Its breeding habitat consists of agricultural areas that contain hedgerows, hayfields, pastures and scattered trees and shrubs, especially hawthorn. The loggerhead population level is extremely low, and no nests have been located in New York in recent years. The reasons for the loggerhead's steady decline are not clear at this point. One hypothesis suggests that the abandonment of many farms and orchards, overgrown from neglect, has created unfavorable nesting habitat. Roadkills and pesticide contamination may also be factors.
Further research is necessary before a conclusion can be reached as to the loggerhead's plight.
Management efforts for the loggerhead shrike in New York have included a status survey and the establishment of a system for reporting sightings of this rare species. Research on habitat requirements in New York and Virginia suggest that this shrike prefers areas with extensive, active pastureland. Continued research on productivity, habitat loss and other aspects of the species' ecology should provide a better understanding of the species' decline and suggest possible measures for reversing this trend. Fraser, J. D. and D. R. Luukkonen. The Loggerhead Shrike .