Deer Camera

Text Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee

Translation Liis
 

Estonian text posted 14.03.2018

The red deer bulls, or stags,  shed their antlers in large amounts currently; a first solitary antler this year was found near the camera on February 20th.

Imprints of sleeping of many deer in the adjacent copse suggest that the 20-22 headed bull herd has not been very  mobile during the winter and mostly stayed near the feeding ground.
While during the previous winters-springs antlers were only sporadically shed on the ground  then now during the shedding period that has lasted two-three weeks exceptionally many have been shed here – up to now already antlers from at least six deer.

Video recorded by  Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 08.01.2018

Red deer        Punahirv      Cervus elaphus

Is it surprising?

Before the storm last night the weather at the seaside coastal meadow was a little milder and the large antler-bearers come to drink sea water when possible – food is bland and in addition to the salt there are minerals too. This is why the antlers of the animals close to the sea are always a little larger and more impressive than those of the mainland inhabitants at the same age.

Video recorded by  Fleur, LK forum

Video and presentation Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 14.12.1217

You will see no deer at the feeding site at noon but recently two-legged creatures made a guest appearance.

When the deer site was ”clean” of deer we decided together with RMK hunting specialist Uno Vait to go on camera ourselves and talk about the animals.

We talked about how the deer once came to Saaremaa and where they can be seen today, how their hooves work and how it is with their antlers.

In addition to the deer talk all kinds of other creatures that have been encountered on the deer ground and what  feats they have performed there. also came up.

But have a look at the video yourself!

Screencap from webcam IceAge, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 21.11.2017

Deer to the right with five antler tines but only one antler….

Red deer      Punahirv       Cervus elaphus

Introduction  Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Transmission provided by Teetormaja and EENet
Technical support HATCAM
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 18.11.2017

The fifth season of the RMK deer camera has started, and again in the same place from where the camera view has been transmitted in previous years.

Meenutamaks, et esimest korda saime veebikaamera vahendusel hirvi jälgida otse-eetris 2014. aasta veebruaris.

Läbi aastate on siin söödaplatsil juhtunud mõndagi põnevat ja tavatut. Kummaline tumeda ja pika sassis karvkattega hirv oli lausa mõistatus.

Video recorded by Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Red deer      Punahirv        Cervus elaphus

A reminder from the deer camera grounds.

The loss of the last antler amazes the deer: he must take a look, cross-eyed, to see if it is really true that the last familiar sex sign has finally gone.

Video, image from web camera and text  Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis
 

The deer bulls still visit the feeding ground at the habitual rate from the winter. There is no fresh grass yet and the silage still tastes as good as before, and carrots would be nice even in summer. When the heat wave comes that gets the grass growing even in Saaremaa the visits of the deer at the feeding ground will become rarer by each time.

At the moment the antlers of the stags look very different: some have new small rounded knobs or the beginnings of branching ”woolly” antlers, others even have last year’s crowns, still usable even for contests between rivals and a third group of stags that have recently shed their antlers have neither one or the other.

Video recorded by Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee

Red deer      Punahirv       Cervus elaphus

It has just turned dark, the stags only now gather on the feeding ground. Today there is belligerence in the air, all try to assert their importance in one way or another.

Normally the older creatures with solid antler growth do not have particularly much to do with the younger ones – they do what they want and no one protests in general.

Video recorded by  Fleur, LK forum
Translation Liis

Red deer      Punahirv         Cervus elaphus

Red deer gather in bachelor flocks for the winter – the mating period ended about a month ago, the aggressivity of the stags has calmed down and even the neck muscles are not as thick and ready for fight as before.

Winter is spent peacefully but the hierarchy ladder is recognized throughout the year, see the video.

Introduction  Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Transmission courtesy of  Teetormaja and Eenet
Technical support HATCAM
Translation Liis