This is "Harriet" ~ sweet Harriet is my resident roadrunner ~ and she and "Harold" ~ her running mate ~ have lived here on our little ranchito for many years now ~ they seem like familia as I watch them each year in season take turns sitting in their nest on three to four eggs that will soon hatch and increase the roadrunner population here in the Big Bend ~ these roadrunner babies are the cutest little version of Groucho Marx running all over the place!
Harold ~ when Spring & Love are in the air ~ woos Harriet with offerings of lizards ~ then later later later ~ after they have eggs in the nest ~ they each take turns sitting on the eggs ~ so that the nest is never left unattended. Harold takes a very serious attitude towards parenthood and does his part! And once the babies are born he is a most proud papa leading his brood about the place, teaching them the ways of life in the desert.
These roadrunners are such a source of entertainment! I've laughed at Harriet pecking on the living room window curious to come in the casa (like in the photo above), Harold sitting on the seat of the old bicycle parked beneath the mesquite tree and appearing as though he might ride off any second! ~ and I've laughed at my cat Diamond as he chases Harriet around the corner of the house ~ and a few moments later it's a cartoon! ~ as Harriet chases Diamond back around the side of the house!
Country Life in the Big Bend ~ no place I'd rather be!
Posts
