"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."
― Benjamin Franklin
Did you know there's a Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus on Pheasant Branch Road between Fisher and Meffert Roads? Of course you do. Having said that, you wouldn't know it from eBird, though ― have a look:
Macavity's not there!
Since the shrike is practically in our backyards, Dottie Johnson and I went to look for it after being told about it from another birder we know while we were birding the creek corridor. It was super easy to find, perched on a utility wire right where the birder reported it to be. However, we weren't the only people there. Cars and gawkers kept coming and going, so obviously anyone who is anybody in-the-avian-know is aware of its presence. I guess the shrike is out of the bag.
Loggerhead Shrikes are considered endangered in Wisconsin, and as such are supposed to go unreported on social media alert apps, eBird, Facebook groups, listservs, etc. But ya gotta just ask yourself ― just who is this keeping away from seeing it? Muggles? Non-birders who couldn't give two-shits about it? Non-birders who might stress the bird and cause enough pressure for it to abandon the territory? That would be so unlikely I feel dumb for even saying it. No, not at all ― birders themselves are applying enough pressure all on their own for that to occur. To the shrike's credit, for now it seems rather oblivious given all the visits and photographs of it that can be found in the media section of eBird.
Birders from all over the state are flocking to see the uncommon (for Wisconsin) shrike, so it's a case of elitist do as I say and not as I do. Naturally, I'm reporting here because I find the whole secrecy bit utterly farcical given the present situation. You might question my birding ethics in doing so, but think the salient question once again. All this practice does, in my opinion, is make birders look like the puerile aristocratic ninnies they often are.
Not my usual standard for quality, but they'll suffice as doc shots. I could have gotten better ones, but just as I was getting ready to photograph it, a long-lens photog pulled up in front of me with his window rolled down. I gave a thumb that-away motion for him to keep going, but he just stayed there. I gave him the thumb a few more times, but the intent of my gesture was not registering. Finally I shouted "Get out of the way!" Naturally, this caused the bird to flush to a different spot on the wire. Once I got a couple of images and gave Dottie a good scope view, we left.
Cool bird. Endangered or not, everyone who wants to see it should have a chance to do so. I don't want to hear a single word about pressure given the crowds this bird is attracting. Want to keep a bird a secret, for real? Then don't report it! Oh sure, perhaps someone else will eventually find it, but the same thing can applied to ethical birders who honestly care. This time, it's far too late.
Loggerhead Shrike © 2023 Mike McDowell