See those rudimentary horns? Well, he thinks he is just THE ONE these days! Last year Mama Deer would come by with two yearlings. Starting a couple of weeks ago, she started coming by with three young’uns, one of which is probably this nascent buck. One is a lot smaller than the others, so presume that is this year’s “baby”. There is yet another baby in “the hopper”, judging by the swollen sides of Mama these days.
It had been a hot day, and the four of them stopped by for a drink before it was dark, so we got a good look at them. Pictures through double-paned kitchen windows are never top notch, but it is still a thrill to see them.
This boy, though, was surely full of himself on this occasion. He was doing his best to run off the others from “his” water pond. He was actually kicking at them. They paid little attention, though. Rather like a pesky little brother annoying them.
When they wandered off, I could see that the pond was empty, so I filled it back up. I looked out before I went to bed, and it was empty again, so perhaps they made a second visit after it had become completely dark. By morning it was empty again. We’ve been seeing the deer and the javelina on the critter cam a lot lately, so they must be doing most of the drinking. They are all massively-sized animals, so it probably takes a fair amount of water to keep them hydrated.
I checked the water supply at about 5:30 this afternoon, and it was about three quarters full. Just now at about 11:30 tonight, I went out to check to make sure our friends will have their night supply, and it was entirely empty! We didn’t get to see any animals there tonight, so they must have come when we weren’t looking.
Anyway, I’m glad I went to check because I’d hate to think that all those friends would spend the night thirsty.
Adventures of Dorrie Anne 
These guys are spreading the word about free drinks at Judilyn’s Bar! Seriously, I think it’s great to help them with a water source although I wonder what it’s going to be like by the end of summer. I love the picture – just like a teenager who is ready to go out and flex his muscles.
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So nice of you to supply them with water! 🙂
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The animals have it really tough here for about the last month before the monsoon season starts in mid-July. They need all the help they can get. Seems a small price to pay for all the joy they bring us year around.
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How thoughtful and attentive you are to make sure there is plenty of water for them. HOpe they supply you with more wonderful pictures in return.
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They were pretty piggy yesterday. It was empty at night before I went to bed, so I filled it then. This morning at about eight o’clock, it was down a couple of inches. See above for bread story.
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how cute. Nice that you take care about them. You have a good heart, virtual hugs, Mitza
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These hot days they drink up a tremendous amount of water. We have a water spigot right near there, so it is easy to help them along with dealing with the heat. A raven has been there this morning. He apparently left a piece of bread there sometime during the night, and then it got water logged, and he couldn’t get it out. I mushed it up with the hose pressure, and he came back right away. He pulled a few pieces out to eat, and then took off with a piece in his mouth. So maybe he has a mate sitting on a nest somewhere out in the outback.
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I love ravens, they are so funny and clever. You are lucky to have heat. Here it’s terribly cold, only 62 F. I’m sitting here in a wollen sweater with a hot tea!! That’s our summer. I’m longing for Greece! 🙂
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It is 80° here right now, but it is only 8:30 in the morning. We are promised 100 and a few by mid-afternoon, with no rain in sight for a few more weeks.
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you are lucky to have heat but without rain it’s not good either.
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We get most of our moisture in July and August during the monsoons, but formerly there was quite a bit of snow that collected in the mountains during the winter that would melt over the spring time. For the last two years, there has been little to no snow up there, so the spring is pretty dry. We had a fair amount of unexpected rain this winter, but it disappeared quickly instead of staying around on the mountain tops until it was needed later on. The worry, of course, is fire. We had a doozy in June of 2011. I hope never to see that again! We were all packed to evacuate just about the time they got it under control.
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Wow, I can imagine that fires are frightening. We have seen a lot in Greece, too, where it is so extremely dry and hot. Once we were afraid not to reach our airplane because it was burning at the main street. They have no hydrants there, the fire brigade has to go down to the sea to suck in sea-water, but well dressed in dark blue pants and light blue shirts, hehe. Hope you will be spared from fire. Virtual hugs Mitza
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A raven brought an entire piece of white bread yesterday to soak it in the pond. It was fun to see it disintegrate over the course of a few pictures. The birds seemed to share it.
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That must be “ravishing” photos. They are so clever. I soak my bread in my coffee, too.
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So nice of you to care for them! Seeing them so close, is the ultimate reward ❤ Beautiful picture!
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I just looked at the pictures from the last few nights, and the deer have been out in force. The pond was dry, dry, dry again this morning after a refill late last evening. We are glad to be able to help them.
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