feeder ambush, Eaton County

[Dmcwhir513 at aol.com]

Folks -

This is "old news", but still interesting, I think.

   About two weeks ago, my wife and I were taking an evening constitutional 
in our home village of Dimondale.  As we approached one of the feeders along 
our route, I noticed a hubbub of birds and saw a bird with white wing patches 
flare up into the low limbs of a tree.  Because of a few notes I heard, I 
thought maybe it was a female Evening Grosbeak and was excited at the prospect of 
having this species in the area after a long absence.

   I quickly realized the sounds were from the (obviously very excited) gold 
and house finches that normally frequent these feeders and not grosbeaks at 
all.  As that realization sunk in, a grayish, medium-sized bird took off from 
the back side of the tree.  

   Although the bird was ascending, it's flight seemed labored and it became 
clear it was carrying something sizable.  At the same time, it was being 
flanked (harassed?) by 3-4 goldfinches and the birds at the feeder remained 
agitated.  The wing patches did not show in this flight; however, I could clearly see 
the rump was pale compared to the rest of the bird.  The bird continued to 
ascend, lost it's retinue, and, in the manner of these things, was out of sight 
too quickly.

   So, I was left behind, mulling the scenario over in mind's-eye, and came 
to the conclusion I had just seen an adult shrike, probably Northern, carry off 
another bird, probably a goldfinch.

   As usual, questions remain.  Why didn't it duck for cover in the nearby 
bushes and deal with it's prey there?  Too much harassment from the other birds? 
 Would a shrike in flight carry a bird that size in it's beak or with it's 
feet?  I've only seen shrikes carry prey in their beaks, but carrying that 
weight up front strikes me as unwieldy.  It seems like hitting birds at a feeder 
concentration would be "learned" method of hunting and it made me wonder if this 
bird had done this before (in a previous winter?) or if it was just being 
opportunistic.

   Haven't seen it around town since, although it's more than welcome to come 
to my yard and hang out with the House Sparrows.

Life's short, bird when you can.    - Doug McWhirter



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