Like most people, I’m a little taken back when I see small animals stuck on spikes and thorns. Who did this? Why? …and what did these particular animals do to deserve this?
Enter our friend the Shrike, or モズ, a member of the sparrow family and perhaps most famously known as the subject of renowned two-sword swordsman Miyamoto Musashi’s sumi-e panting. (No links allowed here, but search for yourself.)
The shrike likes to use barbs and thorns as a sort of open-air refrigerator. No need to eat it all at once – just stick it on a spike and eat what you want. I’ve read that this is also a way to mark its territory. Seems effective to me! From what I have read, they do tend to shift territory with the seasons. This is the first time I’ve noticed such a menagerie on the security fence, but who knows who long this particular bird has been here or will stay.
So far the kill count for the month is at least five tokage, some grubs, and two or three praying mantises or stick bugs – they were kinda nasty so I couldn’t tell what was what. Part of me wants to offer it up something a little more gentle to the eye, like an impaled snickers or maybe a delicate manju, but for now I’m going to keep nature and myself somewhat separated.
Image of the bird itself from https://munahaku.jp/2018/06/05/モズ/
by Johoku