Do These Birds Think the Deer is a Tree?

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You’ve probably seen it on television before. A large animal like a buffalo allows smaller animals like birds to pick through their fur while remaining unbothered. It may seem strange, but these unconventional relationships are crucial aspects of each ecosystem. Take deer and birds, for example. Deer let birds land on them and pick through their fur.

This is what’s called a symbiotic relationship, where two distinct species interact and form relationships. Some of these symbiotic relationships benefit only one side. Others, like the symbiotic relationship between birds and deer, benefit both parties. Watch the video above, and we will explain the topic further.

Parasites

The interesting thing about the relationship between deer and birds is that it springs from another symbiotic but far more unequal relationship; deer and ticks. Deer, perhaps unwillingly, act as hosts for ticks. They provide food via their blood, and sometimes, give ticks a place to lay their eggs. The deer, however, get nothing out of this relationship except blood loss.

Unfortunately, deer don’t have much defense against ticks on their own. It’s a symbiotic relationship of a parasitic nature. The tiny ticks get a home, a food source, and a potential nursery while the deer become weakened from a loss of blood. Fortunately for the deer, another animal steps in to save the day.

Birds and Deer

Just when a deer is losing a considerable amount of blood from unwanted ticks, certain birds step in and save the day. Bird species like the oxpecker land on deer, eat the ticks from their fur, and provide their hosts a welcome sense of relief. This is a symbiotic relationship of mutual benefit.

The birds get a food source and the deer gets rid of pesky parasites. Perhaps that’s why the deer in the video above seems entirely unbothered by the presence of birds on their fur. Furthermore, these symbiotic bird species often groom their deer colleagues in the process. This cleans the deer and provides small tufts of fur for the birds to reinforce their nests. It’s a win-win for both parties, but not without its consequences for the environment.

Disease Spreaders

It’s long been known that ticks, particularly black-legged or deer ticks, carry Lyme Disease. They pick it up in their pupa or larval stages and pass it on to their sources of food like deer. It is possible that birds can then further spread Lyme Disease, but this is still under investigation.

There are countless symbiotic relationships out there between animals that balance the scales between predation and conservation. While the relationship that deer and birds share may contribute to disease spread, it provides immediate benefit to both parties.