About Texas Shrike Force

The Loggerhead Shrike is an endemic songbird to North America and one of only two species of shrike. They are a strong indicator species of grassland habitats, and therefore useful for understanding and managing grasslands in Texas. Loggerhead Shrike populations have declined by 76% since 1966. Texas not only supports a significant portion of the remaining numbers, but it has some of the only stable shrike populations in North America. While the Loggerhead Shrike has been included as a Priority Species on Texas’ Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) and 34 U.S. states list the species as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, there is still no range-wide conservation plan. The biggest barrier to creating a conservation plan for the species is the limited information available on their habitat needs. Conceived by the Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2), the Texas Shrike Force will address this need by collecting information on the geographic and temporal limiting factors for Loggerhead Shrike.

Project Description & History 

The goal of the Texas Shrike Force will be to organize a network of citizen scientists to monitor and record the demographics and habitat needs of the Loggerhead Shrike species. The project is currently under development and will be hiring a program coordinator in the near future. Once launched, volunteers will be recruited and trained in locating shrikes, monitoring breeding shrikes and their reproductive success, and gathering additional demographic data. This data can be used to identify critical breeding site elements and more effectively manage the area, thereby ensuring a self-sustaining shrike population. Year 1 of the project will be focused will be on the Edwards Plateau, and after that will expand to state-wide.

Community Impact

The Texas Shrike Force will work to advance the species’ recovery by building knowledge that will drive land management decisions for the benefit of Loggerhead Shrike. It will also establish a new training and volunteer engagement model to facilitate range-wide conservation efforts. Methods will be transferable to other species and protocols; training materials and data collection apps will be made available to North American Loggerhead Shrike Working Group members to facilitate the expansion of Shrike Forces across North America. If you are interested in learning more about this project or volunteering once the program is launched please visit the project website at the link below!