So I had half forgotten who I had that information from.
Graham Chapman was the more likely. And I had forgotten that I had written much the same
thing over 7 years ago. And John wrote much the same as I did. I suppose there is not a huge difference between impaling and using a tree fork to wedge prey. Maybe Australia does not have prominent native vegetation that includes large spiky thorns or similar,
or maybe less than Europe and Asia, where the shrikes would appear to be common. Sorry I have no idea if that is a sensible suggestion or not.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Friday, 22 December, 2023 5:58 PM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: [Canberrabirds] FW: Narrabundah scene this morning
It’s all in the archive somewhere. Maybe this is openable, maybe not
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Philip Veerman
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2023 11:05 AM
To: 'Canberra birds' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Narrabundah scene this morning
I recall someone eminent (I suspect maybe Graham Chapman, maybe Graham Pizzey or someone similar?) writing to me, years ago, to point out that butcherbirds
don’t ever impale prey on hooks or spikes. That is something that shrikes do and the idea has been carried forward onto butcherbirds. Maybe because at times, the two names are confused, because they are similar. Anyway butcherbirds do use tree forks etc and
like what Geoffrey has shown, for this purpose. Whoever it was, was correcting me for having also made the wrong connection.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds
On Behalf Of Kim Farley via Canberrabirds
Sent: Friday, 22 December, 2023 10:13 AM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc: Canberrabirds
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Narrabundah scene this morning
Another great cartoon Geoffrey and one that also shows their interesting behaviour. I guess it's a smallish step from using twigs, forks or branches to secure prey to using that nifty spiral clip.
I hope the young bird eventually gets a good Christmas dinner.
