Showing posts with label deer and goose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deer and goose. Show all posts

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Felix


Almost a year ago, one of my Forrest Lawn postings was about the famous Forrest Lawn buck, and his guarding of a goose and her goslings, while they incubated and hatched. The story of nature's simple beauty and dignity was often included on local news reports, and Forrest Lawn went so far as to install a 24 webcam for people to watch the mother goose and her deer protector.


 The buck has lived in the cemetery for the last few years, and he is absolutely one lucky deer, to have found the cemetery, and live within its enclosed, protective gates. The first time I met him, I instantly could sense his gentle spirit; unafraid of humans, though cautious, and eminently curious. While many different people have begun calling him many different things, I named him "Felix" after the author of the "Bambi" novel (in an attempt to be, somewhat, original.) 

 I've come to better know Felix on my runs and photo taking in the cemetery. Two weeks ago, with a fresh coat of snow over the cemetery, I found Felix by one of the cemetery's main gates and, coincidentally, a monument with a statue of a buck-- and it just so happened I had my camera.  

These are the results. He stayed still-- and not, it seemed, out of fear-- he seemed more curious in exactly what my camera was, and did not mind having the lens zoom in and out and so close to him. While photographs of a deer in the cemetery aren't exactly related to Halloween, Felix is a large part of what makes historic, majestic and fascinating Forrest Lawn the place that it is. I hope you'll indulge me. 

You may view my photo album here: 


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Life Amid Gravestones

 And now, for something different. As any reader of my postings here knows, I love Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY. Over 269 acres, Forrest  Lawn stands in the heart of my city, a Frederick Law Olmstead designed park begun in the late 1800s. I try to get back there as often as I can, taking my camera through the sprawling hills, towering monuments and simple stones. 

 But now there is life springing up amid the graves. A mother goose has laid her eggs in an urn somewhere within the cemetery, and one of the deer who also live in the cemetery has befriended her, and stands guard while the mother lays on and guards her eggs. It's quite the beautiful sight, and I'd love to see them in person-- but although I can tell where within the cemetery this unorthodox couple is residing, I do not wish to disturb them.

 Below, you can view their 24 hour webcam of the deer and goose. While I love the tale of these two animals, a view inside the cemetery at night is something I consider rather priceless. And worth watching well into the night. 




http://www.forest-lawn.com/