{"id":79870,"date":"2021-02-27T06:27:09","date_gmt":"2021-02-27T13:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=79870"},"modified":"2026-01-31T14:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T20:30:34","slug":"loggerhead-shrike-on-a-witness-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/02\/27\/loggerhead-shrike-on-a-witness-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Loggerhead Shrike On A Witness Post"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this week while looking through older photos I came across this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a Witness Post image and I chuckled out loud. Why?<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Loggerhead Shrike on a Witness Post \u2013 Nikon D810, f8, 1\/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I wondered what the Loggerhead Shrike had witnessed. Okay, not really. It did seem funny to me that a masked bird that could look like a bandit was perched on a Witness Post. That may or may not say something about my sense of humor.<\/p>\n

The shrike and the post were photographed at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a> on February 26, 2016 so a day more than five years ago.<\/p>\n

What is a Witness Post?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A witness mark or post is set as an aid in finding and positively identifying a survey point. Two or more reference marks could also be used to reset the survey mark if required and one of these could be used as a substitute mark when necessary.<\/p>\n

Witness posts are usually set by a government agency. I didn’t get out of the “mobile blind” so I don’t know what type of survey marker there may have been near this witness post.<\/p>\n

\"SurveySurvey Marker, Wasatch Mountains<\/span><\/p>\n

The survey marker near the witness post may have looked something like the one shown in the photo above. I photographed this marker high in the Wasatch Mountains almost three years ago.<\/p>\n

Back to the Shrike<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I was delighted to photograph the Loggerhead Shrike at the refuge. These wannabe raptors are interesting songbirds that use their hooked beaks to kill insects, small reptiles, birds, and rodents. They can fly with their prey in their beaks and feet much like most raptors do. Their nickname is “Butcher Bird” because they often impale their prey to cache it like a butcher does when they hang meat to age it.<\/p>\n

Over the years that I lived in Utah I have seen the population of Loggerhead Shrikes decline. I used to see them on almost every trip I made to Antelope Island State Park. Now I may see just one shrike in 10 to 12 trips to the island. The vole population crashed on the island in 2012 and from what I have seen it has not bounced back yet. The shrikes used to feed on the voles there regularly.<\/p>\n

I see these shrikes in other locations but not in the numbers I used to see them in. Because I see fewer of them I have concerns about the Loggerhead Shrike population in northern Utah.<\/p>\n

I enjoy hearing Loggerhead Shrikes call<\/span><\/a> and sing. Their song<\/span><\/a> isn’t what most people would call a song though, some folks might even find it irritating. I like it.<\/p>\n

I miss seeing these “Butcher Birds” in the numbers I used to see them in and I get really excited when I see them now. Even when they are perched on a Witness Post.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my Loggerhead Shrike photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this week while looking through older photos I came across this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a Witness Post image and I chuckled out loud.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":141686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,27,1148,247,26],"tags":[4004,11042,4935,4171,4066,4094,4104,4747,3906,3907,4735,2727,9121,11041,11043,373,11040],"class_list":["post-79870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-loggerhead-shrikes","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-butcher-bird","tag-call","tag-lanius-ludovicianus","tag-loggerhead-shrike","tag-marsh","tag-perched","tag-population-decline","tag-shrike","tag-shrikes","tag-song","tag-song-bird","tag-songbirds","tag-survey-marker","tag-wannabe-raptors","tag-winter","tag-witness-post"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/loggerhead-shrike-witness-post-mia-mcpherson-5281.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-kMe","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":101743,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/04\/23\/loggerhead-shrike-population-decline-concerns\/","url_meta":{"origin":79870,"position":0},"title":"Loggerhead Shrike Population Decline Concerns","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"About two weeks ago I found an adult Loggerhead Shrike perched on a lichen covered rock in northern Utah a good distance from the road that I was on.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Loggerhead Shrike perched on a lichen covered rock, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-lichen-rocks-mia-mcpherson-6340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-lichen-rocks-mia-mcpherson-6340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-lichen-rocks-mia-mcpherson-6340.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-lichen-rocks-mia-mcpherson-6340.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109638,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/01\/16\/winter-loggerhead-shrike\/","url_meta":{"origin":79870,"position":1},"title":"Winter Loggerhead Shrike: A Species In Decline","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Due to extended gray, cloudy weather and not getting out into the field I dug into my archives and today I am sharing a photo of a winter Loggerhead Shrike.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Loggerhead Shrike in winter, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-winter-mia-mcpherson-9820.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-winter-mia-mcpherson-9820.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-winter-mia-mcpherson-9820.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-winter-mia-mcpherson-9820.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98216,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/12\/16\/loggerhead-shrike-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":79870,"position":2},"title":"Loggerhead Shrike At Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"On my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I found this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a twig near the end of the auto tour loop.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Loggerhead Shrike at Bear River MBR, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-9454.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-9454.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-9454.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/loggerhead-shrike-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-9454.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40354,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/07\/06\/juvenile-loggerhead-shrike-with-a-robber-fly\/","url_meta":{"origin":79870,"position":3},"title":"Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike with a Robber Fly","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When I took this image the juvenile Loggerhead Shrike was perched on a dead twig when the robber fly flew into the frame, the shrike took off after the fly and caught it in mid air.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Loggerhead Shrike juvenile looking at a Robber Fly, West Desert, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-robber-fly-mia-mcpherson-1272.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-robber-fly-mia-mcpherson-1272.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-robber-fly-mia-mcpherson-1272.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-robber-fly-mia-mcpherson-1272.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2432,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/06\/02\/a-shrike-kind-of-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":79870,"position":4},"title":"A Shrike Kind Of Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 2, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"There are days when I see a certain species of birds quite often, depending on location it might be an Eagle filled day, or a Shorebird day. Today was a Shrike kind of day on Antelope Island State Park.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Loggerhead Shrike perched in sagebrush and rabbitbrush, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-sagbrush-mia-mcpherson-0684.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-sagbrush-mia-mcpherson-0684.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-sagbrush-mia-mcpherson-0684.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrike-sagbrush-mia-mcpherson-0684.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15006,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/05\/20\/loggerhead-shrikes-and-a-few-things-that-bug-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":79870,"position":5},"title":"Loggerhead Shrikes And A Few Things That Bug Them","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning while Antelope Island there was a Loggerhead Shrike perched on a dead branch that was near the north shoreline of the Great Salt Lake.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"One adult Loggerhead Shrike bringing in prey to another, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrikes-prey-mia-mcpherson-7091.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrikes-prey-mia-mcpherson-7091.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrikes-prey-mia-mcpherson-7091.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loggerhead-shrikes-prey-mia-mcpherson-7091.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}