Nature has a way of sorting things out, as evidenced by the symbiotic relationship between fallow deer and jackdaws living in Knole Park, Sevenoaks. Despite not being professionally filmed, a video taken in April shows how the jackdaws help the deer shed their winter coat by collecting it to line their nests.
Jackdaws, known for nesting in cavities like holes in trees and buildings, construct their nests using twigs, which are not the most comfortable materials. However, with a lining of fur from the deer, their nests become much more cozy. During this time, you may also see jackdaws collecting twigs, and if you observe them carefully, you may be able to locate their nests. The nests, however, are usually situated too high to reach.
The picture of a jackdaw nest in the hollow of a tree in Knole Park illustrates this phenomenon. Note the bright blue eyes of the jackdaw, which are much brighter in real life. The eyes are thought to be highly visible and scary in the dark, and will likely scare off any predator wanting to steal the jackdaw’s eggs or young.
Jackdaws form stable relationships, with pairs often staying together for years, even if they don’t have young. This example of a mutually beneficial relationship between two different species is just one of the many wonders of nature.
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