Photo by William Haddock
Our team, RoadRaptors, is studying the feeding behavior of Greater Roadrunners in the Santa Monica Mountains. We are observing how these birds hunt and handle their prey, documenting their behaviors through field observations, camera traps, and photography. By recording their foraging strategies, prey selection, and interactions with the environment, we aim to better understand the natural history and daily habits of these iconic birds. This project also allows us to explore how roadrunners adapt to the challenges of their habitat and what strategies they use to survive and thrive in a diverse ecosystem. Through these observations, we hope to contribute to the broader knowledge of roadrunner behavior and provide insights that could inform future studies on wildlife ecology in Southern California.
My portion of the project focuses on the types and sizes of tools Greater Roadrunners use when handling different prey. I am observing which objects, such as rocks or branches, are chosen for specific prey and how these choices relate to the size or type of the food. By documenting these patterns through field observations and camera recordings, I aim to understand how roadrunners select tools to maximize their feeding efficiency