We ended the busy weekend with trying to do our part in the National garden bird count here in the Netherlands. The largest collection of civil scientific count in the country and we added to the count a big fat zero! That is right after sitting for a half an hour (actually I did for two hours) and waiting. The weather was just so darn bad that the birds in our garden decided to boycott the day entirely. But, we reported our finding anyway because a big fat zero in birds seen is also a count.
We also looked at and agreed to a new seasonal camping location for our camper for the summer. This will be a bit more out of pocket than the one from last summer renting from the ice skating club in Oud Albas but this one should provide for some really cool canoe and kayak trips closer to home. After biting the financial bullet we think this should be a great opportunity for some new experiences.
That was the weekend…
A few weeks ago we wrote a blog about our hiking trips into the Dutch dunes that are close to our house and the wonderful find of the little people village in A Visit to Kabouterdorp, NL. This week we thought we would highlight some of the wildlife that live in the dunes.
Dutch Dunes at De Zilk
Dune deer
These deer (which are more like the American elk but much smaller) roam in large numbers throughout the dune area around De Zilk. So much so that the park system has had to go and thin the herd in the last few years due to over grazing and destruction of the natural habitat. This thinning has produced an outcry from animal rights activist and has made the Dutch news several times.
Unlike most Dutch, I grew up with hunting and still don’t understand why someone would be against thinning out an over crowded herd. After seeing this area first hand, I feel that the deer population numbers are still too high for the area. This deer population needs to be thinned even more drastically so that the natural habitat in the dunes could be allowed a chance to recover.
Please…no hate emails due to my view on this.
Looking out over the dunes
Raptor
Raptor flying over the dunes
Deer everywhere
Just sitting still
Tree bent to the sea winds
The colors of winter
This area close to De Zilk is a wonderful hiking area with paved paths to the North Sea. If you really want to see the deer you need to get off the path and do some backcountry (for lack of a better term) hiking.
© The Cedar Journal, 2019, all rights reserved.
The Cedar Journal 
What many people do not realize when they protest against culling a herd that is overgrazing a given area is necessary. These animals no longer live in natural habitat, where nature itself can look after the balance with predators like wolves and coyotes, which are obviously lacking in this park like setting in the sand dunes.
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This is all very true. No predators and no balance means trouble usually. But, as you know most all wildlife here was killed off centuries ago. People here view animals a bit differently than there for sure. Thanks as always for the comments.
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Oh I love the shots of the deer, very nice
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Thanks- those were taken by the Hubby with his Nikon camera.
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Now that’s somewhere I bet would be good for butterflies in the summer! A few names, the deer are Fallow Deer, the raptor in the bush is a kestrel and the last one in flight Common buzzard.
Agree on the deer problem, we have the same over here. When they do a cull it’s the weak and sick also the young stags that are targeted.
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Thanks for identifying. I wouldn’t even try as the last time I did I got a very rude message from an actual birder…😬. It wasn’t “B”. Anyway, I think it could be a good place for butterflies, we have plenty of them in the lavender fields not far from the dunes.
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This could be an area for the beautiful Queen of Spain Fritillary (a very, very rare visitor to the UK). Might be worth your while to have a look come summer and make me very jealous!
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Hahaha…I will have to research that one and see if I can find one. Always up for an adventure and a challenge.
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I had a slight panic there .. whew!
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Funny!
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You beat me to the Kestrel (the larger Eurasian variety)
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Great! I am so glad we were able to capture the image. We don’t have a huge camera lens. The hubby’s Nikon did get close enough.
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Dune Deer! Very interesting! Thank you for sharing! Tony
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Thanks for stopping by our blog.
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👍🏻👍🏻
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Thanks for bringing us the feathers! Loved the single deer shot (8th shot) – I’ve never seen these before, unique racks. I am with you on the thinning – maybe because we live in the country and seen the devastation when a herd gets too large for the food supply or the destruction when they leave their natural habitat and start venturing closer to suburbia for food. Of course, I’m a wolf reintroduction proponent, but that tends to be even more polarizing – oh, speaking of polar, greetings from the Polar Vortex where it is colder than Antarctica at the moment, heading to -45 windchill.. think I’ll run inside.
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Yeah- I saw that Polar Vortex heading your way. I am so glad I don’t have a house to worry about in MN anymore. Those are darn cold temps and it always had me sitting here worrying about my pipes freezing. Thanks for the comments on the photos. We don’t use the Nikon that much and between two almost blind adults we took a great deal with of branches that were in focus and deer that were out of focus pictures. Glad Brian was able to ID the birds….
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That’s definitely way too many deer. Here in Faribault, the local nature center even holds a deer hunt to thin the population, etc. It’s a good idea for the health of the herd and vegetation.
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It was a national protest here. The animals seem healthy enough but they have but destroyed the grassland.
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Those dune deer are beautiful! But, yes, I understand about the culling necessity. Even here in suburban Roseville, Minnesota, the local deer herd had to be culled – too many to be a healthy herd, and too many to keep safe in an area where they walk into oncoming traffic. Beautiful, though, nevertheless. You’ve made me long for a good hike, but I’m going to have to wait until it gets above zero here.
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I sent another blogger from MN today that I think you guys are in need of Dutch flowers. I have something coming out soon to brighten the cold MN days.😊
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wow, lots of deer! Hope the ecosystem wont unbalance, from lack of predators, although we hear wolves are back in Western Europe!… Lovely pics, thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by. Yes, one wolf has been spotted in Eastern Netherlands. But, one will not balance the overload of deer if it was ever allowed to get to the sea sand dunes. Thanks for the comments.
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