(Graphic) Cooper's hawk makes a meal of a Roadrunner in Green Valley, AZ 03062023 (Tucson: home)

[bkolodzi]

I love roadrunners! The are the largest member of the cuckoo family. The roadrunner is a deadly predator and eats pretty much what it can catch, such as lizards, insects, rodents, snakes and even other birds. The roadrunner is a zygodactyl meaning that it has two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backward. The roadrunner is capable of running 15 mph, and some say even faster! The roadrunner can fly, but usually does not. Even this magnificent predator is not immune from being preyed upon.

A few months ago, I was sitting at my desk looking out the window when I caught a flash out of the corner of my eye of what I thought was a roadrunner flying by with another bird in hot pursuit. As the video will show, the next day, I found the remains of a roadrunner on my driveway. I thought maybe the Cooper's hawk got the roadrunner, but then I thought no, the roadrunner is about the same size as the Cooper's hawk. Then I thought maybe a coyote or bobcat had caught a roadrunner by surprise. Well, now I KNOW that a Cooper's hawk CAN take a roadrunner because I saw it happen today. I hate to see anything die, but this is the way of nature. For some animals to live, others have to die.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxxXEGoXse4

[AnywhereElse]

I was shocked the first time I saw a roadrunner, it was so small compared to the cartoon character. I'm guessing that Green Valley has more wildlife than what we normally seen in Marana. I know where Green Valley is, and we once went to some place south of Tucson for our older son to collect bugs for his class project, and it was a beautiful place with trees.

You definitely seem to be a "fit" for the area where you are living. The desert can be challenge to get used to if you come from a "green" state.

[bkolodzi]

Originally Posted by AnywhereElse

I was shocked the first time I saw a roadrunner, it was so small compared to the cartoon character. I'm guessing that Green Valley has more wildlife than what we normally seen in Marana. I know where Green Valley is, and we once went to some place south of Tucson for our older son to collect bugs for his class project, and it was a beautiful place with trees.

You definitely seem to be a "fit" for the area where you are living. The desert can be challenge to get used to if you come from a "green" state.

Oh yeah, I felt at home here from the first day 9+ years ago. I used to live in El Paso as a kid, and ever since then, I have been yearning to get back to the desert, and I finally made it!!! Yes, they do not call it Green Valley for nothing! There is some amount of green year-round, but I love the summer the best. Still waiting for the first Monsoon storm of 2023!!!