Resumen de Predació de niu de Mallerrenga Carbonera Parus major per Serp Verda Malpolon monspessulanus
A 730 cm long Montpellier snake was seen on 08.07.92 eating not only the six 70 day old chicks but also the nest of a pair of Great Jits in the Llobregat Delta (Barcelona, NE Spoin, 4 7.49 N, 02.07 E). Jhe nest was located in the inner base of an abandoned lamp-post and the snake entered through the 3 cm wide access located 40 cm above the ground. Nest predation is known for the Ladder Snake Elaphe scalaris, but hole-nesting bird predation seems to be more unexpected for the Montpellier Snake. In contrast to the few published reports of snake predation, which refer only to the chicks or the adults, this case included the nest too. Snake predation might account for some unexplained disappearances of complete nests at least in the Mediterranean region.
