Photographing the Red Deer – Killarney National Park, Ireland
Killarney National Park, near the town of Killarney, County Kerry, was the first national park in Ireland, created when the Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932.
The park has since been substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km² of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks.
It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare.
The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park forms part of a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.
Ireland’s Native Red Deer are a sight to behold and at this time of year it is when they really come to life.
The rutting season occurs each year around October and it is when we see the males compete for the hinds in Killarney National Park, in Kerry.
I went there before dawn, hoping to catch some action. I wasn’t the only one who had the idea however, around 60 other photographers also were on the chase for shots which was great to see.
Video Source: Photographing the Native Irish Red Deer Rut Killarney National Park 4K from Darren J Spoonley Photography on Youtube ⁄ CC BY
