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| Common name: |
Greater Roadrunner |
|
| Scientific name: | Geococcyx californianus | |
| Date: |
7/28/18 first reported observation on private property |
|
| Time: | 11:00 a.m. | |
| Length of time observed: | Off and on from 7/28/18 to present [8/26/18] | |
| Number: | 2 | |
| Age: | adult | |
| Sex: | male and female | |
| Location: | private property, owners wish location to remain anonymous | |
| County: | Grand | |
| Latilong: | ||
| Elevation: | 4100 ft | |
| Distance to bird: | owners observed nest building On a window ledge) from approximately 4 feet from inside their home | |
| Optical equipment: | photographer used Canon Powershot SX10; Scoutguard SG560C Wildlife Camera; Nikon Travelite Binoculars | |
| Weather: | varied over the course of the last month, with high temperatures into the 100+. Considerable rain on 8/21/18. | |
| Light Conditions: | good daylight for photos. | |
| Description: Size of bird: | 23" | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | lean body with long tail | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | streaked brown and white | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long and slightly curved | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Shaggy crest, long rusty brown tail and streaky body. Buffy belly, greyish legs,
whitish streak through eye. Found foot prints in sand, two toes forward and two
backward (see photos) |
|
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Heard cooing from at least one bird. | |
| Behavior: | Observed on bird on and off nest, another or same bird in tree, sometimes preening, and on ground, possibly hunting. | |
| Habitat: | Property has grass surrounding house, variety of large trees, including a mesquite and yuccas. Property is adjacent to BLM, so habitat also includes sage brush, prickly pear, Russian olive, Juniper and rocky, sandy terrain. | |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Observer is very familiar with the Greater Roadrunner so is sure of her identification. | |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Observer/photographer lived in Tucson for years, seeing and hearing Greater Roadrunner quite often, as well as photographing them. | |
| References consulted: | allaboutbirds.org and Sibley's Field Guide to the Birds of Western America | |
| Description from: |
Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
|
| Observer: | Katherine McGill | |
| Observer's address: | 691 Palisade Drive; Moab, UT 84532 | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** | |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Kevin Kinker | |
| Date prepared: | 8/26/18 | |
| Additional material: | Photos | |
| Additional comments: | The nest initially contained four eggs. One egg disappeared, leaving some yolk on another egg. That egg had been pecked, leaving a hole with the membrane intact. Eggs should have either hatched, will soon, or not be viable. Greater Roadrunner was first noticed in October, 2017, in Spanish Valley. From that time, it was seen frequently in the same area. This spring and summer additional observations were made near the Moab Golf Course, with speculation rising that there was more than one bird. During the past few years, there have been observations of roadrunners at La Sal Junction, near the turnoff to Needles, in Canyonlands, as well as near the Potash plant. | |