2208_0602 Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike
Summer, two years ago. The baby shrikes had fledged, but were still hanging out with each other and near their nest site. Before the end of August they would be gone, southbound with most of the migratory birds; until then, they were building their strength and flying skills while bulking up on grasshoppers.
I had several sessions with them in the warm light of early morning. This juvenile made no attempt to impale its prey; that hopper went straight down the hatch. Good protein, lots of roughage; one happy shrike and one happy photographer.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2208_0602 Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike
Summer, two years ago. The baby shrikes had fledged, but were still hanging out with each other and near their nest site. Before the end of August they would be gone, southbound with most of the migratory birds; until then, they were building their strength and flying skills while bulking up on grasshoppers.
I had several sessions with them in the warm light of early morning. This juvenile made no attempt to impale its prey; that hopper went straight down the hatch. Good protein, lots of roughage; one happy shrike and one happy photographer.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.