The two populations of Loggerhead Shrike in Canada are monitored differently. The excubitorides subspecies in the Prairies is effectively monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which samples the breeding range well and has high precision. It shows a steep decline from the early 1970s to early 1980s, a period of stabilization until the early 1990s, and then an ongoing but slower decline ever since. The cumulative decline is 79% since 1970. 

The Eastern population was historically also monitored well by the BBS, and it shows a steep decline from the early 1970s to late 1980s, tapering off at extremely low levels. However, BBS routes have provided minimal coverage of the very small remaining population over the past 20-30 years. Recent estimates are based on targeted monitoring by Wildlife Preservation Canada. With the benefit of captive release efforts, the short-term trend shows little change, but the Eastern population remains 99% below 1970 levels.

For the national population and the excubitorides subspecies, the goal is to increase the populations to the levels they were at in the early 1970s, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Trend data show that Loggerhead Shrike is far below its goal range and its population decline is ongoing. The trend will need to stabilize before the population can begin to rebound, and it is not realistic for the goal to be met by 2050. Based on analysis of the historical population loss and potential growth rates, the interim target is to reach 35% of the goal by that year. Achieving this target, and ultimately reaching the national goal for this species, will require ambitious and long-term conservation action. This goal is more ambitious than that outlined in the Recovery Strategy for the Prairie population of Loggerhead Shrike under the Species at Risk Act, which calls for halting the decline and then maintaining a stable or increasing population over the extent of the Canadian range occupied between 1993 and 2010 (Environment Canada, 2015).

For the Eastern population, the Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy defines a long-term goal of at least 80 breeding pairs (160 individuals) by 2040, to be assessed by targeted monitoring of the population (Environment Canada, 2015).