The Roadrunner

By Wyman Meinzer

Book Overview

For everyone who loves the bird we call roadrunner, camino corres, paisano, chaparral. . . . Southwesterners are well accustomed to this sleek, mostly brown and white, long-tailed nemesis of coyote as it darts across roads or perches on a post or branch never too far from the ground. Equally familiar is the stylized image of the roadrunner, which adorns everything from Native American pottery and jewelry to clothing and logos. Clearly the roadrunner continues to thrive as a cultural icon. Yet no other study comes close to equaling Wyman Meinzer's stunning classic, now 04 Activeable in this tenth anniversary edition. Meinzer's photo study is his personal account of the years he has spent observing and recording the daily routine of several roadrunner families. Through his lens, Meinzer chronicled roadrunners' courting, mating, nesting, hunting, and rearing their young. Punctuated by humor and poignancy, his story possesses an unmatched connectedness and insights afforded only those who develop a longstanding relationship with their subjects of study. Many of the roadrunners that Meinzer recorded became comfortable with his presence--one even permitted his assistance in catching a lizard. Though it is hard to improve upon a classic, this new edition, celebrating the book's tenth year of publication, includes a new preface from Meinzer and several new photographs, including that of a rare white roadrunner.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0896725138
• ISBN13: 9780896725133
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Texas Tech University Press
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 11.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Meinzer hits another homerun

A delightful book with a plethora of wonderful photos. If you are looking for a quick read and a book to share with your kids about this amazing bird this is the one. Roadrunners are truly one of natures best adapted creatures and this book does them great service.

The Roadrunner

Known to most of us only through the beloved cartoon character, the roadrunner is a fascinating bird which inhabits the rugged environment of the American southwest. The photographs in this book are excellent; they truly bring out the character of the species, and show in particular to what lengths the roadrunner has to go to in order to secure a meal, which is often a snake or a lizard. I really enjoyed this book.

A Long Awaited Portfolio

Having grown up in roadrunner country, I've always had a fondness for these unusual birds. One of my major complaints about existing literature on the species was the lack of good roadrunner photographs -- now that void has been filled by Wyman Meinzer. The highlight of this book is that it's a pictorial record of the roadrunner from every angle: hatching to hunting to breeding to nesting. The accompanying text provides a running commentary on what the pictures show. All in all, an excellent addition to the personal library of any bird watcher.