A young Coopers Hawk swooped across the yard, landed on a branch, and proceeded to dismantle something yummy, scattering little bits on the driveway below. One piece fluttered down like a feather, but, after the hawk flew off, we found this:
It wasn’t a feather, it was an entire wing!
A few feet away, we found another:
Not that there was any doubt, but these parts clinched the identification:
Some days earlier, we admired eight Praying Mantises on the decorative grasses and bushes out front. Perhaps it was this one:
Or this one, a few feet away:
We don’t know what, if any, the difference between brown and green wing covers might indicate. Age? Gender? Attitude? Skill level?
It’s a food chain out there!
#1 by Noellie on 2019-09-18 - 10:24
What a cool story about the circle of life “food chain” love this post, thanks for sharing. https://noelliesplace.com/2019/09/18/pregnant-praying-mantis/
#2 by Ed on 2019-09-18 - 19:38
But … hummingbirds‽‽
Eeeeek!
#3 by Noellie on 2019-09-18 - 19:55
I know right