January in the world of shrikes
It isn’t very easy to hit mice in the thick snow, and the grey shrikes now clearly aim at catching passerines. There are 40 observations of the “tit hawks” prowling around or attacking the small birds who visit bird feeders: 46,5% of all reports.
In addition there are some observations of grey shrikes attacking passerines in reed banks. Observers have seen six cases where the grey shrike has hit its prey successfully – in five of those the prey has been a passerine (for instance great tit and willow tit; unspecified sparrow), and only once the shrike caught a mouse.
We look forward to your continued reports from grey shrike encounters. The best way to send them is to use the simple observation form that can be completed on the www.eoy.ee/ogijad web page. And those who can find some spare time should certainly join the winter mapping of grey shrikes. Active participation would provide us with important data about the winter population density of grey shrikes (some daytime birds of prey as well).
Mapping the grey shrikes will be a pleasant way to add extra interest to a wintertime bird observation expedition!
News History
- Students’ tit camera
04.02.2012. - Bird feeder guest - redpoll
04.02.2012. - Birder’s diary - 2.02
03.02.2012. - Nature Year Photo 2012
03.02.2012. - ABC of winter garden birds for smart phones
03.02.2012. - Birder’s diary – summary of January
02.02.2012. - Trees of the year - the apple trees
02.02.2012. - Birder's diary - 31.01
02.02.2012. - Burbot - the only winter spawner in fresh waters
02.02.2012. - Boar at feeding ground
01.02.2012. - Ice flower time
01.02.2012. - First results of Winter Garden Bird Watch
31.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 29.01
31.01.2012. - Winter bird feeder camera guests – jay
29.01.2012. - Birder’s diary - 28.01
29.01.2012. - Ice cover on river in the morning
29.01.2012. - Birder’s diary - 27.01
29.01.2012. - Ravens flirting
28.01.2012. - Birder’s diary - 26.01
27.01.2012. - Winter bird feeder camera guest – bullfinch
27.01.2012. - Garden Bird Watch this weekend
26.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 25.01
26.01.2012. - Capercaillie - a bird of pine trees
25.01.2012. - Ice forming on rivers
25.01.2012. - Backyard Potterer’s journal: January
25.01.2012. - Where have the boars gone?
24.01.2012. - Home page of Bird of the Year open
24.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 100 species passed!
24.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 22.01
23.01.2012. - Brisk action at eagle feeding ground
23.01.2012. - Roe deer herds still seen in places
22.01.2012. - Loads of eagles ...
21.01.2012. - Visitor
21.01.2012. - "Märka mind“ – “See me"
21.01.2012. - Elk tracks in snow
20.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 18.01
20.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 17.01
19.01.2012. - Drinker moth’s caterpillars like snow
17.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 16.01
17.01.2012. - Birds of the Year: the plovers
16.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 15.01
16.01.2012. - White-tailed eagles here
16.01.2012. - The year in nature 2011: Rich and poor
15.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 14.01
15.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 13.01
15.01.2012. - What do wolves do in winter?
14.01.2012. - Who walked on the snow? Mobile helps you know
14.01.2012. - Birder's diary - 12.01
14.01.2012. - Thaw made raccoon dogs wake up
13.01.2012. - Wintering eagles
12.01.2012.








