Often during the winter I hear our neighbors talking about where the least expensive sunflower seeds can be found. For those who have feeders up for our winter birds it makes financial sense to find the best deals that we can. This year there is an easier way to conserve $$$ and it won't cost you I thing. Just invite this unusual robin-sized bird to spend some time near your home.
The Northern Shrike (aka, northern grey shrike) has been hanging around the west side of Carlin Lake this winter (and probably elsewhere as well). Having a shrike at your feeder is to the bird population what a wolf in a deer herd would be. Wolf in, deer move out. Small, grey, with a distinctive hooked beak and black wings the shrike has feeder birds on its menu. He's not there to eat your sunflower seeds but he's happy to make a meal out of those that are eating them.
A couple of weeks ago we came home from a few days away to find a bunch of blue jay feathers on the ground near the feeder and not a bird to be found at the still full feeding station. The next day he returned to his newly discovered hunting ground and to Ann's surprise landed on her office window. We saved a lot of money over the subsequent few days as filling the feeders became an unnecessary daily activity. When the Northern Shrike moves in other birds move out. So if you're wondering what happened to your feeder birds this winter look high in the trees. You may not be alone in enjoying watching birds at your feeder!