I was sitting on the patio one Spring afternoon a year ago, finishing off a cool one, when I started hearing this clicking sound. Looking around there was nothing, but the clicking sound continued. So what the hell, I started making a sound that I thought sounded like what I was hearing. The return clicking became louder but still I could not see anything. Then the sound was loud enough that whatever it was had to be very close and I began to develop a degree of concern--at that minute, around the corner of my truck came a young Roadrunner showing no fear. He (she)?, cocked his head to each side, and then started the clicking again. Now I could see what he was doing to make the sound. Roadrunners have a long sharp beak that is very hard as they fulfill their hunger by catching lizards and snakes in their beaks, and then swinging their head from side to side they slap their prey against a rock or the ground to kill it. This Roadrunner was chattering by opening and closing his beak in a fast manner that caused the sound to resonate between the upper and lower beak being amplified in the mouth and throat. He looked at me and I made a sound that to me sounded similar to his, and he chattered back.
Little by little he came closer and then jumped upon the picnic table where I was sitting, being inquisitive all the time while continuing the chatter. So there he was in the middle of the picnic table looking as though that was where he belonged. We just looked at each other like two prize fighters sizing each other before a match, where neither one of us wanted to be aggressive. In my wisdom, I determined that just possibly he was hungry so to the refrigerator I go and obtain some meat scraps. My leaving the table and returning had no effect on him, he just stood their looking around and telling me the news of the day. I placed the meat about a foot from me on the table, and with no hesitancy he walked right over to the meat, checked it over, picked it up in his beak and started slapping it against the table. After about ten strong slaps, he placed it back down, looked at it and started pulling it apart to eat. About an hour later he decided it was time to be on his way so he jumped down from the table, started the clicking, and walked off toward the lake. By his slow stride it was obvious that he was not in a hurry and was not late for any pressing appointment.
Since that time I would see him about twice a week with the same feeding procedure as before, solving the world problems by chattering at the same time. In time I would get him to take the meat from my hand although the thought was always in my mind that he might mistake a finger for a meal. I see him around the property hunting now that summer is here and the lizards and snakes are more in evidence. I saw him catch a small Sidewinder in the open one morning and it was no match, he had the snake in his beak and beating it on the ground before the snake knew what happened. Without even a second thought I made the decision that I liked Roadrunners much more than Sidewinders. I would just as soon he leave the Gopher snakes alone but that does not seem to be the case as I have yet to see one this season.
Roadrunners do not generally fly any distance at all, that is unless something scares them and then it is to gain the high-ground. One morning I came out to find Mr. B on top of the Pump House as if that is what he should be doing. The only thing I could think of, it gave him a good view of any movement on the ground for a future meal. Never before or since have I observed any other Roadrunner up a tree or on top of a building for any length of time. It is just possible that Mr. B is not wrapped tight. I still see him around the place but he very seldom comes upon the porch anymore as my dog Laser is older and will chase him for recreation. The dog will never catch the Roadrunner but takes sport in the endeavor. The Roadrunner shows no fear as he always escapes through one diversion or another. Now it has become a mutually agreed game between the two.
As I watch this contest it reminds me of the Roadrunner Cartoon as the results are identical and always the same, the Roadrunner out smarts my dog Laser every time. Sometimes it is down right embarrassing!!