Regional Optimist
The Battlefords, Thursday, July 28, 2016 - Page 19
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A butcher’s apprentice
Shrike chicks learning how to impale prey Submitted
Nature Saskatchewan
“Young Loggerhead Shrikes (aka butcher birds) are out near their nests learning to perfect their hunting and impaling skills,” says Ashley Fortney, Habitat Stewardship co-ordinator with Nature Saskatchewan. “This is the best time to observe shrikes and their graphic behaviours as the young may be in groups of four to seven, clumsily hunting and impaling prey in a localized area.” Taking a lesson from butchers who hang their meat to dry, the Loggerhead Shrikes do the same with their food. “These birds impale and hang their prey on barbed wire fences, thorny shrubs and broken branches, in order to effectively eat their oversized prey, affording them the nickname of ‘butcher bird,’” Fortney explains. The shrike’s prey items include beetles and grasshoppers, but also larger prey such as snakes, mice, voles, frogs and even smaller songbirds. Similar to birds of prey these birds have sharp hooked beaks, however, unlike the birds of prey, shrikes lack strong talons, and must impale
prey in order to tear pieces off during feeding. The loggerhead shrike is slightly smaller than the American robin. Shrikes have a black mask that extends from the black bill past the eyes. These birds earn the “loggerhead” part of their name because they have relatively large heads compared to their bodies, and the “shrike” part of their name because they have a high pitched shriek for an alarm call. The loggerhead shrike has a grey back with white under parts, black wings and a black tail with characteristic white patches on the wings and stripes on the edges of the tail. These traits are easily seen when shrikes are in flight. Loggerhead shrike chicks are the fuzzy fluffball equivalent to the parents. They have a similar black eye mask, although not as distinct, and a less smooth appearance when compared to their parents. “My favourite feature about the chicks is their tail, which is very short and stubby compared to the length of the body,” says Fortney. The chicks also have the same black and white marking on their wings. Around this time is when the young butchers-in-
training are exploring the world around their nest. The prairie population of loggerhead shrikes has seen declines of over 80 per cent in the past 35 years. Causes of decline are primarily habitat loss and degradation (e.g. removal of shelterbelts), as well as pesticide use and road mortality. To learn more about the loggerhead shrike or to re9am5pm port a Regional sighting please conwww.newsoptimist.ca The Battlefords, Thursday, June 2, 2016 - Page 5 Optimist 9am5pm 9am5pm 9am5pm Full Time Hearing Clinic NEW tact Nature Saskatchewan Full TimeClinic Hearing Clinic NEW Full Time Hearing LEASE TO HEAR PROGRAM NEW LEASE TO HEAR PROGRAM Full Time Hearing Clinic at 1-800-667-HOOT NEW LEASE TO HEAR PROGRAM New! Leasing Hearing Aids NOW Available: (4668). By reporting log- Leasing New! Hearing Aids NOW Available: New!Hearing Leasing Hearing Aids NOW Available: New! Aids NOWNOW Available: New!Leasing Leasing Hearing Aids Available: gerhead shrike locations, Standard Advanced Premium Standard Advanced Premium Advanced Standard you are providing valuable Standard Advanced Premium Premium information used to assess population size and dis- Per month Per month Per month Per month Per month Per month month Per month Per monthPer month Per month tribution in order to help PerPermonth 1261 100th St. North Battleford, 1261 100th St. North Battleford, SKSK 1261 100th St.Battleford, NorthSK Battleford, SK 1261 100th St. North SK 1261 100th St. North Battleford, direct the conservation efforts for this threatened bird. Information will not It turns out the day I a landPipeline, but the people tually shipworld his oil through, cases. their But we’re nests. going to Juvenile loggerhead shrikes are exploring the around Photo be shared without would get to see Donald of the United States into Saskatchewan … take a look at it. by Boyd Coburn Trump was a very big day should be given a piece, Trump: This is a differPipeline News: The owner’s permission. rom indeed. May 26, Trump a significant piece, of the ent pipeline? difference is this pipeline
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Asking the big question and getting a ‘Yes’
clinched the necessary number of delegates to secure his place as the Republican nominee for president of the United States. On that day he travelled to Bismarck, N.D. to speak on the closing day of the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in his first major policy speech on energy. I have attended this conference every year for six years, gathering enough stories to run over several editions each time. The media attending the conference were shepherded through our own U.S. Secret Service security screening. Our bags were thoroughly searched, we were wanded with metal detectors and the large, imposing sniffer dog was a fitting set piece along with the large presence of secret service and police, armoured and armed, uniformed and plain clothes. He landed in Bismarck a few minutes after the time he was supposed to be on stage. Around 7,700 people, one-third from the conference, the remainder outsiders, waited up to three hours to go through the security screening. They would wait a little longer. The media room, with its podium and lights, was electric with anticipation. As he was running late, many of us expected Trump would maybe make a short statement or take questions for five minutes before taking the stage. Instead, he took nearly 40 Regional Optimist minutes of questions. Prior to addressing the press, numerous oil executives, including Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm, took their place behind the podium. Despite the fact he came to North Dakota to talk energy, nearly 20 minutes into this unexpectedly long media availability, no one had asked about oil. This is when, standing at the far edge of room with three secret service agents within arm’s reach, I got a chance to ask my questions about the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline project. True to form, he wants a piece for the United States. He would It turns the day I also lookout at TransCanada’s would get toUpland see Donald proposed Pipeline. Not familiar with big the day projTrump was a very ect, he said his bias would indeed. May 26, Trump be to approve it as well. clinched the necessary
the top of
the pile By Brian Zinchuk
profits. Right now Obama would have said, “Yes” or “No,” and most politicians would say, “Yes, we’ll approve it,” or “No, we won’t.” I’m saying, “Yes, absolutely, we’ll approve it. But I want a piece of the profits because we’re making it happen through eminent domain and other things. I want a piece of the profits for the United States. That’s how we’re going to make our country rich again, just one way out of thousands, but that’s how we’re going to make our country rich again and how we’re going to make America great again. You understand what I’m saying? Pipeline News: TransCanada would like to build a pipeline from Williston that Mr. Hamm could ac-
Pipeline News: It’s called the Upland Pipeline, 300,000 barrels a day, TransCanada … Trump: Do you like the idea? Pipeline News: It’s great, it’s basically … Trump: No, no. Do you like the idea? As a reporter? You’re not supposed to say, but that’s OK. (Laughter in room) Pipeline News: I’m the only person in Saskatchewan who writes on energy. I love the idea. Trump: We would look at it. Look, I’m going to look at anything. I’m going to look at anything. A lot of times, pipelines are so much better. Instead of going on trains and having all the problems caused by that, it’s underground. Environmentally, they’re better in many
would allow Mr. Hamm to export oil through Canada, into Canada, and also overseas through a Canadian port. Trump: Okay, well I’m not aware of that one, but we will certainly take a look at it. I will tell you my basic bias would be to approve. I want to approve for jobs, and the concept of pipelines is OK, if they’re going from the right place to the right place, OK? *** I would hope someone was going to ask the Keystone XL question, but no one had. Canada has wanted to hear a “Yes” to that question for seven years, having heard only “Wait, wait, wait, wait, maybe, wait, wait, no!” from President Obama. Continued on Page 6
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The Upland Pipeline would be an integral part of the proposed Energy East Pipeline, allowing North Dakota to ship up to 300,000 barrels per day from Williston, N.D., to Moosomin where it would join up with the proposed Cromer Lateral (taking Saskatchewan oil) and feed into the 1.1 million barrel per day Energy East mainline. Pipeline News: Sir, I think I’m the only Canadian press here. The Keystone XL project caused great disruption to Canada-U.S. relations. Would you approve the project? Would you invite TransCanada to build it? Donald Trump: Yes I would. Totally. It should be approved. I’m not saying we shouldn’t get a better deal. See, Obama would approve it or not approve it. Hillary is probably not going to approve it, from
what I understand. I look at it differently. I would absolutely approve it, 100 per cent, but I want a better deal. Because listen, here’s the difference between Harold Hamm and myself, and you, or let’s say, Obama, who doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. Here’s the difference. I’m going to say, “Folk’s, we’re going to let you build a pipeline. But give us a piece.” We’re going to have to use eminent domain. You know, remember when all the conservatives went, “Eminent domain! Eminent domain!” Well, their favourite project is the Keystone Pipeline. If you read the Keystone documents, a big section is devoted to eminent domain. Because without eminent domain, that pipeline wouldn’t go 10 feet. You understand that. I want the Keystone
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An adult loggerhead shrike. Photo by Boyd Coburn
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Asking the bigOFFquestion and getting a ‘Yes’
HAND FOR
number of delegates to secure his place as the Republican nominee for president of the United States. On that day he travelled to Bismarck, N.D. to speak on the closing day of the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in his first major policy speech on energy. I have attended this conference every year for six years, gathering enough stories to run over several editions each time. The media attending the conference were shepherded through our own U.S. Secret Service security screening. Our bags were thoroughly searched, we were wanded with metal detectors and the large, imposing sniffer dog was a fitting set piece along with the large presence of secret service and police, armoured and armed, uniformed and plain clothes. He landed in Bismarck a few minutes after the time he was supposed to be on stage. Around 7,700 people, one-third from the conference, the remainder outsiders, waited up to three hours to go through
On Everything
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Some exceptions apply. =Animals & pet food excluded
rom
the top of
the pile
S R E H T O By Brian Zinchuk
Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers
Association 2012 Columnist of the Year
The Upland Pipeline would be an integral part of the proposed Energy East Pipeline, allowing North Dakota to ship up to 300,000 barrels per day from Williston, N.D., to Moosomin where it would join up with the proposed Cromer Lateral (taking Saskatchewan oil) and feed into the 1.1 million barrel per day Energy East mainline. Pipeline News: Sir, I think I’m the only Canadian press here. The Keystone XL project caused great disruption to Canada-U.S. relations. Would you approve the project? Would you invite TransCanada to build it? Donald Trump: Yes I would. Totally. It should be approved. I’m not saying we shouldn’t get a better deal. See, Obama would approve it or not approve it. Hillary is probably not
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what I understand. I look at it differently. I would absolutely approve it, 100 per cent, but I want a better deal. Because listen, here’s the difference between Harold Hamm and myself, and you, or let’s say, Obama, who doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. Here’s the difference. I’m going to say, “Folk’s, we’re going to let you build a pipeline. But give us a piece.” We’re going to have to use eminent domain. You know, remember when all the conservatives went, “Eminent domain! Eminent domain!” Well, their favourite project is the Keystone Pipeline. If you read the Keystone documents, a big section is devoted to eminent domain. Because without eminent domain, that pipeline wouldn’t go 10 feet. You understand that.
Pipeline, but the people of the United States should be given a piece, a significant piece, of the profits. Right now Obama would have said, “Yes” or “No,” and most politicians would say, “Yes, we’ll approve it,” or “No, we won’t.” I’m saying, “Yes, absolutely, we’ll approve it. But I want a piece of the profits because we’re making it happen through eminent domain and other things. I want a piece of the profits for the United States. That’s how we’re going to make our country rich again, just one way out of thousands, but that’s how we’re going to make our country rich again and how we’re going to make America great again. You understand what I’m saying? Pipeline News: TransCanada would like to build a pipeline from Williston that Mr. Hamm could ac-
tually ship hisExcellent oil through, cases. But we’re going to Location! This home is located… in a nice quiettake neighborhood into Saskatchewan a look at it. and has a big mature yard! The roof was done 2 Trump: This is isa hardwood differ- flooring Pipeline years ago. There and newer News: The windows. For your personal viewing, call Tricial 306-is this pipeline ent pipeline? difference 441-5219. MLS®573385 Pipeline News: It’s would allow Mr. Hamm called the Upland Pipeline, to export oil through 300,000 barrels a day, Canada, into Canada, and TransCanada … also overseas through a Trump: Do you like the Canadian port. idea? Trump: Okay, well I’m Pipeline News: It’s not aware of that one, but great, it’s basically … we will certainly take a Trump: No, no. Do you look at it. I will tell you like the idea? As a reportmy basic bias would be er? You’re not supposed to to approve. I want to say, but that’s OK. approve for jobs, and the (Laughter in room) concept of pipelines is Pipeline News: I’m OK, if they’re going from the only person in Saskthe right place to the right atchewan who writes on place, OK? energy. I love the idea. *** Trump: We would look I would hope someat it. Look, I’m going to one was going to ask the look at anything. I’m goKeystone XL question, but ing to look at anything. A no one had. Canada has lot of times, pipelines are wanted to hear a “Yes” so much better. Instead to that question for seven of going on trains and years, having heard only having all the problems “Wait, wait, wait, wait, caused by that, it’s undermaybe, wait, wait, no!” ground. Environmentally, from President Obama. they’re better in many Continued on Page 6
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An impaled caterpillar and a frog are being stored for a loggerhead shrike’s lunch. Photos by Emily Putz and Jennifer Banning
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Weekend Sales Team Archie Robinson 306-441-3455
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