When it comes to training birds and animals it is a fair question to ask, “Who is the trainer and who is the trainee?” As an example we tender some more photographs of Chuck, the neighborhood Greater Roadrunner. Click on the photographs to see larger versions. 
In the first photograph you see the view taken from our front door. It takes only a bit of anthropomorphic thought to imagine that Chuck’s stare indicates displeasure. He has arrived for his morning hamburger and it is not on the fence.
In the second photo, well trained, we approach with hamburger in hand. Now Chuck could easily be affecting dispassionate disinterest; however, as you see in photographs three and four, he was ready to eat.
Chuck never eats all the hamburger at once. He returns from time to time during the day for another morsel.
He seems confident that it will be there. If there are any left overs at the close of day, we remove them. Cats do skulk about the neighborhood at night and we choose not to attract them. See our post here explaining why.
Tags: , animal training, Cats, Chcuk, roadrunner
Fat Finch — Backyard Birds, Birding & Blogging 
October 11, 2010 at 6:04 pm |
I was looking for someone who breeds roadrunners. I wound like to purchases a few for my property. Do you know one anyone who does.
October 11, 2010 at 7:52 pm |
Thanks for asking. It would be illegal for anyone to breed roadrunners and sell them to you. It would also be illegal for you to possess any. Roadrunners, and most other species of birds, are covered by the provisions of the Migratory Bird treaties which most countries in the world are signatories to. About 800 species are on the list in North America. We’ll do a blog post on the ins and outs of the MBTA one day soon. All you can do is create habitat on your property that might attract roadrunners and hope they’ll come visit from time to time. Another great way to get acquainted with roadrunners and many other species is to volunteer your time at an animal rescue center. After you’re trained and licensed, you can get permits to rehabilitate birds prior to releasing them to the wild.