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This
is a species of open fields with scattered trees and shrubs for cover and
nesting. Nearly all of the 300 Loggerhead Shrike nests found in Quebec have
been in Hawthorn trees. This tree species has sharp thorns, which this Shrike
uses to impale it's prey, which normally consists of large insects or small
mammals. Loggerhead Shrike have learned to use barbed wire to skewer their
prey. Sometimes meals are even stored in this way for future consumption!
The range of this bird has shifted in response to changes in land use in
Quebec. It expanded it's range into Quebec as the landscape was converted
into pasture lands. Land use changes in this century, including conversion
of pasture lands to agriculture, and regeneration of some forests has led
to a dramatic decline in populations of the Loggerhead Shrike. Today, this
species is perhaps the most endangered species in Quebec, with only 10 -15
nesting pairs remaining. |
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