Bethel, Maine.
1903.
June 10
  Cloudy with light S.W. wind.
  Visited the Shrike family this morning in company
with Walter Dane. Found the female on the nest apparently
sitting but did not disturb her. The male was ranging about
on his own territory & that which his mate has previously
covered, hunting insects of which we saw him catch a
number all of which he took to his solitary offspring.
The latter although apparently no larger or better feathered than
when I saw him last two days ago could fly strongly
this morning. He followed his father from place to place
taking flights or 100 yards or more at a time &
alighting well up in leafy trees as well as on fence posts.
The old male sang a little
while perched on a tall wood stalk in a field. This is
the first time I have heard his song. It was much like
that of the Florida bird & consisted of a single note
uttered eight or ten times in rather quick succession. I
rendered this note on the sport as p'lee. It was soft,
rather plaintive and decidedly musical. Walter thought
it resembled the peep of Picking's Hyla but it was
much less shrill & piercing & to my ear more
like the bell note of the Blue Jay although not very
near that either.
Migrant Shrike