I’m not sure if this Buck was eating the Duckweed or if it was drinking the water covered with Duckweed. I read that Deer can eat duckweed. However, it is not a preferred food source and they will typically consume it only if other food sources are scarce.
Duckweed is a tiny floating plant that grows on the surface of still waters. It is often considered a nuisance due to its rapid growth and ability to clog waterways. However, the impact of duckweed on the ecosystem is much greater than just a simple inconvenience. Duckweed is a critical food source for many species of wildlife, including the whitetail buck.
I photographed this Buck from my pickup while parked on the auto tour road at Miner’s Cove. This was at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date & Time Taken: August 25, 2010 (07:01:26 A.M.)
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture: f4.0
- Shutter speed: 1/640 sec. (as determined by the camera)
- ISO: 2000
- White Balance: Auto
- Metering Mode: Evaluative
- Back-button Focus
- Single Point Focus
- Exposure Compensation: 0 EV
- Focal Length: 500 mm
- Processed With Luminar 4