Sign of the Season

Washburn's Outdoor Journal / May 1, 2020

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.

The spring season is quickly advancing. April has passed and it won’t be long until Iowa white-tails begin dropping their fawns. I was recently reminded of this fact when I spotted a pair of adult does slowly browsing through the sundrenched woodland in my direction. The deer kept coming until the closest had approached to within twenty yards, maybe less.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I began taking photos as the deer continued to advance. It was not until after I had taken several shots that I noticed the obviously distended bellies of both deer – a sure sign that each would soon be giving birth to one, and most likely twin, fawns. As I continued to push the shutter, the closest doe’s midsection suddenly “came alive” as if something inside was literally bouncing off the walls. That ‘something’, of course, were the tiny hooves of the fawns who were likely growing weary of living in cramped spaces. The doe responded to the activity by arching her back in obvious discomfort. I quickly surmised that the doe was probably as anxious to have the fawns out as the fawns were to make their escape to the outside world.

Although I’ve been watching Iowa white-tails for many years, this was only the second time that I’ve been able to observe the activities of fawns before they were actually born. The previous observation occurred last May.

About The Author

Lowell Washburn

Born in North Central Iowa, Lowell Washburn has enjoyed a lifelong interest in the out of doors. He began photographing wild birds at age 10, and outdoor photography soon became his passion and eventually a career. Washburn is best known for images that portray migratory waterfowl and other wetland wildlife in their natural habitats. His best photographs are often obtained after spending hours floating amid natural marshlands, half submerged within the dark confines of a floating muskrat house blind. Upon completing military service as a sergeant with the Fourth Infantry Division in the central highlands of South Vietnam, Washburn returned to Iowa in 1970. His wildlife photos began appearing in Iowa newspapers in 1971 and he began authoring outdoor news columns in 1978. Today, his photos and writing have appeared in over 50 national and international magazines including Outdoor Life, International Wildlife, Field&Stream, Ducks Unlimited, Pointing Dog Journal, the NAFA Journal, and others. After working as a naturalist for Iowa’s county conservation board system, Washburn was recruited by the Department of Natural Resources in 1984. His primary duties included statewide communication with Iowa newspaper, television, and radio news agencies with a primary goal of increasing the level of public awareness and appreciation for Iowa's natural resources. During his tenure he also served as staff member for the Iowa Conservationist Magazine and for the DNR’s Iowa Outdoors Magazine. Washburn retired from the DNR in 2010. In addition to wildlife photography, his ongoing outdoor passions include falconry, traditional bow hunting, waterfowling, spending time with hunting dogs of all types, and herpetology.