Black rat snakes are quite proficient at climbing trees to raid bird nests. Go to http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/, enter black rat snake in the search field, and you will get links to several articles in the ornithological literature that mention this behavior. Racers are also reported to climb to bird nests, but there are fewer literature reports of them doing this that there are for rat snakes. I once watched a rat snake in a large oak tree 40-50 feet above the ground, slowly working its way higher. I don't know if it found a bird nest. One of the hypotheses for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker's habit of promoting the flow of fresh pine resin around its nest holes is that the pine resin supposedly repels snakes. Chuck Nicholson Norris, TN -----Original Message----- From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of likebird Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 1:29 PM To: TN-BIRD Subject: [TN-Bird] Do black snakes eat birds?/ Birders, I just had the fright of my life! I noticed that my big seed feeder in the back yard was empty so I ran outside with a load of seed and reached up to fill the feeder. Notice I said "looked up". I realized immediately I had just steped on a snake and flinging seed one way and the seed feeder the other, I looked down to see a 5' black snake (Coluber constrictor) at my feet-coiling. Oh, did I mention I had on no shoes? I screamed, the snake ran, and I guess my heart is in better condition than I thought! The big question is--was he waiting on a bird to eat or a chipmunk? I have tons of chipmunks that like to feed under these seed feeders. I never thought that black snakes would eat birds but now I am not sure. Anybody know? By the way, I have saved many black snakes in my life. I always stop on the highway and move them when I see them in the road. It wasn't fear, just having no shoes on and the shock of having him move under my foot. Linda V. Kelly Warner Valley Nashville, TN Davidson CO =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ MAP RESOURCES Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________ =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ MAP RESOURCES Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________