It’s not strange to see orcas in the water near Seattle, Washington. But this week, onlookers spotted something rare. They saw orcas grabbing a snack on the fly. Literally!

Orcas usually hunt fish, squid, and other swimming prey. This pod (group of orcas) had another meal in mind. It was hunting birds.

People also call orcas “killer whales.” These marine mammals belong to the dolphin family. (Some say that means orcas aren’t really whales. But these two families overlap!) Orcas are the largest type of dolphin. They earn the “killer” part of their nickname. Some experts label orcas as apex predators. Apex predators earn a spot at the top of their food chain. That’s right—orcas even eat sharks. 

And sometimes, they eat seabirds. How? They wait for the birds to land on the water. Then they swim to the surface and—snap! Lunch is served—feathers and all.

It’s a rare sight. This week, someone caught it on video.

Kersti Muul runs the Salish Wildlife Watch. That “whale alert system” provides wildlife updates to locals. Mrs. Muul filmed the unusual hunt.

A pod of Bigg’s killer whales swam into Seattle’s Elliot Bay. This type of orca usually chows on other mammals, like sea lions and porpoises. But that day, a grebe had landed in the water. Grebes are sea birds. They rest on the water and dive for fish. One killer whale gobbled it up.

That might sound like a brutal sight. But Mrs. Muul calls it “a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” It’s rare to see orcas so close to shore. It’s even rarer to see them eat birds.

“It’s definitely a bonding experience for the community,” she says. “And my hope is always that these moments inspire awe and awareness of the urban wildlife in our backyards.”

The Bible tells us God “gives to the beasts their food.” (Psalm 147:9) He takes care of all His creatures. He provides fish for the grebes. He provides grebes for the orcas. How do you see God providing in your life today?