The Young Ones

Roger — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:26:37 +0000

It’s that time of year again it seems – young critturs are everywhere around the place. For a week or more we’ve been having the Downy Woodpeckers bringing their young to the suet feeder on the porch outside our lounge window to feed them suet and show them how this upside down thing works.

Downy Woodpeckers

Tonight as I went out the front door to fill the bird feeders I caught a glimpse of some brown on the grass to the south of the house, and wondered what tree limb had fallen down, but quite quickly realised I was looking at two fawns sitting down on the grass.

Bambis

I managed to walk out onto the lawn to get a better view before they really realised I was there.

Eyes Front

Now one of them decides to stand up for a better view

The Deer and The Maple Forest

They’re looking intently – by now Lisa has also arrived out on the lawn with her camera to take some pictures. The trees on the grassy area are all trees we’ve grown since we’ve been here. Some started out as twigs the diameter of a pencil, others were purchased as trees about 6 feet tall (above deer nibbling height) and planted out – there are a couple of types of maple tree and several different types of oak trees there in our mini forest.

Stamping and Strutting

Now they’re getting edgy, and stamping the little feet on the ground, and wondering if it’s really safe here. There was no sign of the Mother Doe during these several minutes.

We're Out of Here...

And they’re off. I’m pretty sure these are the same two shown here from nearly 2 weeks ago when they were out on the same bit of lawn.

We’ve also had 4 house wrens born in the wren house hanging in a tree just outside the garage, and they’ve left the nest already.

Baby Wren

This picture taken by Lisa shows one of the babies peering out of the box. Who knew that such a tiny bird could make such a big beautiful noise when the parent birds sing to each other!!

The Deer and the Garden

Roger — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:23:34 +0000

Tonight Lisa looks outside about 9 PM and notices a cute little deer baby out on the lawn. As I walk over to look I see another one – both very young, and “oh so cute” with their spots.

Two Bambis

About a week ago I’d seen a single Bambi and Mum out in the wildflower “prairie” we have planted over the septic hill but it wasn’t the same as these ones which are even smaller.

But then we have to temper the warm fuzzy feelings and remember that these little “darlings” will grow up to become the monsters that ravage the gardens on our property – even those right up by the house.

Deer Damage

This picture above and the next one are just a small part of the row of carnage that we found on return from our trip out East. The deer had been along the gardens around the house and nipped of hundreds of buds on a variety of the plants growing there. Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!

More Deer Damage

Experience of course has taught us that for things we really want to keep we need to protect them – from both the deer and the rabbits – and in the shot of the two Bambis on the right side is a Japanese Maple tree growing (started from a seedling from another tree) inside a wire cage to keep it alive as we try to get it established.

And just a few days ago “someone” ate the growing tips out of 4 or 5 of my tomato plants

Roger’s Ramblings » bambi

The Young Ones

The Deer and the Garden