On my last visit to Snake Den Farm a few weeks ago I ran into Allen Schenck. Snake Den is his regular haunt (although it was closed this spring for COVID). It has been extraordinarily productive this fall and Allen has been in the thick of it.
Our paths crossed several times, but during the last one, Al rescued a praying mantis from a Blue Jay. Note – birders are not always on the side of the bird, particularly when they are as obnoxious as Blue Jays can be. He walked over to me holding this leaf like insect and then – it bit him.
I’ve always thought of praying mantises as peaceful, non-violent creatures – probably because they are praying after all. Al put him down and got some photos. He proceeded to tell me how much he loved these creatures. Mostly because their heads move like humans and you can actually look into their eyes.
I had never seen one that up-close and personal. I looked into its eyes – I had a bug moment. I could see intelligence in those eyes, it was evaluating me. It looked like an alien.
Photo credit: Allen Schenck
Zen birding lesson for the day: Birds aren’t the only creatures with which to have moments.
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