Ostrava Zoo reports successful breeding of rare shrike species

The Ostrava Zoo in the Czech Republic has documented a pair of common shrikes (Lanius collurio) successfully raising chicks in a concealed nest built high in a young alder. Ornithologist Otakar Závalský, who oversees the zoo’s biodiversity programme, described how the adult birds continuously supply food to their fledglings, storing excess prey on thorns and hawthorn spikes – a behaviour that earned the bird the nickname “carnivorous singer.”

Only two shrike species now remain in the Czech Republic – the common shrike and the grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) – after the smaller and rufous shrikes disappeared from the region. The birds migrate from wintering grounds in south‑east Africa each spring, facing threats such as illegal shooting and trapping. Each successful breeding pair in the zoo is therefore considered a small victory for the species’ conservation.

The zoo remains open during the summer evenings until 20:00, offering visitors the chance to observe the shrikes and other wildlife in a cool, shaded environment.