A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

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kcmatt
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A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by kcmatt »

This amazing account and pictures were forwarded to me by colleagues from FWS:

I pulled over at the Loma bridge fishing access site just outside of the UMBNM north of Fort Benton MT on Sunday afternoon around 4:30PM to photograph the Cliff Swalows tending thier nests. What I found was an enormous Bull Snake fishing for Cliff Swallows from 30 feet above the racing Missouri River. I observed it for over 2 hours slink in and out of about 5 nests consuming the chicks. Bulge after bulge runing down it's body. Then snap, he grabed one of the adult swallows who had dared to swoop by to pester his dining. When it had had its fill it kicked itself free and dropped into the rushing river. It was a truley incredible behavior to observe and magnificent specimen.


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In many ways, very neat documentation-- getting to them, plucking them, esp. the flying adult, if it truly intentionally dropped into the river as the account describes (as opposed to falling in attempt to climb back up)-- all interesting behavioral information. Would have been informative in Pantherophis obsoleta, but even a bit more so in Pituophis.
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justinm
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by justinm »

This makes me want to find a similar situation for myself. Thanks for sharing this.
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VanAR
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by VanAR »

that may be the most awesome thing I've ever seen. Just one more reason to love the amazing bullsnake!
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muskiemagnet
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by muskiemagnet »

that is pretty cool. the one of the snake hanging by one nest, shows how strong those nests are.
joeysgreen
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by joeysgreen »

Very, very cool !

Ian
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Tim Borski
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Tim Borski »

That's outrageous. I'm glad it wasn't a "wish I'd brought my camera" moment...thanks for sharing!
Tim
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Erik_NorCal
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Erik_NorCal »

:shock: Wow! That's awesome! Good looking pit too. Thanks.
I keep telling my buddy to get on this forum. I think this will seal the deal when he sees it.
dthor68
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by dthor68 »

Very Cool!

I use to catch Rat Snakes under bridges. How they can get to those nest is beond me, but they do. The ones they cant get to they wait for the bird to fall out during its first flight. About two months ago I went back to bridge I use to visit to catch a rat snake for photos. What I found was a homeless man sleeping.
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by ksuglennj »

Very very cool. Nice to see nature at work when a snake beats bird. :D Ok that was for my many birding friends.Kind of reminds me of the Bogertophis eating bats under a bridge that Daryl Eby documented.

Glenn
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monklet
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by monklet »

AWESOME!!! Who needs arms and legs? Snakes can do some special things...the ultimate in elegance and efficiency.
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Gary2sons
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Gary2sons »

Fascinating to say the least!

Thanks for posting that Matt!

If we only knew for sure why it fell! Maybe too much weight but then again pits are so strong. Really some amazing pics! I've seen snakes jump from trees when forced to but the thought that it may have desended on its own is really something to think about!

Gary
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Awesomest!
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Erik_NorCal
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Erik_NorCal »

Best in situ sequence ever?
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Steve Atkins
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Steve Atkins »

:shock: I wonder how many times that snake has done the exact same thing, thanks for sharing
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AndyO'Connor
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by AndyO'Connor »

fox cove 4 wrote::shock: I wonder how many times that snake has done the exact same thing, thanks for sharing
I was wondering the same thing. I personally don't think it intentionally fell, based on the pictures we have here, after eating a few birds, you can see how big the snake's belly is in the 4th from last shot, and in the next shot, its tail is hanging down. Even for a strongly built snake like pituophis I think unless it slithered back into the current nest it was hanging from and regrouped, there was little chance of it getting its tail back up to anchor it. It could have backed out for many reasons, maybe it was done, or maybe it was planning on moving to the next nest, but you can see in the next image, it was falling tail first, that's the head end in the bottom of the picture. Perhaps it was done and meant to fall, it "forgot" that it was 30 feet from the landing perhaps, but I think it was just a matter of the snake losing its anchor, and backing out of the nest it was in instead of regrouping. So I guess the question would be why did it back out of the nest? Was it full, was it being pestered by a bird inside, was it planning on moving to the next nest and just made the mistake of not re-anchoring itself?
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Natalie McNear
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Natalie McNear »

What an incredible thing to witness in the wild like that. The shot of the snake falling made me chuckle...
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Fundad
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Fundad »

Wow... Thanks for sharing this...

Truly amazing, and an impressive skill set for a snake, its no wonder gopher and bull snakes are so successful.

:thumb:
Fundad
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FunkyRes
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by FunkyRes »

Wow - that's incredible!

Thanks for sharing!
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Paul O'Connor
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Paul O'Connor »

I'll add another WOW and AWESOME because it is. This proves my long held theory that snakes invented drive-through takeout.
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Ross Padilla
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Ross Padilla »

Everything about that is incredible. The snake had to crawl out there on the sidewalk, with cars driving by, if its a car bridge. How did he know they were there? lol That's just incredible. Him falling tail first seems more likely he let go, if he did let go. I don't think a snake intensionally falling would go head first. Its seems like a stretch to think he fell on purpose but if someone said Bull snakes were crawling out on the top of that bridge and invading those swallow nests, I'd probably have to see it to believe it.
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by mikemike »

Great observation!
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Natalie McNear
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Natalie McNear »

He's climbin' in your nest holes
He's snatchin' your people up
Tryna eat them so you need to
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
And hide yo husband
Cuz they're eatin' errbody out here
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Ryan Thies
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Ryan Thies »

Amazing observation! I wish I could witness something cool like that. That is some cool behavior.

Ryan
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FastSnake17
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by FastSnake17 »

Natalie McNear wrote:He's climbin' in your nest holes
He's snatchin' your people up
Tryna eat them so you need to
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
And hide yo husband
Cuz they're eatin' errbody out here

hahahahah, I think I just peed a little
billboard
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by billboard »

Best post to date; Ever!
KUJordan
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by KUJordan »

Wow, Matt. That is truly amazing, almost unbelievable! Props to the guy who took those shots, tell him he should be a herper with his luck!

This really might be the coolest in situ sequence I've ever seen of a snake. I've seen shots of rats and bulls doing this same thing to a bird house, and I've seen copperheads climbing bushes to eat cicadas at night, but the lengths that bull had to go to and the previous "knowledge" he must have had of those birds just makes it truly remarkable. Thanks for posting.
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mrichardson
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by mrichardson »

Not much to add that hasn't already been said. It's certainly a very interesting account made even more enjoyable with the photo account. GREAT POST!!!
Paul White
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Paul White »

watching herps hunt is always a treat. doesn't matter if it's a horned lizard eating ants, a crotalid eating a rabbit, a king eating a lizard, a toad catching bugs...and man oh man is this one hell of an example of a herp hunting.
Brian Eagar
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Brian Eagar »

Very cool Matt!
Thanks for posting this.
There are some areas where I could imagine pyros and lyres doing a very similar thing.
I've scanned nests on cliffs in hopes of seeing such a thing but haven't been so lucky.
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Eric East
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Eric East »

That is one of the best posts i've ever read on any forum! Thanks for posting it! :thumb:
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Mulebrother
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Mulebrother »

Why dont we ever see cool stuff like this? All we see are donkeys on peoples front porches.

Awesome series.
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by chris_mcmartin »

This reminds me of Eby's post re: suboc eating bats from a highway bridge. VERY interesting behavior!
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kcmatt
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by kcmatt »

Thanks for all the comments. When I first learned of the account, I didn't believe it fully although certainly not an impossible event. I don't think I would have if it weren't for the fact that the fellow documented it so well, better perhaps than many herpers might have! I could see myself missing many of the moments due to the greed of wanting to watch every moment, unblinking probably, instead of obstruction the visual with a viewfinder.

There are eyes on it now, so perhaps we can answer the question of whether this snake is a veteran at this behavior, which is certainly very possible. I will pass it on if any additional activity is seen.
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DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone »

Amazing 8-)
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dezertwerx
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by dezertwerx »

Great post!
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Mattrattler
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Mattrattler »

That is truly amazng. One of those really cool, unique and odd things that can been seen (and thankfully captured) out in the field. Thanks for sharing! That is one of the coolest things I have seen and really raises a lot of fun questions on behavior, intellegence, etc.

Totally sweet! :thumb:
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Mike Pingleton
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Mike Pingleton »

how in the hell did I miss this? Thanks for the bump, (Iowa) Matt, and thanks for posting this, KC Matt.

We frame these creatures inadequately, that's for certain.

-Mike
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Mattrattler
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Mattrattler »

I have to give credit to Jim as he told me about this weekend while we were herping. Of course I had to check it out!
Hope the shoulder is all better Mr. Mike. :)

Matt's = amazing herpers. At least that's what I think.
gulo
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by gulo »

Incredible. I have always found bullsnakes to be fairly abundant around bridge abutments, thinking it was the thermal properties of the concrete. Those bridges hosted very impressive cliff swallow colonies. I never would have guessed a bullsnake could get to them, but now I may have another hunch why they're abundant around those bridges. I have found them preying on cliff swallow colonies high in wooded structures, but this is amazing.

On a somewhat related note, seeing the picture of the bullsnake taking the dive, i was once herping for eastern fox snakes with a good friend, around the base of a big barn-like building. For some reason i looked up, and there, 25 feet off the ground was a copper coloured head poking out of a small hole in the upper stories of the building. To our amazement, the fox snake, for so it was, very deliberately began to slide out of the hole, then free-fell the 25 feet or so to the ground. It was about 4.5 feet long and bulging with prey - birds we suspected (the lumps had that look), that may have nesting up there. How many times had this snake gone through this hole? Perhaps it was the first time, but the lack of hesitation or looking for other purchases suggested to us this snake had done this before.
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Mike VanValen
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Mike VanValen »

So is the snake emerging from the river after it's fall in the last shot?

Really amazing. I'd love to know how the snake figured out how to get to the nests and how it knew they were there in the first place.
rdodson
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by rdodson »

I have seen plenty of black rats do that, but a gopher I would not have expected.
jswingchun
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by jswingchun »

rdodson wrote:I have seen plenty of black rats do that, but a gopher I would not have expected.
You have seen them feed on swallows on a bridge like that?
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kcmatt
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by kcmatt »

Matt's = amazing herpers. At least that's what I think.
I think you are on to something there...
So is the snake emerging from the river after it's fall in the last shot?
Yes, that is after its swim back to shore.
rdodson wrote:
I have seen plenty of black rats do that, but a gopher I would not have expected.
You have seen them feed on swallows on a bridge like that?
...on a bridge that size (road access only) and with a 40+ft drop into a large river below?

You really have to suspect that this is potentially repeated behavior for the snake, perhaps even its bread and butter so to speak, as may be the case for the interesting account gulo provided.
bobassetto
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by bobassetto »

would this be seasonal behavior???.......were does it feed before nesting time and after????.....or is this its "glutton time"?????......enough food for the active season????
gmerker
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by gmerker »

Hey Matt,

Can't believe I missed this post...pretty cool observations....always nice to capture photographically an animal feeding in nature...congrats, gmerker
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Langaha
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Langaha »

Wow, the pictures are awesome! He looks like a pro!
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Carl Koch
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by Carl Koch »

This is such a fascinating series. I'm flabbergasted and thrilled! Thanks for posting it!!!
TimCO
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Re: A Rather Impressive Birding Pituophis Account

Post by TimCO »

Natalie McNear wrote:He's climbin' in your nest holes
He's snatchin' your people up
Tryna eat them so you need to
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife
And hide yo husband
Cuz they're eatin' errbody out here

The funniest thing I've seen in a while.
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