Lately, we have had beautiful weather — sunny days with temperatures hitting high 30’s and into the 40’s. A breeze, cool to the exposed face and hands, reminds me that it is still…technically…winter, but mother nature has been kind to us. This weather also disconcerts me. March in Minnesota should be cold and snowy and these temperatures should be few and far between, not stringing themselves in a row.
I can’t say that the wildlife doesn’t like it. As I walk outside in the yard, song birds are in great form. The cardinal sits high in the willow and belts out a melodic tune, finches sing while in flight, and the chickadees and blue jays greet me as I walk out to the “feed zone.”
This feed zone is an equal opportunity food source. All manner of birds come to feed – song birds, woodpeckers, etc.; pheasants – roosters and hens; ducks and geese; wild turkeys; opossums, and I know, because of the footprints, raccoons at night.
But the deer. Oh, so beautiful to watch them prance up at dusk. They determined that the critter crunch that I put on the ground for everybody else is for them also. In the spring I can follow the does with their spotted young and watch them grow throughout the seasons. I also watch the young bucks sprout their antlers and older bucks proudly display their racks. But once the antlers fall off, it is hard for me to distinguish one from the other.
Today, because of yet another beautiful day in a succession of beautiful days, more grass is visible, and even the meadow is showing ground. As I walked to fill the feeders I noticed a shape out of the corner of my eye that was not usual. Sure enough, on a slope that descends to the pond, but not more than 15 – 20 feet from the feed zone, I saw them…a pair of antlers.
I recognized them instantly and have seen their owner in the yard all winter. In fact, I saw him last week with a lopsided antler rack, having lost one probably within the past few days. In 20 years, I have never seen them in my yard! What a find! I’ve always said, “Keep watching, something new is always happening. All you have to do is look.”
Enjoy your day!
#deer #deerinnminnesota #nature #natureinminnesota #cardinal #pheasant
A Gardener's Diary 