Northern Shrike- Larimer County

[Pat Hayward]

Hey all,

   I was sitting in the hot tub in our backyard in Masonville (west of Fort Collins) after shoveling WAY too much snow and observed a Northern Shrike cleaning its bill on the branches of a small green ash tree. (I had my husband come out with binocs to confirm.) This is only the second time in 23 years we've had one in the yard (last sighting was 3/19/2003). My second biggest question (other than WHY it was here) was WHAT had it been eating that it needed to clean its bill? Perhaps suet?

   Also had a gorgeous red tailed hawk fly over and I also wondered what it was going to be eating after this huge snow storm. Hope it melts gently but soon.

Stay dry,

-Pat Hayward

Masonville CO @ 5400'