Deer are vegans, strict herbivores, right? Wrong, according to a video thats making its rounds again. The folks at io9 ran a story Wednesday about a field camera that captured footage of a deer eating a bird (you heard it right). The site then posed the question: Do deer really eat birds? Apparently so, and thats putting it lightly.
The story of the bird-eating deer took root back in 2010 when someone filming wildlife captured what looked like a buck going about his business grazing on a thickly-grown meadow. However, upon closer inspection, the deer was actually stalking an injured bird while its horrified family members dive-bombed him so their pal could take cover, to no avail. The inherently-decent part of you wants to believe the bird was inadvertently scooped up into the deers mouth along with a patch of fresh grass. However, the deer actually pauses to munch on the bird, eventually swallowing it, feathers and all (footage may be disturbing to some viewers).
Recently, scientists in North Dakota discovered something very astonishing. The researchers set up wildlife cams around the nests of song birds. They expected to record footage of weasels, squirrels, foxes, and other small mammals stealing eggs and an occasional chick as a bonus. All but the squirrels made a good showing.
However, a playback of the bird nest cams revealed that deer were eating birds, and it wasnt an accident or one-time thing. To confirm their suspicions of the existence of bird-eating deer, scientists set up a special net designed to capture bats and small birds safely for further study. Cameras set up at the site revealed that numerous deer were preying on the struggling birds caught in the net. They were eating them alive, directly from the net.
As strange as this story sounds, there is evidence that many species of deer occasionally prey on birds. Even more shocking is that cows and sheep have been known to dine on birds and chickens. Theres the story of a cow that is said to have eaten over two dozen chickens. Imagine that?
Experts say deer that eat meat at times often do so likely to supplement their normal diet of grass and plant matter. The behavior is likely seen more during drought or extreme winters, when grass is dormant. Others say that even herbivores will become carnivorous in the face of an easy meal. The deer eating the injured bird in the video above is one such example.
Have your thoughts about Rudolph and Bambi changed after seeing the bird-eating deer video? Dont let it there are no rules in nature.
Decades back, a story like this would have brought down the fury of the Audubon Society in a full rage.
But, much like the stories of the huge death toll to eagles and other large bird species caused by all the big wind generators, the Audubon Society does nothing, says nothing, may as well not even exist.
Experts say deer that eat meat at times often do so likely to supplement their normal diet of grass and plant matter. The behavior is likely seen more during drought or extreme winters, when grass is dormant. Others say that even herbivores will become carnivorous in the face of an easy meal. The deer eating the injured bird in the video above is one such example.
I think the deer terminated the bird because it was a nuisance.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Recently, scientists in North Dakota discovered something very astonishing. The researchers set up wildlife cams around the nests of song birds. They expected to record footage of weasels, squirrels, foxes, and other small mammals stealing eggs and an occasional chick as a bonus. All but the squirrels made a good showing.
However, a playback of the bird nest cams revealed that deer were eating birds, and it wasnt an accident or one-time thing. To confirm their suspicions of the existence of bird-eating deer, scientists set up a special net designed to capture bats and small birds safely for further study. Cameras set up at the site revealed that numerous deer were preying on the struggling birds caught in the net. They were eating them alive, directly from the net.
In many places, the deer are an invasive and noxious species to the ecosystem and to agriculture.
I believe there should be no limits on hunting deer (outside national parks and nature preserves where they have a historical habitat) by any means, similar to coyotes and rabbits.
The deer that infest so much of the country are very recent arrivals, not native species in those ecosystems. It is man's presence and the wildlife agencies and organizations that have foisted them on the country.
They aren't cute and they aren't harmless. They result in the destruction of many billions every year to American agriculture. And, if you know them well, they don't nibble on just anything, they go after a farmer's very best produce and crops.
The dang deer will eat pretty much all varieties of of daylilly blossoms (but the 'Crimson Pirate' variety which they tend to leave alone), but seem to prefer the 'Snow Blizzard' variety. A dozen of them can bloom one day - then munch munch munch.... Totally gone - the ground.
We went to the early service at church, pulled up back at the house - two deer were standing in the front garden - eating...
(Why a yellow daylilly is named 'snow blizzard' is beyond me.)
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Now I'm more into shopping at Shoprite. Bending over to dig in the dirt? OW! My back!
I won't do it for myself but I won't let my mom do that stuff, not at her age. So I do some flowery stuff for her because she absolutely loves her flowers. And they do cheer up her yard. Nothing like some hot splashes of color in the landscape.
I tend to like wildflowers. They're natural, promote eco-diversity and (most importantly) require no work on hands and knees which I'm now old enough to avoid when possible.
DayLillies are the closest things to wildflowers my mom has probably.
I'm tearing out the dead azaleas and rhododendron, plant by plant. The replacements are lawn and small 'emplantments' of daylillies. I've got to make my mom's yard somewhat non-ugly - ya know?
So I'm going to plant some of these this spring: (Fuji Reblooming Double Daylily)
Are they called 'tiger lilies' ? No one can tell me.
Yes. I planted some that look just like that but don't recall the exact variety. They bloom for a few weeks in late summer and are more reddish, making me think they are some artifical hybrid.
A tiger lily is a generic name for one of a half-dozen different varieties native to North America and east Asia.
Many are related to daylilies but a daylily really does only bloom for about one day and looks cruder and less evolved than the more artificial modern lilies that we call tiger lilies.