6-11-08 Observations

- Nice and warm this morning, with a brilliant sunrise.

- Three whitetail bucks walked through my yard yesterday morning, all with antlers in velvet. One of the deer was quite small, but with forks already formed...the other two, by fall, could be in the 'trophy' category. The deer appeared for a couple of minutes, constantly moving, and then became spooked and disappeared into the thick growth north of the cabin.

- New born fawns have been spotted recently. The young deer, which begin to walk just hours after birth, typically stay hidden in undergrowth or tall grass. They rely on camouflage, lack of scent, and their motionless state for protection. It usually works, but not always!

- Attached is a photo taken this morning of The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina). Why these colorful reptiles like to spend considerable time in roadways is up for debate, but it is a dangerous way to spend a morning.

- Also attached is a photo of two common visitors, with contrasting lifestyles, to my feeders.....The Mourning Dove and a juvenile Eastern Chipmunk. The doves are always seemingly content and relaxed, but the same cannot be said for the nervous and industrious chipmunks!