PAGE 10 THE HERALD

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11,1979

By CMBO Naturalist Director Pete Dunne The bird was sitting atop a scruffy bush, 40 yards out into the gull pool at Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge. Many things about the bird said ‘‘Mockingbird" but one field characteristic stock in poignant

counterpoint to this identification: its stance. Mockingbirds generally perch erect; this bird was balanced horizontally. A glance through the binoculars dispelled any doubts about the critter’s identity. It was a shrike and, what’s more, a Northern Shrike, a very rare visitor to these parts.

The Northern Shrike breeds

about as far north as there are conifers and as far south as New Brunswick and Quebec, it is a largish headed bird about the size of a robin, marked in a manner that is not unlike a mockingbird. This gray to gray/brown bird even has the mocker’s white outer tail feathers and bears rough facsimiles of the mocker’s bold, white wing patches. All similarities and here. Unlike the Mockingbird, the shrike has a heavy down hooked bill, a black tail, and a black mask through the eyes. The Northern Shrike

has very faint tracings or

“vermicuiations” on its light breast and yellow at the base of the lower mandible. Its mask does not extend over the base of the bill. The mask of the only other shrike found in North America, the Loggerhead Shrike, does overlap the base of the bill. The Loggerhead lacks the breast markings and the yellow cast to the lower mandible and never has a brownish cast to its plumage, not even in the

immature stage.

Shrikes, of which there are 67 species worldwide, are highly accomplished predators. They are, in fact, about as hawk like as a “dicky bird’’ be and still remain a “dicky.” (Dicky bird, noun, “anything to a hawk watcher with feathers and wings that is roughly smaller than a crow and isn’t a hawk.) Their summer diet consists largely of insects, bolstered by occasional side orders of Dark-eyed Junco, Lincoln’s Sparrow, etc. and assorted Microtine rodents. During the winter, necessity dictates a change over to a menu that weighs more heavily toward small, warm blooded critters ... read in more birds and

mice.

Shrikes occasionally winter as far south as Cape May, though it is not unusual for several years to pass without a sighting. Occasionally, shrikes engage in wholesale winter range extensions. These “invasions” are thought to be linked to the population cycles of the small rodents which make up such a large portion of the shrike’s winter diet. When the bottom falls out of the old microtus market, the shrikes have to “git” and the “gittin” generally takes a distinct southeriy bent. This year is an invasion year and there are no less than eight Northern Shrikes reported to be in the state. " Shrikes, particularly the Northern Shrike, are most often seen perched in a tall tree, telephone pole, Purple Martin house, etc., overlooking an open field. (or occasionally

somebody’s window feeder). I have found that State Fish and Game lands, with their alternating pattern of fields and hedgerows make ideal shrike habitat. Most of the shrikes that I have encountered over the years were on these managed areas. When a careless songbird or a mouse- with- less-than-its -share- of-smarts is sighted, the shrike launches itself with wing beats too rapid to count, drops to grass top level like a cruise missile and, after a brief conflict of interests, dispatches dinner with the aid of its very capable, hooked beak. Shrikes were slighted when the powers-that-be handed out foot gear and their feet are not well adapted for capturing or holding prey. To compensate for this functional misadaptation, shrikes have developed the habit of impaling their prey on thorns or barbed wire fences. Lacking these, shrikes will cache prey in the crotch of a tree and return for it when hunger and poor times coincide. Displaying their victims for all the world to (see has earned the shrike a bad reputation and the uncomplimentary title of “butcher bird.” In a nice poetically descriptive way, the shoe fits ... but then we aren’t so many generations removed from hanging victims on gibbits ourselves. In some parts of our range, I understand that the practice is still very much in vogue.

LOWER TOWNSHIP LUNCHEON The new officers of the Lower Township Rescue Squad Auxiliary will hold a luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 17th, at the Squad Building, Main & Georgia Aves., Villas at 12 noon. The menu will be roast beef, baked potato, creamed spinach, roll and butter, dessert & beverage. Following the luncheon there will be a social.

RRR Regency Rooftop Restaurant Open Wednesday thru Sundays Wed. & Thurs. 5 P.M. - 10 P.M. Fri. & Sat. 5 P.M. - 11 P.M. Sunday 1 P.M. - 8 P.M. A Dining experience That You'll Never Forget. Select From A Number of Delicious Cuisines As Prepared By CHEF MIKE MULLIN It's All Here At The Regency ...... VIEW-ATMOSPHERE-FINE CUISINE & GREAT ENTERTAINMENT Live Music 9:30 P.M. - 2:30 A.M. Thurs., Fri., & Sat. featuring VANGUARD with De De Hall 5th & KENNEDY BLVD. NORTH WILDWOOD 729-3100 GOLDEN EAGLE INN 884-5611 Open All Winter Early Bird Special Stuffed Lobster Tail 5 P.M. - 7 P.M. $6.95 Special Children's Menu - Renovated Health Spa now open for membership - Make Party & Banquet Reservations up to 650 - Music & Dancing "Midnight Hour" Fri., Sat., & Sun. Beach Drive Cape May CLOVER INN

RESTAURANT & COCKTAIL LOUNGE

CLOVERDALE AVE. by the bay Daily Early Bird Full Course Dinner........$4.50 WEDNESDAY Strip Steak Dinner.........$6.96 THURSDAY Prime Rib Dinner.........$6.96

Friday & Saturday Nite Skip Kehr and the FOURMOST