Our last entry showed how to make bird Crack (suet). We have a feeder right outside our ‘breakfast nook’. The birds love it, and subsequently, so do the predators.
The Western Diamondback waits for dinner under the 'crack' feeder
This is the Western Diamondback, Crotalus Atrox, photographed from the open window. This spot is frequented by this particular snake (Chong) and he can be found here almost every day.
CLICK all photos for larger versions
Note the heat sensitive 'pits' midway below the eye
A young Curve-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, was carelessly moving about under the feeder when this occurred.
Using his 'pits' the snake located the largest blood supply/area and struck.
The other birds went into a noisy raucous mode and when the snake went to swallow the bird, others of the species made very desperate sounds!!! (You can hear them in the video)
Here’s the whole process edited to 8 minutes (in real time) I was concentrating on my photos, so there are some exposure issues with the video. I was shooting into the sun.
…and the same video reduced further as a high speed version to two minutes
The snake manipulated the bird into the standard ‘head first’ position and started to swallow him.
always head first…
Rattlesnakes can dislocate their jaw to allow swallowing of large prey.
open wide…
It appeared the wing might be a problem, but, it just opened it’s jaws wider.
yum! hot wings!!!
As soon as the wing was covered, it was a short time until the whole bird was gone.
almost done…
We’ve watched this snake eat two birds and a rat since July 4th. After eating this bird, he moved right back into position and waited for more.
Eric said
“Killer” pictures and video. Can’t wait to show this to the kids.
Jeff said
Has the snake been eyeballing the roadrunners? More Fantastic photos. Great job CJ.
wownature said
Thanks to both of you!
Glad you asked the roadie question, Jeff. The adults, (there are also offspring, again) display their colors on their face and keep their body posture ’stretched’ with a lean always towards where they think the snake is located.
The birds still do an larm call when they approach the ‘kill zone’ An ornithologist here, this past week said it isn’t unusual for the birds to keep up that behavior for weeks.
Thanks for looking, more to come!!!!!!!!
shelby said
Wow CJ!! Your patience is really somethin’!
Thanks!
babach said
you are a nut never change!!!!!