Great Blue Heron vs. Snake

In a classic battle at the Green Cay Wetlands a mighty Great Blue Heron takes on a small snake. The first blow is to the head region of the snake. The heron picks up the snake and swings it around.


With the death blow the heron whips the snake around and into the mouth. With one swift gulp the heron swallows the snake whole. Like most battles this one is short and a clear winner is defined.

Don't feel too bad for the snake sometimes it is the winner when it encounters a frog or fish. Come back soon to the blog to see photos of one such battle.

One of these does not belong

One of these is wrong.

All photos taken by Bill Kominsky at Green Cay.

A Northern Flicker pair took over this Screech-owl box this winter at Green Cay and has made it a nice cozy home. Of course when things are going well it only takes a European Starling to make it all wrong. This feisty starling quarreled with the flicker for quite awhile before the woodpecker gave up its little abode. Eventually the starling climbed inside and threw out all the nice soft contents in a snow storm of activity. I have no idea if the flicker will return but it only creates more dislike in me towards this little festive colored winter bird. I would be happy if I never saw another European Starling again at Green Cay.

Alligator vs. Alligator

A couple of weeks ago the water levels at Green Cay were down significantly. With the exposed mud flats came more shorebirds but also another exciting event took place, an Alligator battle. Most casual visitors to the wetlands want to see alligators. Can you blame them considering their vast size and weight coupled with their ferocious stereotype? But really most alligators are docile and slow moving at Green Cay until that is these two gators decided to clash.

Check out the close up of that bite. The two went at it for hours biting each other simultaneously. They would take short breaks and then start again. An epic battle that lasted hours.

At one point during a break one of the alligators made a break for it and retreated to the water. The other gator was quickly on his tracks.

I love these photos with the blood dripping out of the mouth. The second gator has a mouth full of mud.

During this whole epsiode a Great Egret was watching nearby. I wondered if the bird was as intrigued as the multitude of people watching from the boardwalk.

Once back in the water instead of going their seperate ways the two alligators started fighting again. Locking each other in their tight grips.

The two stayed together this way in their alligator origami poses until finally they both tired and swam off in different directions. Both gators were bloodied but seemed okay otherwise. It was a very entertaining day at Green Cay and certainly worth the visit. If you are ever in the South Florida area you should stop by for a short walk. Our 1.5 mile boardwalk isn't very long but it's full of up-close animal encounters like this one.

All photos taken by Arny Landy at Green Cay.

Red-bellied Woodpecker vs. European Starling

Photos taken by Bill Kominsky at Green Cay.

This battle wasn't nearly as intense as the Black-bellied Whistling Duck battle but still there was a clear winner. The Red-bellied Woodpecker captured a wasp which was then eyed by the European Starling. Like a typical starling this one decided to bully the woodpecker and take the quick meal. The woodpecker dodged the attack and ate the meal in peace. This time the winner was the woodpecker but from experience we know that at Green Cay the starlings have the last word when it (almost always) destroys the nesting attempt of our Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck Brawl

At Green Cay we have some very nice Black-bellied Whistling Duck familes. Usually the diligent parents stay close by protecting the innocent ones from predators. But when the parents are away the little ducks play. Introducing BBWD Smackdown:

The fight starts!

Quickly a dominant duckling takes the lead.


Eventually a crowd forms to watch the match.

Beaks clash, feathers are ruffled.

The small duckling on the left doesn't stand a chance!

Despite being dominated both ducklings continue the brawl with beaks tangled together.

1...2...3...There's a winner!

All photos taken by Tom Rasmassen at Green Cay, used with permission.

For other such battles as Cooper's Hawk vs. Mourning Dove and Great Blue Heron vs. Common Moorhen chick please come out to Green Cay and watch the action. There's always a show and the price is free.