Picture of the hummingbird [link]

this should be public so everyone can see it.

Oh no, you guys, I just had the most awful experience. My phoebe nest is (seriously, don't highlight if you're upsettable, this is truly distressing) in the inside corner of my deck, just above our deck speakers. It's well sheltered from the wind and most predators.

Today I heard the male phoebe calling out repeatedly, and I went to see what the deal was. He had a large cicada and I kinda laughed, thinking he was just struggling to eat it. It was unusual for him to have it and not be going straight to the nest, but I didn't see anything else on the deck. So I went to open the door to run the clothesline. (Thank goodness I didn't go out with an armful of clothes, because I never would have seen.)

And there, right by the door, was a small gopher snake. He was underneath a piece of burlap that we'd been using for landscaping. He had his head up, I thought because of me. I took a picture, and he slid away, so I texted the picture to Dave and said I'd better hang the laundry out later. I saw his whole body, so I knew he wasn't a rattler.

I went on to do some other stuff, and heard the phoebes continued distress call. I knew it was different from their normal call, but should have realized I needed to investigate. I finally did, and that fucking snake was up in the nest. Up an eight foot wall!

I rushed out there and grabbed a broom, poking at it. This dislodged the first of the killed baby birds. It was already dead. I was crying and screaming at the snake, but I couldn't get to it.

I managed to poke it loose, but dropped it. This dislodged a second bird, still alive, who fell to the deck. Fortunately for it, it fell in an open garbage can right underneath, a fairly soft landing, and bounced into an open soda bottle (for seedling covers) I grabbed the whole potting supplies can and stuck it inside.

No amount of poking from the ground could convince the snake to leave its buffet. And I was worried because I didn't know how many birds I had to start with. So I had to scramble to get the ladder and climbed up where I could see in. Unfortunately, it was already eating the third and final bird.

From this angle I was able to scoop its body up on my broomstick, and I carried it down. I realized the bird was still alive, so I poked at it some more, trying to get it to release, but it was too late. I finally picked it up again on the broomstick and stuck it in my steel garbage can with the locking lid. I don't know if it'll hold him or not, and he'll be fine for a while, I expect, because he's just eaten. Long enough for the SO to get home and help me figure out what to do with him.

The parent phoebes were frantic all this time, and had been flying at the snake in the nest, but to no avail. I went back in and looked at the second bird, who was ruffled, but still active and peeping and hopping. So I took the soda bottle up the ladder with me and slid her out from it, back into the nest. I never had to touch her. She seemed okay, but I have no way of knowing if the snake had injured her or if the fall had.

The parent phoebes took some time, but checked back in the nest, so I know they know what their loss is at this point. I know they don't know the snake is trapped, so they're super skittish. I left the one body on the deck in case the parents need to see it, but I will probably discard it tomorrow.

I hope the 2nd one survives, but it was just all so awful. You would not believe the adrenaline rush. I feel so bad because I'm pretty sure I could have avoided the whole thing if I'd chased off the snake when I saw it, and I know I could have avoided the third death if I'd just heard and responded a little bit quicker. But I guess I did what I could.

Just so traumatic.

askye - so glad you got the little bird to the rescue.

Liese that's so awful!

Oh, Liese, I'm sorry.

Man, I just woke up from a disco nap hella cranky. I think it was something I realized as I woke up, but can't remember what it was. Or maybe it was something that I dreamed? IDK. Trying to rally.

I'm sorry, Liese. I can't bear to read it.

Yikes! I'm so sorry Liese. How awfully upsetting.

Liese, I couldn't read it, either, but I'm still sorry something so upsetting happened to you.

I didn't read it. I'm so sorry, Liese.

I read it!

On the one hand, I was like, "Well, snakes gotta eat too. And it's not like all birds are vegetarians."

But, of course, if I had been there I totally would've been broom-wacking. My allegiance, apparently, goes up the warm blooded scale.