Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Yesterday while on the way to Amador County in North Eastern California to visit a Daffodil Farm I was looking out the window enjoying the bucolic countryside that we were driving through. Horses and cows were grazing in pastures of tall green grass, country dwellers were felling dead trees and chopping wood, others were tilling the ground, and wildflowers were everywhere. Spring was definitely in the air!
Out in a pasture I spied what I thought were a ram and ewe about to procreate. We made a U-turn and parked so we could check it out. What was happening? The strangest behavior I’ve ever witnessed in the animal kingdom.
A Ewe was lying down in the grass, and an Alpaca had come over and sniffed her then went around behind her and mounted her. The Ram was nudging the Ewe with his head, and continually pawing at her and trying to get to do something…get up perhaps. The Ram also tried head nudging the Alpaca. The Alpaca totally ignored this. After several minutes the Alpaca got up went around to sniff the Ewe, and the Ram, then mounted her again. The Ram wasn’t happy. From the position of the Ewe I don’t think anything actually happened with the Alpaca. I think the Alpaca was to high- instead of where he needed to be, but he tried!
I was fascinated and could have watched for hours. Why would the Alpaca try to procreate with the Ewe? I confess in rural and animal husbandry experience and education I have next to none. My friend, and I left after watching for about 20 minutes, but we planned to stop by to see how they all were doing on the way down the mountain.
The Daffodil Farm was closed. They had decided that morning to close it for the year because the daffodils were looking quite haggard. From what I saw out front they were right. I got a few shots of a few Daffodils then we decided to go do a Photo-walk in the cute little town called Volcano we had passed on the way up to the Daffodil Farm. We even had nice lunch in Whiskey Flat Saloon. We made an impromptu stop at a park called Indian Grinding Stone State Park, and later driving down the highway spotted a Tom Turkey courting a hen. We stopped to photograph him showing off his fine plumage.
My Turkey sandwich. On the menu it was Turkey, Avocado, Bacon, & Swiss. After seeing the size of the burgers that came out of the kitchen I asked about the sandwich. It was more like a club sandwich with 3 slices of bread.
I had them hold the bacon, Swiss cheese, and 2 slices of bread. I forgot to tell them no mayo so I didn’t eat the lettuce or slice of bread it came with. The Cole Slaw was fresh, crisp, not too saucy, or sweet. I liked it. The portions are huge I suggest going here hungry!
Tom Turkey showing off his plumage. Isn’t he handsome!
Fast forward 3 hours:
We returned to the little turn out to check on the Ram. Ewe and Alpaca, but didn’t spy the Ewe or Ram straight away though we saw the Alpaca lying in the same spot the Ewe was earlier. Then I spied the Ram on the far side of the pasture and not far away was the Ewe lying in the tall grass.
I said to my friend Dali, “The road that skirts the pasture is public let’s drive down there and get a better shot at the Ram.” By the time we got over to a spot we liked then got our gear set up and shooting the Ewe had stood up, and the Ram had come over. While I was shooting my friend said, “What is that sac hanging out the Ewe’s backside? Oh I think she’s having a baby!”
What we discovered was she had just moments before delivered a Kid, and she, and the Ram were in the process of cleaning it. We were so excited, and waited with anticipation for the Kid to make its first attempts at standing and nursing.
While waiting and watching I was also looking around the pasture at the other Ewes, and the Alpaca. I noticed that several Ewes were mothers and they each had 2 kids. I said to Dali, “I think she’s going to deliver one more because all the other Ewes have 2 kids. “ Thinking back on my experience with cats and kittens I thought she would clean this first kid up, make sure it could stand then she would deliver the second kid.
About 20 minutes later the Kid stood, and it’s bleating grew stronger and louder. It was thrilling! The Ewe was such a good mom she licked and sniffed her new Kid and was quite tender. The Ram had moved away and eating in the pasture. About 10 minutes later the Ewe moved away from the Kid and lay down in the grass and of course the new little one followed her on shaky and wobbly legs then plopped down beside her. I saw her breathing got faster and heavier and I said, ‘”She’s in labor!” I did my best to keep my voice down I didn’t want to disturb them at all, but they knew we were there.
Then she had a contraction and she lifted her head, but didn’t make a sound, she bent her head, then reared her head closed her eyes as her belly contracted time and again.
It didn’t take long. In about 3 minutes I thought she’d given birth to her second Kid.
The Ram approached, sniffed the Ewes face, then went to where I thought the Kid was and sniffed confirming my belief that the Kid had indeed been born.
The Ewe stood then began to clean the newly born Kid. The first-born kept trying to nurse and get Mom’s attention which distracted her from getting the 2nd kid cleaned up, but about 30 minutes later the 2nd kid stood and tried to find the tit to nurse.
This video was shot with Nikon D90| Nikkor 70-300mmVR- Hand-held
The total time for both births was about 1 hour 10 minutes. I took this short video shortly after the second Kid was able to stand.
https://circadianreflections.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/spring-miracles-3/
This was the most amazing, and wonderful experience to witness. This morning I woke up, and am still saying, “WOW!”
I lack the words to describe how I feel beyond the simple word “Wow!” I run to song and poetry for times like this. A poet who writes words that resonate in my soul is Mary Oliver. This poem of hers expresses how I felt yesterday.
Morning in a New Land
In trees still dripping night some nameless birds
Woke, shook out their arrowy wings, and sang,
Slowly, like finches sifting through a dream.
The pink sun fell, like glass, into the fields.
Two chestnuts and a dapple gray,
Their shoulders wet with light, their dark hair streaming,
Climbed the hill. The last mist fell away,
And under the trees, beyond times’ brittle drift,
I stood like Adam in his lonely garden
On that first morning, shaken out of sleep,
Rubbing his eyes, listening, parting the leaves,
Like tissue on some vast, incredible gift.
~Mary Oliver-New and Selected Poems Volume One
It was the first time I’d been to these sections of the park. I am looking forward to returning to them again in the future.
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