Meet Saskatchewan's threatened 'butcher bird' that impales its prey

Meet Saskatchewan's threatened 'butcher bird' that impales its prey

Loggerhead shrikes' habitats in the province are slowly disappearing, advocates say

The songbirds appear to be soft-feathered and pudgy. When they fly, the white patches on their grey and black wings flash in the sun.

But come feeding time, these birds turn into ruthless killers. They catch prey such as bugs, mice and frogs, and impale them on thorns or barbed wire before feasting.

These are loggerhead shrikes — a threatened species colloquially known as a "butcher bird." Their main breeding ground on the Prairies is in Saskatchewan, but wildlife advocates say their habitats are slowly disappearing.

Saskatoon birder Kerry Hjertaas, 42, saw shrikes in action in a field beside his office this summer.

One day, as Hjertaas was getting into his car, a shrike flew onto the barbed-wire fence beside the parking lot and impaled some prey on the wire, he said. A second shrike flew over to also feast on the prey.

"They each started ripping chunks out of it and it disappeared pretty fast," he said. "I was just like, well, I've read about this, but this was super cool to see it in person."

Shrikes kill that way because they are songbirds, so their dainty feet don't have talons, said Emily Putz, the habitat stewardship co-ordinator of Nature Saskatchewan's shrubs for shrikes program.

Shrikes are the only birds in Saskatchewan that kill like that, she said.

"They're such a unique bird with such unique behaviours," Putz said. "It's really cool to see them in action."

An estimated 40,000 shrikes are left in Saskatchewan, Putz said. They are a threatened species, which is considered one step below endangered.

Habitat loss is hitting shrikes hard, Putz said.

The birds rely on native prairie to nest and hunt, she said, but Saskatchewan only has about 13 per cent of its native prairie left. So, Putz said, they've adapted to make their homes in shelterbelts, which are shrubs planted around the perimeter of fields.

But that, too, is under threat as some landowners and farmers take out shelterbelts to use larger machinery on their fields, Putz said.

"So [shrikes are] kind of being hit with a double whammy of losing their native and adapted habitat," she said.

Even the shrikes near Hjertaas's office may have to relocate in the coming years. Their current field, east of Hampton Village and Westview, is slated for commercial development, he said.

Hjertaas said it will be "a little bit sad" to not have shrikes in the area, but added they will likely head out to other fields, where he can still catch a glimpse.

In a statement, the City of Saskatoon said while shrikes are seen around the city, it is "not aware of any designated critical habitat for loggerhead shrike near Saskatoon."

Developers should scan the area for bird nests before construction, the city said. If a shrike nest is found, "appropriate buffers would be established around the nest to protect it."

Every year, Nature Saskatchewan records reported shrike sightings and surveys fields for local shrike populations, Putz said.

As someone who enjoys observing wildlife, Hjertaas said he reported his sightings to the organization to help protect the birds.

"Having them protected means that they're still around," he said. "They're filling their niche in the ecosystem."

Putz said the public can also help by planting thorny shrubs for shrikes to use, including buffalo berry and hawthorn shrubs.

"It's a unique species. It's great pest control," Putz said. "It's important that we do everything we can to help them along so that the next generation can see them."

Maia Tustonic is a journalist covering local and provincial news in Saskatoon. She previously reported national health, business and politics stories for CBC News. She would love to hear your story — reach her by email at maia.tustonic@cbc.ca.