Last year between the caprock and Estelline, driving around dusk, I saw probably 30 mule deer....

this year, driving through the area before noon, I saw several road runners, chaparrals, or whatever you choose to call them...

I also see a road runner from time to time when working in Wise or Parker Counties, just west of Fort Worth...

I have never seen the bird in the west Texas area before (40 years) despite being all over the panhandle (still haven't seen one on the caprock) and numerous trips back and forth from College Station along that road....

Have these birds been around all along and I just didn't see them or are the making a comeback or expanding their territory?

Just curious.

Having grown up in Midland, I seem to recall seeing them in that area somewhat frequently.

Almost forgot, it is the Midland College mascot!!!

also the mascot for tu-SA and Lubbock CC if I'm not mistaken....

I did not know that!

I live in Jayton just off the cap and they are EVERYWHERE

I have seen roadrunners for more than 70 years in Fisher County. They have always been skittish along country roads and even openings in pastures so you have to be fairly close to their range to see them.

But there are always the exceptions ... about 20 years ago a pair decided a cast iron washpot my mother had planted flowers in right beside a fairly busy Hwy 70 would be a nice spot for a nest. The pair raised little ones a couple of years before disappearing (coyotes and bobcats are quick to spot a nest in an open location like a front yard.)

Wyman Meinzer has an awesome book with some unbelievable photos of roadrunners. He virtually camped out in a pasture with this roadrunner family for months on end.

http://www.wymanmeinzer.com/book.php?book=33

Wyman lives in Benjamin

Whenever I had to make my trips from Angelo to the Big city(DFW) for work I just about could count on seeing one or two of them speedy birds on 208 coming up out of Coleman to Cisco via the SJT-DFW shortcut. Right about 1/2 way. Didn't notice them last month whilst driving the U-Haul to get Mrs. EMc77 to TN, but I would bet they are there.

Even saw a couple out towards the old house near Wall every once in awhile.

I have one that hangs out aroung my barn, here in Howard County. My daughter has show animals and there is always feed on the ground. Seems like we started seeing more of them in northern Howard County and southern Borden County when we got all of the rain a few years ago. We started seeing them when the quail population increased. Like the quail, they are thinning out again.

In my West Texas experience it appeared that the Roadrunner and Quail populations were directly proportional to the Jackrabbit population but inversly proportional to the Coyote and Bobcat populations.

When Jackrabbits were abundant then so were Roadrunners and Quail because the Coyotes and Bobcat preferred young Jackrabbits to the rigors of trying to chase down Roadrunners and Quail.

But when the Jackrabbit population was hit with a virus that reduced its numbers the abundant population of Coyotes and Bobcat turned their attention to Roadrunners and Quail nests.

After depleting Roadrunners and Quail ... and field rats ... the Coyotes and Bobcat died out leaving the prairie open for a rebound of Roadrunners, Quail and Jackrabbits. The birds and rabbits could recover more quickly than the dogs and cats. Then the cycle would start over again.

"Well... that is just not fair.. We need to have someway to make sure that all of mother earth's creatures can co-exist.... We, uh, must have the gov't or aclu or somebody do something."[/bleeding heart-peta kook ]

Roadrunners are occasional visitors to Hale and Randall counties, in my experience.


I've also seen a few GTXs, Cudas and Chargers.





Seriously, I see one or two of the feathered variety, but it is rare. Once every year or two.

I love the picture of "Piasano Pete", my hometown baby! Out here in west texas you see these alot.