Pass the Snake…
A local wildlife photographer, Ann Constantino, captured a once-in-a-lifetime sight this week–two hawks passing a king snake in mid-air. She thinks the birds were parents seeking to feed their juvenile.
“It happened so fast,” Ann Constantino told us.
“I saw one bird coming with the snake, the other one approached it and after the handoff, the one with the snake disappeared.”
Sadly, the snake may have suffered the forced aerial stretch for naught–Constantino thinks the young hawk lost its meal. She told us, “Not much later, I saw junior crying from a snag. My bet is the juvenile dropped it (often happens) and was crying for a second breakfast.”
Click here to see all Ann Constantino’s photos of the hawks passing the snake.
See other images by her here.
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This is absolutely without a doubt the pinnacle of Redheaded Blackbelt News.
These type of events happen daily, but with virtually no reportage and even scarcer visual documentation.
2 hawks fighting over a Cali Kingsnake???
Are you kidding me??
What does it MEEEEAN??
Profoundly deep on so many levels.
immense gratitude to
the photographer and Kym for sharing this ❤️??
the parent was passing the snake willingly…they were not fighting. it is not uncommon for raptors to transfer their catch to their chicks or their mate in flight
Omg could you imagine a snake falling out of mid air and landing on you..? Ewww…
“Snakes? Why does it always have to be snakes?” Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)
Outstanding, once in a lifetime photos! Thanks Ann and Kym.
Orangie?
What an amazing photo to get to witness & capture!!
A few years ago I had an eel hit my windshield driving on Hwy 101 in Arcata. It was still in the claws of the bird but what a surprise.
Whoa! That must have been a crazy moment.
Amazing pictures. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
Wow! Awesome fotos!
A real feel good story….unless you’re the king snake.
It probably wasn’t his best day.
Wow!
Beautiful! Great photos
Phenomenal photos!!!
Those should win some awards!!!
“The Audobon Society meets The Orianne Society…”
That’s not a “little” King Snake…
“This” is a “little” King Snake, (inside of my hat)
It’s just a baby…
I saved it from my cat…
(The hat rivet is about 3/8ths of an inch in diameter.)
(Tap for full screenshot)
Nice one Ann!!! Incredible shots!
WOW!! Great catch Anne!
Vary cool to actually catch on film
There are a lot of reasons I stayed in the mountains.
Interactions like these mainly.
I’m sure the snake wasn’t too happy with the situation. Begs for thought on how we are all born to die but thankfully not like this.
Amazing the force is strong with you.