The Roadrunners

The Roadrunners

Building a Nest It is a spring day in the desert. A bird is collecting sticks behind an old house on Cactus Road. She uses the sticks to make a nest. The bird is Mother Roadrunner. Her name tells you that she likes to run. She doesn't fly well, so she doesn't make her nest high in a tree. She tucks the nest in some cactus plants.

Eggs in the Nest Mother Roadrunner lays four eggs in the nest over the next four days. Then she settles down to sleep. She is tired after all her hard work. Later, the sound of rain wakes Mother Roadrunner. She leaves her nest and runs into the desert to sip rainwater. Mother Roadrunner always runs wherever she goes! Father Roadrunner stays in the nest while she is gone. He protects the eggs until Mother Roadrunner comes back.

Mother Roadrunner sees some lizards near a rain puddle. Lizards are fast. But Mother Roadrunner is faster! She zooms across the ground. She catches a lizard. It is a good snack for a roadrunner.

Guarding the Nest Mother and Father Roadrunner take turns guarding the nest for 14 days. Mother Roadrunner stays in the nest during the day. She goes out to hunt for food at night. Then Father Roadrunner watches the nest. When 14 days have passed, both Mother and Father Roadrunner stay close to the nest. Mother Roadrunner does make one quick trip to get some spiders. But she runs right back!

Soon, one of the eggs moves a little. The baby roadrunner is inside the egg. It is tapping at the shell. The baby works hard. The baby uses its beak to poke and peck at the egg. It takes a long time to crack the egg's shell.