Hello Ontbirders, Since Sunday, I have seen Northern Shrikes at 7 locations along an almost 80-km stretch of Hwy 417 between the east end of Ottawa and the Vankleek Hill exit. Based on their locations, I suspect them all to be different individuals. All were perched in trees within 50 metres of the highway; most right along the fenceline. Locations (by km marker) were:
Km 27 (Sunday morning) Km 53 (Thursday afternoon) Km 57 (Thursday afternoon) Km 78 (Thursday morning) Km 92 (Thursday morning) Km 95 (Thursday afternoon) Km 103 (Sunday morning) Over the past five years I've driven this route many dozens of times, but have never before seen more than one shrike before - to observe multiple individuals on three consecutive trips suggests an unusually high population in the area currently. Other raptors have been fairly scarce, with only 4 Red-tailed Hawks seen cumulatively over the three trips, and no sightings of any other species. Good birding, Marcel Gahbauer Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue QC [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.4/255 - Release Date: 2/9/2006
