The Living Forest (170) : Red Deer
The King of the Forest !
It’s early 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.
Males also use the roar call when competing with other males for females during the rut, and along with other forms of posturing and antler fights, is a method used by the stags to establish dominance.
There is a relative great place (150 ha) in the ‘Hertogenwald’ (2nd greatest forest of Belgium) where Red Deer are kept in half freedom. The reserve itself is not open to the public, unless……. the local forester is your friend (yeah, I know I’m a lucky guy).
It was real magic standing face to face to this noble animal !
Dutch name : Edelhert
German name : Rothirsch
Latin name : Cervus elaphus
Anka99 20/10/2011 21:42
hidas ist ein wunderschönes tier
lgAnka
Mohr Wilfried 12/10/2011 9:46
Einfach super diese Aufnahme. Du hast sicher lange angesessen.Gruß Wilfried
Irbenika 10/10/2011 13:36
!!!SUPERBLY!!!Irb
† Ushie Farkas 08/10/2011 1:19
IMPRESSIONNANT, Mark! Quelle lumière!Amitiés Ushie
Gaby Falkenberg 07/10/2011 10:59
Wow was für ein kapitaler Hisch,den hast du bestens erwischt.LG.Gaby
willy ombret 05/10/2011 21:39
merveilleuse photowilly ombret
CsomorLászló 05/10/2011 19:28
Phenomenal animal, in the best light!bw
CsL
Inge Stüwe 05/10/2011 8:54
Was für ein prächtiges Tier, ein Spitzenfoto!Liebe Grüße
Inge
Silvia Simonato. 05/10/2011 1:15
Una toma magestuosa. La naturaleza nos sorprende!!!!Saludos Silvia
Luc Grollie 04/10/2011 16:09
mooi licht en fiere pose !!!hoeveel Jupilerkes kost die 'local forester' ??
greetz,
Pierre LAVILLE 04/10/2011 15:45
Vraiment splendide.+++++++++
Amitiés Pierre
Vjdj2 04/10/2011 15:20
Absolutely a stunning image.... Very well captured!!! Greetings, vjAdele D. Oliver 03/10/2011 21:41
A wonderful majestic animal - a very impressive capture, Mark ... you must have been so excited being able to see and photograph him. Bravo !!!greetings, Adele
John Mc D 03/10/2011 21:08
Great, really great shot, wonderful picture, compliments!Bernd Brügging 03/10/2011 18:41
Traumhaft schön.....HG
Bernd