Beep! Beep!

     As most of you probably know, I live in a desert-like area here in Rio Grande Valley. So, we have the stereotypical cactus plants scattered around, occasionally see snakes, and yes, we have even had a tumbleweed roll down the street. We also have many other unique wildlife in our area, including roadrunners. It is usually not considered a good thing when a roadrunner hangs around your house, however, because, as the article I am about to share with you says, they eat snakes. So, if this bird likes your house, you might have some snakes around. Anyways, I have seen a roadrunner only a few times, but have heard its unforgettable call in our trees before. This bird does not go "Beep, beep!" A roadrunner, best I can tell, sound like a pterodactyl screeching and clicking. His call is just another example of God's imagination, and I thought I would share with you this magazine article talking about roadrunners.

A picture I drew for my Mom of the Road Runner character.
Click the image to enlarge.

     Beep! Beep! Do you recognize those sounds? They're made by a cartoon character. He lives in the desert and a scraggly coyote chased him. Yes,
everyone laughs when the "Road Runner" outsmarts "Wile. E. Coyote." But the only thing the bright blue, honking cartoon bird has in common with the one God created is speed. God's roadrunner can outrun a human and has been clocked at 17 miles an hour!
     The Greater Roadrunner is a gray-brown bird that stands about a foot tall and is almost two feet long. Half of its length is body, and half is tail. This shy bird, with its funny way of running--neck outstretched, head low and jerking, straight-out tail--only flies when in danger. Its short, rounded wings can keep its body in the air only a few seconds. Instead of strong wings, our Creator gave this unusual bird long, well-built legs and strong feet. The roadrunner's feet are shaped like the letter "X." It has two forward toes and two backward toes. Using its toes, a roadrunner can leap three to six feet into the air to snag flying hummingbirds and dragonflies.

 Here is a picture of a real roadrunner. You can see its unique feet and tail.
 Click the image to enlarge

     Even with all its strength and speed, a roadrunner has enemies. Its eggs and babies are tasty meals for snakes and birds. Owls, hawks, eagles, and yes, coyotes, keep roadrunners ducking for cover. They hide in patches of woods found in the open country and desert lands of the southwestern United States. People and cars are the roadrunner's worst enemies, so there are laws to protect this funny bird.
     Roadrunner nests can be found close to the ground in cacti and small trees. The nest are made of thorny twigs and lined with grass. A nest may have tow to twelve ivory-colored eggs. God gave the father the job of babysitting the eggs all night long. During the day both parents take turns. Usually three to six babies hatch. They are featherless and have shiny, black skin with a few white hairs. They grow fast, and are ready to hunt when they are three weeks old.
     A roadrunner's diet consists of insects, scorpions, lizards, snakes, rodents, and other birds. This speedy bird is an expert at catching rattlesnakes. The roadrunner's large beak grabs a coiled rattlesnake by the tail and snaps its long, slender body like a whip. Rapidly it kills the snake then begins to swallow it whole. What if the snake is too long to be swallowed? No problem! The dead snake is like an "all day lollipop!" The roadrunner continues to dart around the open country with the snake dangling from its mouth. Little by little, inch by inch, the snake is eaten.
     Only our all-knowing Creator could plan a way for the roadrunner to take all day to eat his lunch.

(Psalm 36:6b and 7a) says: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!

 The last of the magazine posts! Thanks for sticking with me as I shared with you some of God's creation. I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you have any comments, share them with me through Facebook or the comment section below.