Winter of the Deer

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This winter (January 2014) will go down in the books as being one of the most fickle, weather-wise. Winter weather descended upon us weeks before the solstice with some of the coldest temperatures in decades, followed by southerly flow, and freezing rain. Chaos!
It is always a winter habit to put out seeds and cracked corn for the birds and squirrels…and last year we had some very large birds at our feeder. (turkeys) This year, however, we have had a doe and two fawns!
At first all I saw of them was their tracks in the deep snow…mother breaking trail and the youngsters wading up to their tummies. They started by keeping well away from the house and the feeder, eating apples that had been discarded on the compost heap, but after a week or two of very cold weather they did not return. Two days ago, (during a warm period~ more freezing rain) one of the fawns returned. I think it is a young male from his topknot and mini ruff. He is surprisingly bold…or perhaps very hungry, because he came very close to the house and browsed the trees and ate corn and cracked wheat from the bird feeder.
insert photo,. still can’t upload!

• 15 Jan, 2014
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