Dr. Hoof Stock

These are the highlighted behaviors and events of M530B in the main pasture

8-4-09

7pm to sunset- M530B grazed with 5 females about 35 yards away in the opening before crossing the creek towards the Lodge. They moved slowly and eventually crossed the road near the addax and white-tailed deer. Five male white-tailed came running from the southeast which spooked all the females and the addax. M530B just watched as they went by.

8-5-09

7am- M530B was courting an untagged female as two other females darted and ran away them. He went out of view at 740am. They were in the same spot from previous night.

8am- M530B was in juniper loop standing over a female with an erection.

9am- He was grazing near 4 females in juniper loop.

925am- He was courting an untagged female. They stood next to each other and then he moved to lay down near the other females.

After 11am I could not find him all day.

6pm-he was spotted in juniper loop courting a female. She was untagged and she did a chin rub on his rear. She continued to court him while he grazed or just stood there. She would walk away and he followed. They both grazed and then either her or him would approach another to begin courtship. This seemed like a process that kept repeating itself until sunset. As a side note, she approach my car while she was grazing. I have not experienced a waterbuck walking up to the vehicle like the addax until now.

8-6-09

730am- M530B was at the west end of juniper loop with the same female. He mounted her and was successful. This was the first time seeing him complete a courtship with a successful mount.  Afterwards, she mounted him and she did a chin rub on his rump. He was grazing and then they stood next to each other for a while. They grazed and went out of view towards the waterbuck shelter.

Renee