Back at the end of October and again in November I spotted the shrike that was reported hanging out at the Teddy Roosevelt Nature Center at Jones Beach State Park. It had been identified as a Northern Shrike but discontent with that identification had grown and, eventually, a debate (instigated by Shai Mitra) broke out on the New York State Birds Listserv that spilled over to the oracles of modern birding, the ID Frontiers Listserv. The big guns of birding hang out there and one of the biggest guns used the opportunity to take the birding community to school and, in the process, added Loggerhead Shrike to my New York State list. Thanks, David Sibley!
Interesting article on loggerhead shrikes and their demise in NY state in December’s Conservationist.