This morning was a beautiful day on the mountain and a good day for an adventure. I heard a loud, raucous call of an annoyed bird and had to investigate.
What I discovered was a first winter Northern Shrike making all the racket...chasing a bird and loudly voicing frustration after a miss to snag some breakfast. This went on for 15 minutes and in between the shrike's loud calls and rattles, I heard what sounded like a Three-toed Woodpecker's soft call note. The TTWO didn't seem too concerned and kept away from the shrike by scooting around the pines. At one point the shrike attempted to catch the woodpecker while in flight. Well...the kid finally gave up and complained loudy as it moved away. After which the TTWO soundly scolded it's tormentor and then resumed removing it's beetle breakfast from the dead trees. A fun way to start my day (bad for the shrike, but good for the woodpecker)! Carol Sullivan 8000' in the lodgepole forest West Stove Prairie Bellvue, Larimer county -- Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en
