On occasional mornings we’ve been noticing that the birdbaths are completely dry. Evaporation is alway a possibility but it would not empty a filled birdbath overnight! We’d seen deer in the area but were suspecting Javelina. Then one morning we watched through a window as a small herd casually walked up to the feeding station and licked the birdbaths dry. Living in an area where water is hard to come by, we can understand the attraction to our small water offering.
A thirsty Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
There is a four-point buck, two does and two fawns. Occasionally a younger buck will show up but the dominant buck will run it off, so it must come when the others are not around.
Quite a handsome fellow!
Fortunately they only sniff and lick the feeders. There is not much in the way of food here — the water is the main attraction.
Doe trying for sunflower seeds
When they’ve had their fill, they saunter off in to the grassland and we go outside and refill the birdbaths for the birds who are eager to get back to their feeders after this mammalian interlude.
Thanks for the water, we’re off for a siesta now!
Hopefully this small herd will not be thinking about jumping over our yard walls. I’m starting to plant my hummingbird and butterfly gardens which would probably be quite a temptation.
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