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OK, this is just a shameless plug for my new alpaca calendar.
Alpaca Portaits - Calendar
The first ones I designed are selling really well and as I got a lovely new camera recently, it was a good opportunity to try it out.
The alpacas are still a bit scared of the new camera though as it's very black and much bigger than the old one. It makes strange sounds which freak them out too but they're getting used to it.
I got some lovely shots though and this calendar is all close up's. So, if you're looking for Christmas presents and want something a bit different and unique, check them out.
So many people ask me about the weird noises that alpacas make that I thought it justifies another post on the subject.
People are taught animal sounds when they're growing up; cows moo, ducks quack and horses neigh etc. but until fairly recently, outside of South America, most people had never heard of alpacas, let alone heard the sounds they make.
I guess in fifty years or so, some parent or teacher will say, "so what noise does and alpaca make" and a bunch of little kids will do this:
This is the main noise they make. Alpaca people just call it humming, same as you'd hum a tune. Unfortunately, in nearly 13 years I haven't got my alpacas to hum a recognisable tune. Never mind.
I'm not fond of another sound common to alpacas, also to llamas and camels. They do this when you really crap them off.
OK, this next one's letting you know there's a dog, or cat, or some other unwelcome visitor about. I sometimes get this one mixed up with the sound of a bird we have in Tassie, called a native hen which makes a very similar sound. The bird's the same shape as a chicken but it's a wild thing and screams around the place like a road runner (actually they do run all over the roads, so that's probably a good description - I saw at least two squished flat yesterday when I was out on my walk).
Anyway this is the alpaca version:
Last one is the mating call. The alpaca boys do this at the girls and it definitely gets their attention. If they're interested, they'll flop down on the ground and let the male mate. If they're already pregnant, or don't care too much for that particular boy, they'll spray him green with spit.
It's wet! By Jove it - is - wet! Now, we're in a pretty lush area, there's no question about that, with plenty of all-year streams, dams and springs that never ever dry up. But this winter has been unbelievable.
The first rains were wonderful. They sprinkled water down which ran across the dry paddocks and down the creeks. They even started to fill the tanks.
Mud - lots of mud
Then more rain, this filled the tanks, and then some. The water started to soak into the hard ground and everything went green.
Then it rained some more. The ground got soaked until it could hold no more water.
Then the moss started growing, lots of it. Being winter there wasn't much growth in the pasture, but the mossy plants - don't ask me to name any of them - started to appear everywhere, and the plants that grow in the creeks, all came back with gusto. By the way, alpacas love those weedy plants that grow under water along creeks. Ours will stand in the creeks up to their knees to graze on them. (I guess they figure they're already soaked to the skin due to the incessent rain anyway, what's a bit more).
Anyway, then came the mud. Lot's and lots of mud. Where you have water logged ground - I mean water logged to the point that you can't walk over it without sinking 3 inches and having mud splatter as high as your thighs, - and alpacas (and people), walking on it, then all you end up with is mud. The grass and moss is disturbed, so won't grow anymore and it all starts to smell pretty rank.
It's mainly the gateways and corals between paddocks, as these get the most traffic. It's just slush.
So for all those praying for rain, prayers well and truly answered here. Just that God or Huey, the weather man (or whoever else people hold responsible for these things), must have been on extended leave and just answered every request all at once.
August is pretty calm round here - September/October brings the wind, so that should, with any luck dry it all out in time for the spring.
Been away for a while, but I noticed that Alpaca Notes hasn't disappeared off the radar, so I thought I'd drop in with an update.
We lost our lovely Daizi. Not sure what happened, just went out one morning and found her lying dead in the paddock. Very sad, as she was an alpaca I really liked, I could cuddle her and she'd come up and cluck at me like she clucked at her crias
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Theres not much thats bad about having alpacas. OK, picking up alpaca poo is a bit of a chore, but that can all go on the garden and it grows lovely plants and veggies for you.
Shearing day is pretty arduous and can leave you feeling stiff and sore from man person handling pacas and sorting all that fleece (particularly if youre a bit of a sloth who doesnt do much exercise
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Ive decided to wean Emily off Alice. Emilys six months old now and shes a big girl, so well and truly able to survive without her mum now.
Emily
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Heres Magic. Hes now 4 months old but is already as big (or bigger) than a couple of the 6 month olds. Magic is from my beautiful girl Maralyn who is a lovely calm natured alpaca. Magic is a friendly little guy and hes soooooo soft! He may well be stud potential, hes already looking fantastic (and he knows it).
Alpaca - Magic
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Just a few happy snaps for you today. Heres Donald (DEntrecasteaux).
Donald (DEntrecasteaux)
Donald's coming up to 6 months of age. Its hard to get a photo of him with his ears up, he usually flattens them as soon as he sees the camera pointed at him. He's a stunner though, a very handsome boy
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Our working boy Cappy, doesnt like our wether, Jamma. I dont know if he thinks Jamma is still entire (he was castrated many years ago), or whether Jamma just looked at Cappy the wrong way at some point. In any case, I often find them having spitting and screaming matches with each other across the fence.
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I read a book a few years ago The Last Tribes on Earth by Paul Raffaele, in which he journeys deep into the jungles of Papua to meet the Korowai people. They have been living happily in the jungles for thousands of years and they have no qualms about eating humans.
The Last Tribes on Earth - Paul Raffaele
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Comments (2)
Comment by Rosemary
on The Green Dream . . . .
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
It's the hardest decision ever and the day we dread.
She's up there in the stars. Take care and give yourself lots of time. R.