The Living Forest (267) : Red Deer
It’s autumn, in the forest the mating ritual of the Red Deer, called the rut, has begun again.
Mature stags (males) compete for the attentions of the hinds (females) with a very distinctive and loud "roar" that can be heard for miles around in the forest.
The hinds are initially attracted to those stags that both roar most often and have the loudest roar call.
After roaring the whole night, antler fights with other competitors and (maybe) mating, the stag in the shot showed up out of the forest in the very first sun light of the autumn day.
If you ask me, the ‘King of the Forest’ looks tired and exhausted…..
Dutch name : Edelhert
German name : Rothirsch
Latin name : Cervus elaphus
Location : Hertogenwald at Eupen (Belgium)
***
Something else :
Meanwhile, also the hunting season opened again and I saw plenty of hunters wandering around in the woods at present.
They have only 1 aim : killing animals. Not because they are hungry or because their children are starving, no they just kill for fun !
Let's hope that this beautiful and defenseless animal that I spotted will not be murdered by one of those 'nature-loving' hunters.
***
A big thanks to JX
for the nomination of this picture !
Eifeljäger 9. Februar 2015, 21:03
Den alten Recken hast du sehr gut getroffen, ich bin beeindruckt.Gruß, Franz
The beauty of nature 5. März 2014, 19:40
I'm to late. Sorry Mark.I like your photo and it was a great moment in your life. This is important!
Liebe Grüße
Helene
Mark Billiau. 28. Februar 2014, 8:27
@ everybody who voted pro : thanks a lot, and of course a special thanks to JX for the nomination of this picture.Mark
Hans Georg Gemünden 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
proLuca Di Muzio 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
PVera Böhm 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
proAndersFotografie 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
pro+++Edi Ogris 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
PROAngelika El. 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
+Reinhard... 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
C!Herr M 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
-- Edith Vogel 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
+++Jochen Braband 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
PRO!!!Maiarisli 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
ProHans-Reiner Bohn 27. Februar 2014, 20:02 Voting-Anmerkung
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