Steve McEnroe, an old friend and a professional photographer, sent me this shot the other day. He included this note:

“I have often seen birds perched on buffalo, picking insects in a parasitic partnership. I have also seen images of birds doing the same (in photos) on large African animals, like rhinos and hippos.  But I have never seen birds acting in this manner with deer. Nor have I seen birds as large as magpies involved in such action.

“On Sunday, while on the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park, I came across this scene. There were two deer bedded down in the snow, off the roadway. One of them had two magpies perched on it. They flitted around on the back of the deer, and one even jumped up and perched on one of the deer’s ears for more than a minute. It appeared that at least one of the birds was picking insects or something out of the other ear on the deer.

“They were on the deer for at least 2-3 minutes while we watched and shot photos from our vehicle, and then the two birds flew off, probably bothered by our presence, about 50 yards away.

“The deer remained bedded down. I don’t know if the deer in question was ill in any way. Other deer we saw in the park looked very healthy, having come through the winter in great shape, despite the recent storms.”

Steve also wondered if anyone had ever seen deer and magpies interacting in this way. It’s a first for me.