Vlad

On January 6, 2012 one of our longtime residents, Vlad, a Loggerhead Shrike passed away due to the infirmities of old age.

Vlad arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary September 9, 1997 from a Panama City Beach, Florida, rehabilitation center.  At the time his age was unknown.  Normal maximum life expectancy in the wild appears to be around six years, so we know that Vlad had lived long beyond his expected lifespan in the wild.

Loggerhead Shrikes are a unique songbird species.  They are not a bird of prey, but with their strong beaks will catch and kill insects, mice, small birds and other vertebrates, such as frogs and snakes. Since they don’t have strong feet like raptors, they impale their prey on thorns, barbed wire and other similar projections, and then they pull bite size pieces from their prey.  Vlad often demonstrated this behavior for guests during the many years that he was on display at WBS. 

Vlad will be missed by staff and guests alike.