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I've been hiking the desert ravine below our Albuquerque, NM, housing subdivision, entering the desert ravine at the park, hiking back up the valley, and climbing the almost vertical water culvert to my cul-de-sac.

After over a month of daily hikes, I noticed many of the local fauna now ignore me.

Curve-billed thrashers continue adding sticks to their nests, or digging for insects when I'm standing a few feet away, and tiny white-tailed antelope squirrels scamper around, sunbathe and groom.

When they see me, greater roadrunner males glance up, make their weird bill-clacking "family greeting" sound, then resume activities.

Yesterday, the greater roadrunner pair whose territory includes our yard actually accompanied me during my final climb up the culvert.

The male perched on the fence next to me, preening, and the female walked down the wooden cross beam, nearly bumping into me.

Pics:
female greater roadrunner walking on fence beam, Albuquerque, NM

White-tailed antelope squirrel doing its morning grooming.

birdingnut 8 Mar 26
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2 comments

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1

Good photos of beautiful creatures. To see the wildlife become comfortable with you sounds like a remarkable experience. To treasure.

0

Just curious why you picked abq? I have family there, it's a very different world

I returned from Thailand several months ago and am recovering from cancer at my sister's house here. Also, I've always loved this area; I lived in Durango, CO, 1979-83, where my two children were born, and even after we moved to Kentucky in 1983, we returned to go camping at the Grand Canyon, or skiing at Sandia Peaks. I also love the zoo, the aboratorium, the weather, the fauna, etc.

@birdingnut I've visited Durango--a beautiful old western town. And I resided in Santa Fe six years, so I've hiked in the Sangre .... Mountains. The flora and fauna there are also memorable. Coyotes, roadrunners, tall pines, pinion pines, aspen, etc.

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