the snake report - Boulder CO

[JohnT]

Cobirds:

              This does indeed relate to birds.  Read on....

 

These are over the last four days in Boulder County:

 

Green racer (Coluber constrictor) - 1 adult - Gunbarrel CO - struggling to get traction on a concrete slab

Green racer (Coluber constrictor) - another adult - devouring a mouse - Gunbarrel CO

Bullsnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) - 1 - large adult over 5 feet at Teller Lake 5

Wandering garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) - 1 - at Teller Lake

Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) - 1 - in canal between Twin Lakes, Gunbarrel CO

Western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)  - 1 - Singletree Bike Trail, Superior CO

 

Yep, the snakes are out.  And this will be the best week to see them, as they are coming out of underground burrows after all the snow held them back.  They're hungry and looking for mates.  And they are declining all over Colorado due to habitat loss.

 

Bullsnakes are particularly good bird hunters - using their incredible sense of smell to locate nestlings and bird eggs. They will climb right up a tree trunk using friction and muscles to get to the branches.  I've seen them take chickadees, robins, and hairy woodpeckers. 

 

Rattlesnakes and racers occasionally take birds also, but more so small mammals like rats and mice.

 

I know for some it's hard to stay the urge to interfere when you see a snake take a bird - but remember this is part of the balance.  And we need snakes more than ever, as they continue to decline everywhere.  Give them a chance and you may be rewarded in seeing some phenomenon few take that time to observe.  If you begin to relish finding snakes the way you might relish looking for baby great horned owls, then your on to something.   Hurray for the snakes!

 

John T (Tumasonis)  of Louisville CO

 

 

 

 

[The "Nunn Guy"]

Hi John

7-inch Prairie Rattler, Nunn driveway ... :-)

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn
http://coloradobirder.ning.com/
Mobile: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m