Thursday, April 7, 2011

F is for Foal (of the Long Eared Kind)


My Theme for the A to Z Challenge: Desert Canyon Living

On a cold and stormy December day, I witnessed the birth of a donkey foal.  My husband and I were down at the rescue next door. Fortunately, I had my camera. Everyone else was in town having lunch. I called the owner who felt all would be well since the mother was a wild burro, recently rescued. All jacks at the rescue were neutered, of course, but when they rescued wild burros, some of them came in pregnant and gave birth at the ranch.


The birth went well. It seemed to take a long time, but it really didn't. It was interesting to watch the other jennies while the birthing process took place. One started braying, as though she wanted to announce this happy occasion to the entire world. Another stood by silently, watching intently, as the foal struggled  into the world. She clearly was there to help. And she did, she was the first to lick the newborn foal. Above the foal is taking her very first steps.


And here she is sometime later -- I don't know how old she may be -- with her mommy and the helpful donkey auntie. They do take such good care of their young, often with help from other jennies. I named her Storm, but I don't think it got into the official rescue records. I hope she is a part of the burros that went from here to Texas where they have several leased acres for them to roam, more or less free again.


In my post, B is for Burro, I posted a story I wrote about a wild burro's dream of freedom. In it, I mention a beautiful black foal recently born at the ranch. This is that foal. Isn't he gorgeous? Look how big his ears are already.


A little chubby burro baby.


I better stick with mommy.


Let me close with one of my favorite burro foal and mom photos. I feel so blessed when I'm able to capture a real moment in time of such beauty and tenderness as this.

If you want to learn more about donkeys, my blogger friend, Tina, who volunteers at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, wrote a very informative post for her D is for Donkey post yesterday. You can read it here. 



Note: My regular features: Sunday Morning Reflections, Tuesday's Treasures, Wednesday's Book, and Samson Says will not appear until May. 

I thought about something else I won't be able to do while participating in the A - Z Challenge: I will not be able to greet new followers and provide a link to their blogs as I like to do under normal circumstances. Once the challenge is over, I plan to devote a post to new followers who found my blog in April and decided to follow it. For now, welcome, and I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

32 comments:

  1. Storm seems to have a rather nice personality. Do you think she would get along with my cat, Lucy?

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  2. Omg I am in love lol....how cute are they? And how lucky are you to have watched a birth....the other day while at the DSC working on my picture project I decided to make a folder of "our" babies, of course they are all grown up now, our youngest is six. But it sure was nice to look at all their baby pictures, they are just so adorable and nothing fits properly lol....the ears are too big, the legs too long and skinny, the head too small for the body....but all that adds up to pure cuteness.Altogether we had six babies born on the farm when the rescued mothers showed up pregnant. We all miss having a baby around, but well it sure
    is good not to add to the population of neglected and unwanted donkeys.
    Thanks for linking my blog to yours today.

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  3. I love your burro pictures. The foals are so darn cute. It certainly would be fun to have one (or more) to watch!

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  4. those are gorgeous photos. and sweet little babies!

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  5. You are so wise to always carry a camera. Best pictures I've seen. They sure are cute little nippers aren't they?

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  6. How sweet and innocent. And the pictures with their mamas cause me to be a bit emotional. Lovely, Inger. :)

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  7. Man, that is cute! They are adorable creatures.

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  8. For me, witnessing the birth of an animal is just magical. That little black one is beautiful...his ears are amazing!

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  9. Hello Inger!! I am catching up on your blog today and will leave my 'F words' of 'fabulous pictures and 'fun' stories that I've so enjoyed!! :-) I hope you are having a 'fantastic' day too!!!

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  10. That's so amazing. It almost made me cry just reading about it. I'd have been in floods of tears if I'd been there. It almost sounds like the other females empathised with the mother. Amazing!

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  11. Awesome, the love between the mother and the baby. I heard they stand right up after being born. It is nice that you witness all this Wow!

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  12. These babies are so darn cute I just love these burros.

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  13. I haven't had the honor yet of being close to a newborn donkey. Wonderful pics - every baby looks so different, don't they?

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  14. Beautiful photos & story--thank you. Inger. And a special thank you to your wonderful husband, who is currently here fixing our dishwasher.

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  15. F-antastic! Fuzzy, too! It almost looks like it has wool!

    Cat

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  16. those images are just so sweet. i love the thick coats on the young burros. makes me want to reach into the photo and scratch behind their ears. ;o)

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  17. Just love Donkeys! More so now after this very good post. Thanks Inger.

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  18. I have never been exposed to burros and can only think it has been my loss. What adorable creatures.

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  19. How adorable and what a great experience!

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  20. That black baby is gorgeous!

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  21. I always did love donkeys... and these babies are adorable. I would be so excited to see one be born. You have some great pictures here, Inger. Now I'm anxious to see what tomorrows G will bring. Have a good night.

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  22. I love these photos! That black foal is gorgeous!

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  23. That's just the fuzziest, sweetest thing ever:))

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  24. If I had the space I would have donkeys.. lovely and yet with so much character xx

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  25. Oh goodness,the black one is absolutely gorgeous!! And thank you for using your photographic eye to capture these burros; I would never in a million years think that I would call a burro beautiful, but I just did!

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  26. What a fantastic experience to witness this birth! They are the cutest things ... beyond words! Great pictures!

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Thanks for leaving a comment.. ~~ Inger

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