Figures. A Black Rat Snake.
Eats birds and squirrels. Raids nests and climbs very well, as seen.
How they can know there is a nest in the tree is beyond me, but I have seen them go right to a hole with a squirrel nest.
Bill

Mecury, iodine, picric acid, numerous pure chemicles like K, PH, Na, carbolic acid and more reagents. And a couple ounces of phenobarbatol had accumulated in my garage 'lab' before I found a recycling place run by the county.
No questions asked.
No explanations offered.
Glad to have it gone.
Bill

Collecting words is like collecting insects.
You may know what it is, but go a long time before getting to use the information.
Bill

Starlings, no. They prefer holes and the nest is about the most slovenly pile you'll ever call a birdnest. Filthy with bird s...
And swallows, I believe, build mud nests, at least Barn Swallows.
Dirty with feces from the chicks.
Swift nests are airborn debris cemented with saliva.
So again, I say Robin.
Bill

Not so much the chicks, but the nest looks to be a Robin nest. The site is not unusual for a Robin.
So, Robin chicks?
Bill

That is an arcipluvian bug.
Bill

There seems to be a decrease in all lifeforms, except that pesky human race, of late years.
But, that is not the reason for less around lights.
Parking lights were mercury vapor until the true poisoness nature of the metal was better known.
This was a good thing, not just to get rid of the poison.
The wavelength emitted by Mercury vapor lights attracts insects of all types, disrupting their normal doings.
Moths were at a low because they were not mating, but being eaten by bats, birds, mice, rats, you get the idea, because the lights attracted and trapped them more than pheromones.
Lighting, and the wavelengths are not near as distracting today.
Now the danger is more pesticides and habitat distruction.
Those pesky humans again.
Of course, they are my favorite people, for the most part.
Bill

There are a number of stories like that from my childhood.
Most were old wife's tales.
Hope this is one of those.
Still, if I get your drift, that is a scary thought.
One would, I believe, surely drown after the primal scream.
Bill

No. Then she would have dragged it down an earthen burrow to feed a larva.
Also may be recently dead. No ants or damage from them yet.
Who knows cause of death.
Old age?
Bill

Except Air Force in late 60's, lifelong Marylander, Annapolis.
Have raised this kind of creature, other Arthropods, small mammals, birds and large Herps most of my life.200 lb pound snake, to 40 inch caiman, monitors, you name it.
Never joined a society for any.
Too busy caring for them and giving talks.
Bill Hopkins.
Nice to meet you.
Bill

Sounds similar in action to the fungus that destroyed The American Chesnut. Mycellium blocks capillary action and the tree cannot respire or carry water and nutrition.
The result is the plant continually dies back to the roots till total death.
The insect, in this case, is the vector.
Bill

Well, yes.
This group of Butterflies is known as Skippers, for their flight habits.
The family Hesperìidae.
They combine characters of both butterflies and moths.
Once, I believe these were considered the 'link' between the two.
This one is The Silver Spotted Skipper. Epargyreus clarus.
Feeds from a shelter made with a leaf on Black Locust and other legumes.
Bill
They fool many, so you were in good company, but, now you know "the rest of the story".
Bill

A gentleman from Washington, DC.
High style glamor photos. Shoots soccer.
Anyone remember who he is and what became of him?
Bill

Curious.
Is #4 the "moth"?
Bill

Yep, have resorted to that. As the chrysalis must hang free, they may die before eclosing, it was necessary.
Bill