Wildlife watching is a global sport and ecotourism a major industry. At the local level, in a region where agriculture, deer and an extensive network of trails and secondary roads dominate the landscape, deer watching is as much a part of summer as strawberries and sweet corn.
Buck on the move, swamp to hay field, just before dark; 16July2016
A friend has been seeing does, fawns and bucks on his dairy farm and suggested I set up for photographs. I obliged, telling him it would be a difficult chore, but somebody had to do it. Actually, I was thrilled! It was my first opportunity to see and photograph triplets, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Triplet number one
Triplets two and three; mother has my scent and is nervous
Family portrait, just before mom ran off into the swamp, kids in tow
This doe and fawn appeared an hour later. Highway mortality, long winters and coyote predation take their toll on fawns. One or two fawns per mature doe is the norm, although sightings of mature does with no fawns at all are not unusual.
“We do not remember days, we remember moments” – Cesare Pavese
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
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