13 July 2011

Vigilance (red deer hind)


Even after generations of captivity on farms, red deer remain vigilant, apprehensive. When they're sure the human's there to distribute food, they'll approach — the hand-reared hind will even run up to eat out of one's hand — but if they're unsure, they spook easily. They have an unimaginably good sense of smell, marvellous hearing and mediocre vision that notices movement but seems poor at discriminating stationary objects.


[13 July2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/800 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

2 comments:

Lesley said...

That's a very characteristic pose, Pete. I've seen as many as ten or twelve standing in silhouette just behind a ridge line with about that much of their bodies showing, all facing the same direction with pricked ears, monitoring a distant human intrusion.

pohanginapete said...

Lesley, you're right — it's so characteristic. Everything seems tensed, waiting to spring into flight in an instant.

Hope life's becoming a little less nerve-wracking for you now. I saw a report today from the scientists, suggesting the likelihood of big 'quakes is diminishing.