So, deer eat birds now?
 

I wonder if it tastes just like chicken to them?:



Esther Inglis-Arkell
Today 12:40pm

Field Cameras Catch Deer Eating Birds—Wait, Why Do Deer Eat Birds?

Deer aren't the slim, graceful vegans we thought they were. Scientists using field cameras have caught deer preying on nestling song birds. And it's not just deer. Herbivores the world over may be supplementing their diets.

When researchers in North Dakota set up "nest cams" over the nests of song birds, they expected to see a lot of nestlings and eggs get taken by ground squirrels, foxes, and badgers. Squirrels hit thirteen nests, but other meat-eaters made a poor showing. Foxes and weasels only took one nest each. Know what fearsome animal out-did either of those two sleek, resourceful predators?

White-tailed deer.

These supposed herbivores placidly ate living nestlings right out of the nest. And if you're thinking that it must be a mistake, that the deer were chewing their way through some vegetation and happened to get a mouthful of bird, think again. Up in Canada, a group of ornithologists were studying adult birds. In order to examine them closely, the researchers used "mist-nets." These nets, usually draped between trees, are designed to trap birds or bats gently so they could be collected, studied, and released. When a herd of deer came by, they deer walked up to the struggling birds and ate them alive, right out of the nets.

This behavior is not limited to one species or one continent. Last year, a farmer in India made a video of a cow eating a recently-hatched chick. Some scientists speculate that herbivores turn to meat when they're not getting enough nutrients in their diet. It's possible. A biologist in Scotland documented red deer eating seabird chicks, and concluded it was how they got the dietary boost necessary to grow their antlers. The same researcher also documented sheep eating the heads and legs off of seabird chicks. And then there's another cow in India, which reportedly ate fifty chickens. There may be a specific need that drives herbivores to occasionally eat meat. It's also possible, experts say, that eating meat, when it can't run away from them, is just something supposed "herbivores" do, and we're finally getting wise to it.

The famous line from The Simpsons might be accurate - If a cow ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you ever cared about.



Sources:


http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/news/press/ontape.htm


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...orousdeer.html

its protein, that's what they need, how they know its protein is beyond me. knew a guy once who kept shed antlers on the porch of his cabin, they started coming up missing, he would find the odd one in the yard or in the woods closeby, chewed to pieces, when it snowed, only tracks coming up the steps were deer tracks, sheds were gone again
RR

edited to add: just remembered this
https://www.google.com/search?site=&....0.j3srN2zAy7s

I read a study that was conducted in Florida, several years ago, filming quail nests to see what was preying on the eggs. One nest was hit by a doe, which ate the eggs. Squirrels were also culprits. No turkeys hit the nests.

Eggs taste great for breakfast....... that's what the animals tell me anyway - LOL !!!

I hear people tell me that same thing.

Nothing new here. I have a large (one acre) bird sanctuary that I have used as a food plot for years.

I guess deer are like people - they get weird at times!

I saw a movie once about carnivorous sheep in New Zealand who ate people.



:sheep:
Hey, even the people ate people in that part of the world

Have seen videos and read articles of deer eating the antlers of another dead deer. Just have not found any videos of a deer trying to eat their own, but I do wonder if they chase their antler around in a circle like a dog chases his tail.

This is just creepy. Bambi gobbling down defenseless baby birds. My view of the world.. Changed.. Forever..

just about every warm blooded animal in the woods will eat baby birds, including other birds, even squirrels will dine on poultry if given a chance.
RR

Ron

I heard of deer eating fish from a wildlife biologists.

I've seen them eating fish on the river bank while I was float fishing. so that doesn't surprise me

Once I had seen deer eating a bird, actually it only eats baby birds from their nest.

I have never seen a "deer eating bird" It would have to be a real big bird.:D

Read a study years ago about why Deer have such a keen sense of smell and why such a large part of their brain is dedicated to the sense of smell.

Sure there is the obvious reason, an early warning system to warn of predators.

The hypothesis is the main reason is that Deer need trace elements in their diet to survive, kind of like vitamins and their sense of smell leads them to places to feed that are higher in these trace elements.

Why did the Deer cross the road, swim the river or beat down the fence (other than Rut)? To get to the minerals.

I often spray a bush with Nuc Mom (sp?) a fermented Vietnamese fish sauce, to put out a scent cone to try and draw the Hogs in my direction. More Deer visit the bush than Hogs, kind of like Deer Catnip.

My guess is eating Birds scratches an itch they have for protein or maybe some sort of trace elements they need.