Urban Cat Snake Catches and Swallows Bird Whole in Jerusalem Nature Reserve

During routine birdwatching and filming at the Nili and David Jerusalem Bird Research Station, a volunteer named Irad Ben Yosef witnessed a striking scene. A cat snake, camouflaged among the stones by the stream near the station, caught and swallowed a house sparrow whole. Nearby birds gathered around the feast to warn and try to drive off the predator, but to no avail.

The cat snake is a common urban species in Jerusalem, often found in residential areas, parks, and gardens. It is mostly active during morning and evening hours and tends to avoid human contact. This non-venomous and harmless snake primarily feeds on rodents, lizards, and occasionally young birds and eggs, playing an important role in maintaining the city's ecological balance.

Yotam Bashan, senior ornithologist and director of the Jerusalem Bird Research Station, emphasized the snake's significance as a natural part of the urban ecosystem. He noted that encounters with the cat snake remind us that even in the heart of Jerusalem, a rich and diverse ecosystem exists where humans and wildlife coexist.