This is a scene in the forest near 'Deer' George's memorial. Like many of the forests in this region this one was once cleared by man but has since been allowed to be reclaimed by nature. The red pines here were planted and not the result of natural forces, however, but I find there is still a naturally warm and pretty nature to this forest. Indeed, it is the prettiest stand of red pines I have come across so far. Other stands have a thick understory layer, but the understory layer in this forest is minimal, probably because of regular browsing upon the new growth by the deer.
 
There were no birds around the forest this afternoon except for one Hairy Woodpecker pounding on a dead tree and a Red-breasted Nuthatch who, in spite of my bag of bird food, had no interest in making my acquaintance. Pbase member laroseforest comments that a Red-breasted Nuthatch at this location, perhaps the same individual I saw flying around the forest, made "a beeline" for her while she was watching the deer but found her to be a loser when the bird realized that my fellow pbaser had no food. Well, at least the bird came to see her! I was totally ignored, and I had food! I shudder to think what the bird thought of me!!