The Loggerhead Shrike is the second main predator of the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard. This bird is renowned for its behavior of impaling its prey on sharp sticks or barbs. It loves to perch along utility poles/lines where it can get a good view of the surrounding land and find its prey.
We have a collection of impaled FTHL heads as a result of Kevin's prior research. In fact, our previous observations led to his famous 2004 publication in the prestigious Science journal, where he proposed that shrike predation was a driving force for evolution of longer horns in this species (which has the longest horns relative to head size of any of the 17 species of horned lizard).
So, imagine our excitement when we discovered not one, not two, but FOUR shrike nests in creosote bushes all within a couple miles of each other along a dirt road on BOR land! Some of the nests had eggs, others did not; one looked like it had been raided by a predator. We flagged all the nests and plan to check back on them.
We hope to put a trail camera on one or two of the nests. Stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment