Kindness in Winter

I am a field biologist and naturalist, so I understand how Nature, survival, and evolution work. I know that the focus of these fundamentals is on a species level and not on the individual. At the same time, it's not easy to feel empathy when the affects of Mother Nature act on the individual.

During winter, as I sit watching the birds and animals at my feeder, I can't help being moved. Currently we have about 2 feet of snow cover on the ground. The "gang" of five turkeys continue to come in and spend the day picking through the fallen seeds and loafing about in the clearing around the feeders. With this last snow, they have been joined by a few deer that have moved out of the deep forest seeking an easier time surviving the Winter. While most are does with their yearlings and one or two bucks, the group includes an outsider.

This is the one I call "Baby Deer". He (or she) is shy and reserved, not quite sure of itself. He always stands off in the background and if too forward is chased back by the others. Baby is an orphan yearling. Mom, for whatever reason, is no where to be found and so Baby fends for itself.

Because of Chronic Wasting Disease and bouvine TB, there has been a baiting and feeding ban for White Tails. I can not take the chance to feed the deer that come in, but I can allow them the little seed that falls from the bird feeders - especially Baby.

Late last Winter, before the ban, another yearling came out of the forest to feed as well. This one was thin, but held on through Winter and needed just a little help to make it through to fresh growth and food in the Spring. I didn't mind the extra corn and seed it took to help out. I will never know, but would like to think that this yearling made it through and survived.

And now I hope that Baby Deer will too.

I also have a large flock of Blue Jays that have moved down from further north, to wait out Winter at the feeders. There is one I keep an eye out for as it too has had Natures ill-will befall it. This Jay has an injured leg that prevents it from perching normally. I noticed it when it was huddled agains the trunk of a tree working to break open a peanut early in the Fall. Unable to fly in and out as regularly as its flock mates, I often see it belly to the ground picking at the sunflower seeds that shower down from the feeders while others are feeding. As difficult as it may seem, survival seems to be favoring this individual and with luck and prays it will make it through the Winter and maybe even nesting next Spring.