THE BUTCHERBIRD

I like to keep my eyes peeled for the impaled bodies of amphibians and reptiles on the spines of the honey locust tree, hawthorn tree or a barbed wire fence.  Yes, you read that correctly.  You see, there is a little predatory bird called the loggerhead shrike (aka butcherbird) that hunts for small animals during the day.  These little birds don’t have strong talons or strongly curved beaks to rip apart their prey like hawks or eagles.  Instead the stalk prey, grab them in their beaks, and impale them on a spine.  Nature provides some wicked spines on honey locust and hawthorn trees.  We humans provide spines in the form of barbed wire fences.  Once the prey item is impaled, the loggerhead shrike is set to tear chunks from its kill, using the spine as an anchor.  Loggerhead shrikes like open areas to hunt, and nearby perches to view prey.  Regrettably, these birds have been on the decline.  Which, is why, I like to look for the impaled bodies of amphibians and reptiles… just to know they are there.