SCP-2323

Description

SCP-2323 is an anomalous behavior in great grey shrikes (Lanius excubitor). It is memetic in the host species, and is both learnable and transmissible (successful transmission rate of 64% to wild-caught mates and 87% to captive-raised offspring)[see 2]. Carrier organisms (designated SCP-2323-A) are otherwise non-anomalous specimens of L. excubitor, presenting typical vital signs and observable behaviors.

While SCP-2323-A specimens will demonstrate non-anomalous hunting and feeding, using both natural thorns and barbed wire to impale prey,¹ they show an observable preference for SCP-2323. While engaged in SCP-2323, SCP-2323-A specimens are observed to capture non-visible entities (both on the ground and airborne) and exclusively use the barbed wire for feeding. If barbed wire (or other high iron content metallic "thorns") is not present, SCP-2323-A will not engage in SCP-2323, but instead feed entirely on non-anomalous prey. Unidentified vocalizations from the prey entities can be detected in high-frequency audio recordings of SCP-2323. While the entities remain non-visible during feeding, the wire barbs used for feeding on non-visible entities become coated in blood. This blood is mammalian, but does not match any known mammal [see 1].

Starting in 1986 (the third year of containment), circular clearings with a mean radius of 0.36 meters have appeared annually in the enclosures. These clearings are surrounded by a ring of fungal fruiting bodies of a species of non-anomalous macrofungi already present in the environment, and contain anomalous objects (see Addendum- Excerpt from Document SCP-2323-D). These anomalies appear at night, typically between March and August, with the highest frequency occurring between April 20th and May 10th. Neither video surveillance or direct observation has been able to observe these clearings being made or the objects appearing; these phenomena occur only when and where observation is not being made. Continuous video observation of the enclosure fully prevents manifestation of these anomalies.

Currently a mating pair (SCP-2323-A-07 and A-10) is contained at Site-██ with offspring (A-12, A-13, and A-14). A second pair (SCP-2323-A-09 and A-11) is contained at Site-██. SCP-2323-A-08, an adult male, is being used for research at Site-██.

2 This was located 73 mm from the center of the limestone block, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

Addendum SCP-2323-G" id="addendum-excerpt-from-document-scp-2323-d-strong-the-following-items-were-recovered-from-a-circular-clearing-with-a-radius-of-041160m-in-the-enclosure-containing-scp-2323-a-03-and-scp-2323-a-04-in-may-of-1988-these-items-are-typical-of-objects-that-appear-within-this-scp-during-spring-p-ul-lia-rectangular-limestone-block-155160mm-x-50160mm-x-20160mm-showing-signs-of-having-been-worked-with-stone-hand-tools-with-an-average-striking-surface-of-37160mm-li-lia-cured-hide-of-the-common-vole-emmicrotus-arvalis-em-found-draped-over-the-block-bloodstains-in-this-hide-corresponded-to-the-unknown-blood-found-on-wire-barbs-in-the-same-scp-enclosure-li-litwo-80160mm-lengths-of-rope-made-from-woven-spider-silk-with-a-mean-cross-sectional-radius-of-12160mm-each-rope-was-passed-under-the-limestone-block-12mm-from-either-end-and-terminated-in-loops-radius-of-43160mm-on-each-end-these-loops-contained-traces-of-the-anomalous-mammalian-blood-li-lia-403160mm-long-branch-of-the-common-hawthorn-emcrataegus-monogyna-em-stripped-of-leaves-and-berries-and-quotplantedquot-upright-in-the-ground-the-thorns-were-decorated-with-discarded-feathers-from-scp-2323-a-03-and-a-04-secured-with-spider-silk-cords-along-with-tufts-of-emcanis-lupus-em-hairsup-classfootnoterefa-idfootnoteref-2-hrefjavascript-classfootnoteref-onclickwikidotpageutilsscrolltoreferencefootnote-22-a-sup-this-was-located-73160mm-from-the-center-of-the-limestone-block-perpendicular-to-its-longitudinal-axis-li-ul-pstrongaddendum-scp-2323-g">Addendum-Excerpt from Document SCP-2323-D: The following items were recovered from a circular clearing (with a radius of 0.41 m) in the enclosure containing SCP-2323-A-03 and SCP-2323-A-04 in May of 1988. These items are typical of objects that appear within this SCP during spring.