songbird, so, in 20, scientists used radio telemetry to follow them. Once released, scientists wanted to make sure these Eastern loggerhead shrikes went on to live happy songbird lives so they decided to follow them. All this care and attention has paid off by 2012, 663 juvenile Eastern loggerhead shrikes had been released into the wild! Photo credit: Jessica Steiner What happens to the young birds after release? Photo credit: Jessica Steiner For the next 11 years, each summer as many as 100 or more juvenile shrikes have been released into their native habitats at 54-77 days old. To prepare these birds to be released into the wild they are given live food, such as mice, and perches and branches inside their enclosures to practice impaling their prey.
This first generation of captive-bred nestlings received care from their parents and specially trained biologists in large outdoor field aviaries. By 2001 the captive population had grown to 100 breeding adults, and scientists decided it was time to release captive-raised juveniles back into the wild. They were provided with daily food, regular checkups and a home similar to their habitat in the wild. Since these captive-bred birds were so important for saving their species they received the best care possible. In 19 scientists collected 43 nestlings from the nests of wild breeding pairs in Ontario to start a captive breeding population as a safety net against their extinction in the wild. Photo credit: Larry Kirtley Breeding butcher birds We were at risk of losing the Eastern loggerhead shrike forever so scientists at Wildlife Preservation Canada, working with the Shrike Recovery Team, stepped in and started a captive breeding and reintroduction program to save this incredible songbird. The decline could be caused by fragmentation and loss of their grassland habitat, pesticide use, severe weather, West Nile Virus, and being hit by cars.
Habitat: North American grasslands and other open habitats.Diet: Mice, small birds, snakes, frogs and insects.Black wings and tail with a few white patches Colour: Grey head, black facial mask, and black and white throat and underside.Size: 45 g with a big head for their body, hence the name ‘loggerhead’.Eastern loggerhead shrikes impale their dead prey on branches, thorns, or barbed wire before eating them! All about the Eastern loggerhead shrike Photo credit: Amy Chabot These migratory grassland songbirds have such a scary nickname, thanks to their aggressive hunting technique. Earth Rangers has been working to protect one of these songbirds, the Wood thrush, but there are other musical birds that also need protection, like the Eastern loggerhead shrike (aka the ‘butcher bird’). When you are off exploring the great outdoors you may be lucky enough to hear a beautiful tune coming from a songbird.
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