This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Roadrunner


After reading a short article today about roadrunners I may have figured out why there are so many at the ranch. Some days they are running everywhere and some days we don't see any. Today was one of those days that we didn't see a one. They range in length from 20 to 34 inches and in height from 10 to 12 inches. They can attain speeds of up to 17 miles an hour which I haven't seen one run or fly low that fast. It flys when it senses danger or is going down hill but can only remain airborne a few seconds due to it's large body. Due to it's lightening quickness it is one of the few animals who can prey upon rattlesnakes. That is where my thoughts about the ranch come in. It has always been known for lots of rattlesnakes so maybe that fact is what brought the roadrunners there. I have never seen this but wish I had. The article says the roadrunner can snap up a rattlesnake by the tail, crack it like a whip, and slam it's head upon the ground until dead. John and I have both had the displeasure of eating a roadrunner when we were kids. If I had known then what I know now what they eat I probably would not have eaten it. When we were kids the old wives tale was eating a roadrunner would cure boils. I guess we both do believe in that as we have never had another boil or maybe we are just cleaner now with bathrooms and hot running water in the house. The meat was dark and didn't taste good to me but I do like to see the roadrunners and watch them. Don't know who wrote the article to give credit to but guess it is just standard information.

12 comments:

Wendy said...

We have a few here, love seeing them. I never seem to have the camera in hand when we see them though. We have a pack of coyotes this year so we may not see any, they seem to run everything off.

Sherry said...

I was very happy to see one in the Big Bend country. Honestly, I thought that it all might be a joke. But seeing one was a thrill to me.

I would love to see the rattlesnake trick too.
Take care, we are having a little more snow, just for the fun of it. hahahaha Hope your weather is good.

Unknown said...

The way I'm affraid of snakes, I'd buy as many as I could find and build a shrine!! If someone were to holler "SNAKE"! I'd be so busy climbing up their back to stand on their head I'd be a blure!...lol...Thanks for the info on the roadrunner. (and here all of this time I thought it was just a cartoon!)___=^..^=___Kittie

Toon said...

I think they're very cool looking, but I like rattlesnakes too.

Dar said...

Morning Paula,
While visiting my sister in the Ft.Worth outskirts, she had a couple of Roadrunners crossing her lawn once in awhile. They are so fast that they are practically impossible to capture on camera. They certainly do not stop to give you advantage. I was amazed at their size the first time I saw one...very informative.
Hope you don't meet any rattlers! TX friend in Gorman has tons of them on a rock pile at the edge of one of his ranches. Yikes! I don't mind seeing them but do mind getting struck.
BlessYourHeart and HaveAGreatWeekend

Lucy said...

Do you know Paula, you just taught me something I have not known for 81 years. I always believed the roadrunner was just in cartoons. I have never seen one but they must like warm weather. We have lots of pheasants during hunting season and sand hills cranes. That is a sight if you can find them and they hang around the Platte River. We see them here flying but they are so tall when you see them standing. Glad you and John don't get boils but I bet you do wish you had never eaten any.

Marty said...

Roadrunners sure are interesting. Hopefully, you don't also have any coyotes chasing after them, trying to drop ACME-branded Anvils on their heads. Beep, Beep ...!
Best,
Marty

Helen said...

I have never seen a roadrunner. I didn't realize they got that tall. Glad they kill those rattlers for you.
Helen

moni said...

We have a pair of roadrunners that walk along our front fence daily. They are meat eaters and raid the nests of other birds for eggs and babies. I enjoy watching them though, strange sites and if you feed them, they can be trained to come eat. Also, they are fearless!

Unknown said...

I remember as a kid out in west Texas, we used to see a lot of roadrunners...and a lot of rattlers too. I remeber seeing them hunt snakes. I don't see many of them over here on the coast but there are a few. Interesting post Paula...and very interesting birds!

Amelia said...

I have never seen a real roadrunner much less ate one lol.

Missy

Jimmy's Journal said...

The first time I ever say a roadrunner was in 1994. We flew to Las Vegas for the weekend and drove to Phoenix for the Nascar race.

Going through a small town on the way, I looked out the window and saw what I thought was a weird looking chicken running down the street. About 10 miles farther down the road, I realized that it was a roadrunner. I never saw Wile E. Coyote.

Jimmy