rsg_book_2013

BirdsField propagation and release of migratory Easternloggerhead shrike to supplement wild populationsin Ontario, CanadaJessica Steiner 1 , Amy A. Chabot 2 , Tara Imlay 3 , Jean-Pierre L. Savard 4& Bridget J. M. Stutchbury 5 ,1 - Species Recovery Biologist, Wildlife Preservation Canada, 5420 Highway 6North, Guelph, Ontario, Canada jessica@wildlifepreservation.ca2 - Research Associate, Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston,Ontario, Canada amy@chabotcuddy.ca3 - Species Recovery Biologist, Wildlife Preservation Canada, 5420 Highway 6North, Guelph, Ontario, Canada tara.imlay@gmail.com4 - Scientist Emeritus, Environment Canada, 801-1550 av d’Estimauville,Québec, Canada Jean-Pierre.Savard@ec.gc.ca5 - Professor, Dept. of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto,Ontario, Canada bstutch@yorku.caIntroductionThe loggerhead shrike is one of two species of shrikes (Laniidae) in NorthAmerica, and the only shrike with an exclusively North American range. Thespecies has undergone one of the most persistent and drastic population declineof any North American passerine and is now largely extirpated from northeasternNorth America, with the exception of a very small population in Ontario, whererecovery actions are focused. The Ontario population is classified as thesubspecies Lanius ludovicianus migrans, however recent research suggests itrepresents a unique genetic cluster significantly different from L. l. migrans(Chabot, 2010). The known number of breeding pairs in the province ranged from20 to 35 pairs in the past decade and the global population is likely less than 100individuals. Theloggerhead shrike isprotected internationally(Canada, Mexico andUSA) by the MigratoryBirds Convention Act(1916), and L. l. migrans islisted federally in Canadaas Endangered under theSpecies at Risk Act.Globally, the species isclassified as ApparentlySecure (IUCN). Thispasserine is unique in itspredatory and impalingbehaviors, and isequipped with a raptor-likeLoggerhead shrike © Larry Kirtley beak. It is often80