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Roger Mayhorn | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Ninja Brown Thrasher and Rat Snake tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Ninja Brown Thrasher and Rat Snake

This drama between a fair sized Rat Snake and a very brave Brown Thrasher played out at the edge of my driveway. The thrasher was trying to drive the snake away from its young, which were just on the other side of the driveway. Even when the snake had had enough the thrasher remained relentless. Each time the snake turned away from the bird the bird attacked his tail. The snake struck several times at the bird, but it was too fast for it. This battle went on for a good 10 minutes until the snake finally made a getaway into the grass.
The Brown Thrasher sees the intruder
The Brown Thrasher sees the intruder		 The Rat Snake sees the thrasher
The Rat Snake sees the thrasher		 The two combatants confront each other
The two combatants confront each other		 The battle begins
The battle begins
The snake prepares to strike
The snake prepares to strike		 The thrasher is too fast
The thrasher is too fast		 The thrasher makes itself a moving target
The thrasher makes itself a moving target		 The bird moves quickly from one spot
The bird moves quickly from one spot
to another, forcing the snake to constantly turn to face him
to another, forcing the snake to constantly turn to face him		 The bird is in real danger of being killed by the large snake
The bird is in real danger of being killed by the large snake		 The snake misses and the thrasher attacks
The snake misses and the thrasher attacks		 then moves away quickly
then moves away quickly
Finally the snake has had enough and starts to move away
Finally the snake has had enough and starts to move away		 But the thrasher is not going to let him go that easily
But the thrasher is not going to let him go that easily		 The angry bird launches himself into the air
The angry bird launches himself into the air		 and gives the snake a sharp peck on the back,
and gives the snake a sharp peck on the back,
then another
then another		 The thrasher gives one final peck to the Rat Snake's tail, just to let him know who is the boss
The thrasher gives one final peck to the Rat Snake's tail, just to let him know who is the boss		 The Rat Snake hurriedly moves away into the grass
The Rat Snake hurriedly moves away into the grass		 The snake stops once to raise its head to make sure the sharp-beaked bird is not following
The snake stops once to raise its head to make sure the sharp-beaked bird is not following

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