Sunday, February 19, 2012

Pecking Order

Hope everyone had a great week. I've had another way too busy one again even to the point of getting time to check my cameras. I usually check my cameras on Sunday afternoon but we were suppose to get 6 to 10 inches of snow today so I wanted to check them early. I had hoped to get off early Friday afternoon but an equipment breakdown shot that idea down.  I had promised a friend to help with some painting on Saturday...yes I'm a glutton for punishment ;). So before daylight Saturday morning I was out checking the cameras. Still pretty slow but I did get a few nice shots. Oh, by the way, our 6 to 10 has turned into maybe 1 to 2 and it didn't start until about dark.

Most of you were probably aware that whitetail bucks establish a pecking order but the does also have a pecking order. This series of pics I got last week shows what happens when someone wants to test that order.

Nice peaceful little gatherering.

















DON'T make eye contact!
Too late. The fight is on.
YourSundayBest
Now the victor chases the loser around for a bit.

O.K. That's settled. I like how the buck just goes on calmly eating during the whole thing.


18 comments:

Michelle said...

Great capture of some social drama that I don't get to see!

Trailblazer said...

Nice, Joe!

Great bit of behavior captured there....

Reena said...

Love the drama! And one wise one to stay out of it!

Michaele said...

Great series. It was quite funny how the buck could care less.

TexWisGirl said...

really cool! pecking order no matter what the species, i guess...

good luck with your continued work stuff!

Brian King said...

Cool pics, Joe! It can be a little humorous watching does square off. It's like they're trying to slap each other.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Cool captures of the little drama !

Liesl said...

Neat pics Joe,I didn't know deer also rear up on their hind legs like that. Keep well!

Lindsjö taxar said...

Great pictures! Like the fight. We´ve got only one picture of a roe at one of the feeding places in one week. I changed to another feeding place where we saw a lot of roe tracks. Will buy another camera to get the wild boars ....

Ola said...

wow, the one from the fight is espceially exceptional!

Ruta said...

Wow! Great capture of deer behavior...I didn't even know they squared off like that...interesting!

Nancy said...

Well, gosh Joe, long time... so great to read this post. Awesome photos of the kids vying for their place in the pecking order!

Thank you so much for sharing with Your Sunday Best.

Fjällripan said...

It looks like they are dancing, but I understand it is more drama involved, beautiful though!

Sandy said...

I had no idea that does would fight like that. Great shots of them on their hind legs though!

Anonymous said...

That was so neat to get that on film and it also reminds me that I need to get out and check mine.

Katie (Nature ID) said...

This was funny. I wonder what happened to the 3rd doe. The buck inexplicably reminded me of my uncle as he quietly sits at the dinner table while my aunt and female cousins all chatter and sometimes argue loudly.

Dawn said...

That's a GREAT story:) Love the action!

KB said...

I have never seen deer rear up on their hind legs like that. So cool!!!!