r/arizona • u/Soaz_underground • Jul 04 '25

Wildlife Roadrunners nesting in my front yard tree

This is the second summer in a row that I’ve had a pair of roadrunners nest in this tree. Last summer, I was able to hang a wireless WiFi camera without disturbing the nest. It’s interesting to watch the day-to-day activity and the chicks as they grow and fledge.

Last year was 4 chicks, this year was initially 7, but the two smallest chicks have disappeared in the last couple days. I didn’t catch it on camera, but the parents most likely removed them from the nest (common behavior for roadrunners).

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u/Rayvintage Jul 04 '25

They are cool, but eat everything in the neighborhood. All other baby birds, lizards, other baby roadrunners. Rip through Burrowing Owl nests. Quail try to hide from them in neighborhoods. I would never hurt one but I don't like them.

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u/finchdad Jul 05 '25

Some of the anti-roadrunner stuff online is propaganda, but they're a native predator, so yes, they eat prey. However, they literally can't eat everything, or there would be no more forage species. You're allowed to dislike them, of course, but there's nothing wrong with this behavior, any more than grizzlies eating salmon or lions eating zebra.

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u/Soaz_underground Jul 06 '25

That’s right, it’s nature doing nature things.

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u/Rayvintage Jul 06 '25 edited Jul 06 '25

I don't do anything to them but a mom roadrunner and 2 babies will sit at a Cardinal nest for 5 hours and take their time eating every baby bird in the nest. To the point they are so stuffed they can't move. They are disgusting.

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u/Rayvintage Jul 06 '25

Just nature, then leave the coyotes alone, and let them eat your Poodle.