Thursday, May 2, 2024

Strange and lovely birds are visiting!!!

 I had, of all things, a road runner in my back yard!  Thank goodness for my neighbor who called and told me about it.  She was asking me what it was and I recognized it as a road runner but I had no idea they were in Arkansas.  I've lived here 20 years and have never seen one.  On the web they said they are a southwest bird and as far east as Oklahoma but they didn't mention Arkansas.  They run fast too just like in the cartoons!  I had a hard time getting a picture.  Today I called Fish and Game and they connected me with their Biologist and bird specialist and she cleared it all up.  She said they have been in Arkansas for 20  years....they must have moved here when I did! LOL!  She said the web doesn't always keep up with the latest info.  They don't fly much which is why I wondered how they got here.  She said the warming temps up North from climate change have encouraged the birds to come  up here.  Also, she said they can only share so many resources and then go looking for more somewhere else.  She said they feast on snakes, frogs and lizards.  She said it's good to have them around your house.  I have not seen him again though.  They do not migrate either.  

 There was another bird that I never saw before and I'm hoping my good friend Connie, the bird whisperer, can help identify it.........we do get a lot of birds passing through on their way North....this one was a pretty coral color with a long curved beak.....

That's all for today...

Happy Trails!!!

5 comments:

Far Side of Fifty said...

A Roadrunner...wow! I have no idea what bird the other one is...nothing that I have ever seen in Minnesota. My best guess is some kind of Oriole in a change of feather stage:)

Miss Merry said...

Wow - a roadrunner! How cool is that! And how great you reached out to the experts for the expert answers. I would mark this day on the calendar. "My first road runner".

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

First off, Sam, thank you for your long comment on my blog, for standing in truth and being on the right side of history. I appreciate your thoughts and support. Certainly had no idea that a roadrunner would be in AK but my first thought was that it probably had something to do with climate. That is going to continue to be a problem as long as humans keep doing what they are doing without considering the consequences of habitat destruction and industry pollution and waste. Not to mention war and weapons. Shame on man and his need for land grab and greed. We usually have bee-eaters pass through here in April. I normally hear them by their unique chirping but don't recall hearing them this year. Maybe once over by the park. You take care. Happy Friday.

Betsy said...

A roadrunner! How neat is that? I'm trying to catch up on blogs after being gone camping all week.
Dennis's favorite cartoon of all time is the Roadrunner and Wyle E. Coyote. I'll need to show him this.
BLessings,
Betsy

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

You think of the roadrunner being out West! What a great sighting!