Roadrunner

Greater Roadrunner. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Greater Roadrunner. Teresa Shumaker photo.

 While on the way to visit a nearby wildlife refuge, we spent an hour driving the three-mile road leading to the park. The side of the road was teeming with activity and we saw more birds there then our entire time in the refuge. (Live Oak trees are incredibly hard to see birds in.) 

One of the highlights of the roadside shows was the greater roadrunner. 

I have always thought of this bird to be a very "Texas" bird. Turns out this bird ranges from California to Louisiana. Not so Texan after all. 

Nevertheless, seeing these birds running alongside country roads is a real treat. They are full of sass and wait until the last minute to run off the road when a car approaches, then they stand on the side of the road puffed up waiting for the metal box to pass. 

This particular bird kindly posed in different ways so I could get his (or her) best angle. Clearly it is destined to be a runway model.

"Move along, I have important things to do." Teresa Shumaker photo.