Disney World Orlando Florida - Animal Love story

As I sat on the balcony at Animal Kingdom lodge a group of deer came into view. I had just woke up and decided to see what was going on below. You never knew what you would see when you opened the slider and looked out. I was a little earlier this particular morning and did not have my camera. Just a quick peak, I thought, and then I'll get some breakfast and head out to see the grounds.

A herd of deer rounded the corner, following the dirt road that went all the way in either direction. I had already named it 'The Road With No Beginning And No End.' As I watched, a deer moved away from the herd and headed for the group of trees nearest us below our room.

It was a small group of trees that a large bird had decided was his. That bird had been at the base of the trees all night and every day since I had arrived. The animals had all gone somewhere for the night, but this bird had stayed under the trees.

It was a really large bird and when we arrived a few days before, the bird and the deer were peacefully grazing side by side. I really hadn't thought much about it as that is a common thing in captivity.

Over the last few days many animals and birds had passed this way. The herd of deer spent most of the day in the area around the tree under our balcony.

But this morning I was up to see the animals return from the barn to the place they spent the day.

As this deer approached the grassy area the bird got very excited. This is when I grabbed my camera. "Wow," I thought, "The bird was attacking the deer. No wonder the rest of the herd had hung back by the road."

This bird went into a leaping and jumping mode - unlike anything I had ever seen. Charging the lonely deer and just missing her, swooping his head up and down, wings out stretched. The deer just stood there accepting the bird. Sometimes she turned her head to the side as if the excitement was a bit much, waiting patiently for the bird to calm down.

Soon I realized this was an expression from the bird of total celebration and pure joy at greeting his friend the deer after spending the night apart.

This dance went on for quite awhile. Slowly the herd moved closer and they all settled down to graze quietly side by side, the bird and the deer always not too far apart.

This expression of greeting has made me wonder what life would be like if we were all so excepting of each other. We should be so happy to see each other every day; just like that bird. How could we treat someone badly if they had just greeted us in such a way?