Deer Paparazzi

We have many deer on our property every day, sometimes as many as 25. 

Using my new trail camera, of course, most of the photos are of deer, but this series is my favorite, shot by the creek in the lower meadow during sunset.

This female is so curious and stops to check it out. 

 I love how she circles back around to investigate further. 

 Maybe if she sniffs it, she can figure out what it is.

and that night, look who goes whizzing by:

Who's at the Window?

This year's window tapper is a Song sparrow. 

Can you spot him in the window? 

He is quite persistent, 

but I have enjoyed his beautiful song, when he 

perches high in the adjacent 

Holly or Japanese Maple, 

as pictured here:

He certainly battles his reflection nemesis, but can also see inside too, 

as he peers 

curiously at Latte cat 

here:

We have had battling crows and robins too. Other curious peekers have included 

a frequent squirrel:

and today, a doe:

Our windows are tinted and reflective. Birds, even animals, in seeing their own reflection, may interpret it as an intruder to their breeding or feeding territory and attack their "Doppelgaenger", trying to chase it away. They will peck furiously, beat at the window with their wings and even claw, exhausting themselves and sometimes even injuring themselves.

Birds you might expect to see exhibiting this behavior include: American goldfinch, American robin, Chipping sparrow, Song sparrow, Northern cardinal, Northern mockingbird, Eastern towhee, etc.

Here are some suggestions I have used or found on other sites to discourage this behavior:

1. Set up a bobbing headed bird of prey, such as this owl, from Home Depot:

2. Consider soaping the window

3. Put up a physical barrier such as netting or a screen

4. Put, lean or hang branches or distracting objects by the window 

5. Attach adhesive silhouettes of bird of preys or any bird:

6. Keep the curtains closed, which might help reduce the reflection.

These sites offer more information: 

a. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/faq/attracting/challenges/window_collisions

b. http://birding.about.com/od/birdbehavior/a/Stop-Birds-Attacking-Windows.htm

c. http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Cardinals-Windows.html

It has been a week now, the pecking has stopped and the Song sparrow has moved on. Typically, pecking will end after breeding season has passed. 

Brotherly Love!

Although the rutting season has passed, the males are still sparring, like these two young males.

This sparring is more for sizing each other up and practicing. Full out dominance fighting is seen more with bucks over 3.5 years old and with bucks from outside their range, where it can turn quite violent.

These young bucks are probably 2.5 years old, as their antlers are even with their ears.

This week, we had three larger males, who are at least 3.5 years old, in the area, grazing together.

One male was off to himself,

while the other two were very friendly and affectionate with each other and even licking one another.

Usually the subordinate male licks the face and forehead gland of the recognized dominate male, which usually occurs before or after a sparring match.

Note their dark stained tarsal glands inside their back legs.

Except during rutting season, males usually spend time together throughout the year, away from the females, who can be bossy.

I wonder if these are the twins from July of 2011?

In Hot Pursuit!

It has been a very active rutting season this year, starting in early November. On a rainy, dreary, cold day, we caught sight of a large buck in pursuit of a doe, that lasted over an hour.

What was remarkable is that the doe actually hid from him in the meadow. 

As the buck was rampaging around, she ran to the meadow and ducked down. After he had slowly searched for her in the meadow, walking right by her, he eventually gave up and left. 

She then raised up very slowly and carefully looked around. 

When she felt she was in the clear, she then slowly walked away, looking attentively all around her the entire way.

Also, surprising, was that a young buck suddenly emerged from the meadow shortly after she left, running away from all the action.  Clearly, he was steering clear of the dominate male, too. 

The next morning the dominate male had settled down and had paired with a female, 

who was eating nearby.

Although the photos are not sharp, as I was shooting through tinted windows, I still wanted to share these interesting observations of deer interactions and behavior. 

Bountiful Harvest!

With a late start, well into June, 

after rebuilding all the frames and fence, we still managed to have 

a successful season and a bountiful harvest. 

(See July 1 blog entry for the back story)

The tomatoes were amazingly delicious, especially the cherry tomatoes, which were like eating candy. It was our first year for butternut squash, which grew well and we still have one more on the way.

The 4 eggplant matured late and are still producing, despite the beetles, with at least 8 more
to grow larger.

The 3 green pepper plants did well and produced 5 fruits each, even though they were in
the shadows of the basil plants.

The only issue we have is that the deer are somehow managing to jump or climb into the garden the last couple of weeks, eating the last few tomatoes and plants. Luckily, everything else is still intact. I added more fencing, more wire, but sadly still found hoof prints this morning.

As I was shooting these photos, the suspects were watching me from behind the pines and also eyeing my neighbors garden. 

More on Deer-Resistant Plants

We have tremendous deer pressure here and our plants are constantly under fire. Although, forsythia and peony are considered "deer resistant", this summer, the deer have eaten both to the point of killing the plants.

In Ruth Rogers Clausen's excellent book, "50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants",  a helpful rating scale is provided for each plant. The scale is just 7-10 with plants under 7 not even included in the book, as those plants are regularly browsed by deer.  So, 7 is described as "deer sometimes nip off flowers but leave foliage alone", 8 is "deer occasionally nip off one or two flowers but mostly ignore plant", 9 - just browse new spring foliage and 10 - rarely browse and usually avoid plant altogether. Bloom times, and growing and design tips are also included.

So, I was curious if my 2 plants were listed in the book.  Forsythia is not even included in the book! The Peony is included in the list of 50 but with a rating of 7-10.

(http://www.peonysenvy.com/art/care/IMG_3073.jpg)

For the most part, I find most of her choices and rating scales spot on, for example the Lenten Rose and Fringed Bleeding Heart have a rating of 9-10, which I completely agree with.

Some plants I didn't realize were deer resistant and I look forward to planting outside the fence include, Blue False Indigo, Yarrow, Castor Oil Plant and Hybrid Sage.

(http://www.monjilandscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/yarrowpink.jpg)

Moments to Cherish!

I was reflecting on those moments in life that are rare and special. Moments that unlikely will be duplicated again. Moments that bring joy and wonderment. Moments or sightings that I might take for granted and presume will happen again next year or next season, but often don't. 

Such as . . .

 the bluebird at the window in the middle of a snowstorm taking shelter, 

the bunny teasing Sigi at the porch door,

the deer twins edging closer and closer, curious to know more,

a beautiful painted turtle crossing our path as Sigi and I took a fall walk,

the group of goldfinch in the spring eating the seed pods from the catmint at my window,

discovering a young fawn in the meadow, lost and confused and later united with her mother the following day,

finding a baby bunny hiding INSIDE my garden fence,

the fox in the upper meadow just hanging out,

walking out the front door and discovering the tiniest baby turtle right on the sidewalk,

finding baby bunnies huddled innocently in a mulch pile,

capturing the most beautiful afternoon rays of light shining through the petals of 

these Richard Ahren's anemones,

and watching one of our bee girls in the spring collecting nectar. 

(Our last hive died last week in the extreme cold).

Here are some quotes that I find fitting for these reflections: 

"The only constant in life is change." 

(Heraclitus)

"Learn to flow with life like a stream. 

Change is the constant in our world, 

everything and everyone is always 

in a constant state of change. 

Learn to flow with life, 

relax and 

enjoy the ride." 

(Kemmy Nola)

User-Friendly Deer Resistant Plant Lists

Spring is right around the corner and my eyes are now on the gardens. 

Ah, but my dear deer friends! 

What plants to plant? 

I was checking to see if Itea virginica or Virigina Sweetspire is deer proof and I found these 2 amazingly helpful lists you just have to view:

1. This first one created by Rutgers is so very user friendly:
Landscape Plants Rated for Deer Resistance

2. This site not only provides a deer resistant plant list but also helpful planting information too:
Gardening in Deer Country - Resistant List

I have my own test garden - check out a previous post from September 27, 2009.

Happy Planning!