November 2011
Valley Wilds
Volume 20 | Issue 11
A publication of the LARPD Open Space Unit
The Elusive Roadrunner
By Ranger Jamie Greco
I was sitting in the backseat of one of our patrol vehicles, touring a future
section of Sycamore Grove Park, when we pulled up along the roadway and
flushed an bird that took off running absurdly fast.
It was like no other bird I had
ever seen. It was comical and
cartoonish in its movements. The
other two people with me were
deep in discussion and did not
notice the bird. I was so confused.
I had been working as a ranger
for over a year and grew up in
Livermore, and therefore thought
I knew or at least would recognize
most of the birds in the area. But
I had no idea what this bird could
be! I kept thinking it reminded
me of a roadrunner, but I knew
those only live in the desert,
right?
IN THIS
Issue
The Elusive Roadrunner
This Month’s Ranger-led
Programs and Activities
Ask the Ranger: Eclipses
Livermore Area Recreation
and Park District
4444 East Ave. Livermore, CA 94550
www.larpd.dst.ca.us
Ranger Office: 925.960.2400
When I got back to the ranger’s
office, I started looking through
all our bird field guides, trying
to figure out what this mystery
bird was. After I had lost all
hope, I decided to look up the
roadrunner, although I knew they
didn’t live in the area. Boy, was I
wrong.
The greater roadrunner
(Geococcyx californianus) calls
Mexico, the southwestern
portion of the United States and,
surprisingly, the San Francisco Bay
Area home. Unfortunately their
numbers have dwindled in this
area due to urban development,
so it is rather rare to spot one.
The greater roadrunner is a
member of the cuckoo family
and also goes by the names
ground cuckoo and chaparral
cock. They are covered in black,
brown and white feathers that
are often spotted or striped. They
have a bit of blue and red behind
each of their eyes, and comically
large bills which help in their
carnivorous eating habits. Their
heads are oval in shape and have
bushy feathers, called head crests,
which stand upright when they
are curious or excited. Their tails
are long and useful in keeping
balance and in making sharp,
quick turns while running. Their
feet are strong and long, with
zygodactyl toes, meaning they
have two toes facing forwards
and two toes facing backwards.
Roadrunners can only fly for a few
seconds at a time, and do so only
when they are scared or traveling
downhill. The vast majority of
the time, roadrunners are, in fact,
running, and at speeds of up to
twenty miles per hour.
They are primarily carnivorous,
as only 10% of their intake is from
fruit and seeds. They are often
found eating lizards, scorpions,
frogs, snails, bats, eggs, spiders,
mice, grasshoppers, snakes,
Continued on page 3
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Ranger-led
Programs
Experience nature and history in a special way. Programs are
generally 1 - 2 hours in length. A $2 donation is requested. A $5
parking fee is charged at both park entrances.
November Programs
Amphibians
Saturday, November 5th
Quick Look:
This ancient group of animals has some very popular critters in
its family – frogs, toads and salamanders. I see countless children
each year in the park scouring the banks of the creek in hopes of
spotting one of these charming animals. Join us today to learn about
amphibians and how they have changed through time. You’ll also
have an opportunity to meet some of these unique creatures!
Ranger Dawn Soles
Sycamore Grove Park
Arroyo Road Entrance
Amphibians
Saturday, Nov. 5th
2:00 pm
Silent Night Hike
Saturday, Nov. 12th
5:30 pm
Silent Night Hike
Fall Compass Course
Saturday, Nov. 19th
2:00 pm
Saturday, November 12th
5:30 p.m.
Have you ever been on a night hike in
absolute silence? It is magical! The shadows
of the trees seem to come to life amidst the
sounds of hooting owls and howling coyotes.
Join me on an easy walk through the Nature
Area of Sycamore Grove Park. I’ll introduce
you to some of the sounds and sights of the
night, and then we will head out into the park
in complete silence! For adults and children
12 years and older. This is not a Hoot Owl Hike
and is not intended for organized groups.
Please call 925-960-2400 to RSVP.
Ranger Jamie Greco
Sycamore Grove Park
Nature Area Entrance
Turkey Time!
Sunday, Nov. 20
2:00 pm
Holiday Birds
Sunday, Nov. 27th
8:00 am
Wetmore Road
Entrance
Fall Compass Course
Wetmore Road
Nature Area
Entrance
Ar
(Open For
Programs
Only)
ro
yo
Ro
ad
Sycamore Grove Park
2:00 p.m.
Arroyo Road
Entrance
Saturday, November 19th
2:00 p.m.
The rains have started and the grass is growing, what a great time
to come explore the unseen side of Sycamore Grove. In addition to
learning the basics of navigation we will be exploring the hidden parts
of the park. Join us for this adventure and bring you own compass (if
you have one) if you would like to learn to use it better. We will also
have compasses you can borrow during the program. Wear sturdy
hiking shoes.
Ranger Glen Florey
Sycamore Grove Park
Arroyo Rd Entrance
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November
More Things to Do
More November Programs Roadrunner
Continued from page 1
Turkey Time!
Sunday, November 20th
2:00 p.m.
Gobble Gobble! Turkeys aren’t just on the table,
they’re out in our parklands too! Join us to learn
about wild turkeys and hopefully find some to
watch. This will be an easy, slow wander of less
than a mile and will be great fun for both kids and
adults. At the end of the walk, we’ll make a fun
Thanksgiving craft too.
Ranger Amy Wolitzer
Sycamore Grove Park
Arroyo Rd Entrance
Holiday Birds
Sunday, November 27th
8:00 a.m.
At this time of year we all have birds on our
minds, especially the ones that are stuffed,
cooked to golden perfection, and served with a
side of mashed potatoes and gravy. Be that as it
may, we’ll focus (but not feast) on fowl during this
stroll through Sycamore Grove’s bird-rich, riparian
woodland. This birdwalk will last about two hours.
Don’t forget your binoculars and field guides; we’ll
have a few to lend. Beginners are encouraged to
attend.
Ranger Pat Sotelo
Sycamore Grove Park
Nature Area Entrance
caterpillars, etc. They are fast and opportunistic
hunters. They are able to jump straight in the air
to catch dragonflies midflight, or hummingbirds
as they zip past. They also hunt by walking or
running rapidly towards their targeted prey. They
are one of the few animals that regularly consumes
rattlesnakes. Their swift speed allows them to snag
a rattlesnake by the tail, then whip it against rocks
or the ground continually until it is dead. Then
they begin to swallow the snake whole. When
the roadrunner has swallowed all it can of the
rattlesnake, it then walks around, moving on with
its daily business, all the while with the remainder
of the rattlesnake swinging from its mouth. Once
the part the roadrunner has already swallowed is
digested, it then swallows another few inches of the
rattlesnake. This process goes on until the snake is
completely consumed. Roadrunners are certainly unique and fascinating
birds. Two years have passed since I saw that
magnificent roadrunner, and I have been looking
for another one ever since. Keep a weathered eye
next time you go hiking at Sycamore Grove Park, as
it might be your lucky day to see this elusive and
entertaining creature.
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ASK THE
RANGER
Q: Since eclipses occur during a full and new moon, why don’t they happen twice a month?
A: There are two kinds of eclipses, solar and lunar.
A solar eclipse occurs when the shadow of the
moon falls directly onto the earth, this only occurs
during a new moon. A lunar eclipse occurs when
the shadow of the earth falls
onto the moon which happens
during a full moon. If the moon
orbited the earth in exactly the
same plane that the earth orbits
the sun (the ecliptic) then we
would have a solar and a lunar
eclipse every month. However,
the moon’s orbit is tilted relative
to the ecliptic. As a result the
moon crosses over the ecliptic
twice every orbit and the place
that it crosses is called a node. These nodes gradually drift westward along the ecliptic going all the
way around the earth every 18.5 years. An eclipse
can only occur when the node is aligned with the
sun so that all three bodies form a straight line.
while the node is aligned with the sun we have the
opportunity for up to three eclipses during a three
month period called an eclipse season. Unfortunately,
for those of us without unlimited financial resources
for global travel, the eclipses
are spread all across the planet
and often occur over oceans.
Fortunately, that means sometime
eclipses happen in our hometown.
We are about to enter an eclipse
season and we are lucky enough
to have an opportunity to see a
lunar eclipse here in California
next month! Early on the morning
of December 10th, as the full moon sets in the eastern
sky, it will enter the earth shadow turning brilliant
red as it sets. And if that isn’t enough to convince
you to get up really early that Saturday morning, the
Gemenids Meteor shower will also be ramping up with
its peak just two nights later. If weather is good and
While it takes 18.5 years for a node to circle all the
the skies are clear we will be having a special viewing
way around the earth, it only takes the earth a single of the eclipse from Sycamore Grove that morning. See
year to orbit around the sun. As a result every year
below for more information - Ranger Glen
“Early Bird Eclipse”
Saturday, December 10th 5:00 am - 8:00 am Fee: $10
Participants will be transported by vehicle to the hilly area of Sycamore Grove Park. After a short
but steep hike, the group will enjoy the eclipse along with hot chocolate and coffee.
Register by calling (925) 373 5700 or going to https://register.larpdrecandpark.org.
Sycamore Grove Park
2012 Calendars
Available November 1st!
Purchase at the RLCC community
center at 4444 East Avenue, from a
ranger in the park or by calling
(925) 373 5700 (add $3 shipping fee if
you would like it mailed to you). The
price will be $10. Makes a great gift!
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