This is not a pleasant story… This story has some pretty terrible things in it, from names like “The Butcher” and “Hangman”, to being skewered alive, be-headings and mutilation, so one would easily be forgiven for thinking it was something along the lines of Jack the Ripper. But this isn’t London, and it’s not 1888. It’s South Africa, the bushveld, and it’s 2017, and this story has been running since the beginning of time! Unlike the serial killer who plagued the streets of London late in the 19th century, we know who this culprit is, and out here we see his handywork often! Meet our culprit- the Common Fiscal (Shrike).
While a handsome bird, his scientific name alludes to the fact that there is something sinister about this feathered fella. Lanius collaris, derived from the Latin word for “butcher”, implies a history early ornithologists became well aware of, and as time has run it’s course, a few more nick-names have been labelled to this bird. Jacky Hangman, or the Butcher Bird are some of the more common ones today, and for good reason.
Just outside my cabin I had heard the calls of this bird, and after days of consistent calling, it became apparent that there were 2 juvenile shrikes hopping around on the branches of a thick currant bush about 4 meters from my door. Armed with a camera I went to investigate, and saw the gruesome scene unfolding. This father was feeding his 2 young fledglings. Now, any good dad would do what he could to provide for his offspring, but this guy was making sure he pulled out all the stops!
Shrikes are well known for the brutal and somewhat greedy method of gathering, and storing food. Perched on a branch, they will sit and wait, until something catches their eye, when they will swoop down and grab their prey (anything from a small beetle or insect, up to other birds, the size of a dove!), and either kill and eat it there and then, or return to a prominent perching point, and skewer their quarry to a sharp branch or thorn (hence the nick-name “Jacky Hangman”).
As you will see from the images below, this dad had done just that. The poor mouse probably never even knew the bird was watching him, but watching he was, and when the moment was right, he struck. Taking his new prize up into the tree, he skewered it onto a sharp branch, and proceeded to pull it apart and feed his youngsters.
Eventually, the Butcher Bird decapitated the poor mouse, and gave the head to one of the chicks to feed on.
A proud father, doing a good job of providing for the next generation.
So next time you are out and about and see one of these birds, just remember, they’re not as innocent as they look!
This whole blog was done by my talented brother and is available on his page http://www.rollingwithnolan.com/
