Loggerhead shrike COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 10

Existing Protection or Other Status

The Loggerhead Shrike is protected internationally (Canada, Mexico, USA) by the Migratory Birds Convention Act (1916). Classified as G4 (apparently secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery) by the Nature Conservancy, with provincial designations of S3S4B in Manitoba, S4B in Saskatchewan, and S3 in Alberta. S3 refers to a species that is either very rare or local throughout its range, or found locally in a restricted range. S4 is defined as species that are apparently secure, though they may be quite rare in parts of the range, especially at the periphery. A comprehensive summary of the existing protection and legal status of Loggerhead Shrikes can be found in Pruitt (2000).

In Canada, Prairie Loggerhead Shrikes have been designated Threatened by COSEWIC in 1986 and 1991 (COSEWIC 2003). The species is listed as Endangered in Manitoba and both a Sensitive Species and a Species of Special Concern in Alberta (Anonymous 2001). In Saskatchewan, it is considered a Species at Risk, requiring special management consideration (Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre).It is also listed as Threatened in nearby Minnesota (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and Endangered in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources).

The primary on-the-ground protection efforts in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are to identify and protect critical habitat for Prairie Loggerhead Shrikes. Such efforts are typically oriented towards private stewardship, whereby landowners are encouraged to fence off and protect areas that are identified as important nesting and foraging sites.

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