Wild Burros and Wild Flowers

This winter, Arizona has been chilly, and very rainy. The coldest winter I ever remember. The good thing is, all that rain has made the desert in Arizona simply crazy with wild flowers, pretty much everywhere. Hillsides are bright yellow, orange and purple with different varieties of flowers. It’s simply gorgeous.

But what makes wild flowers even better? How about wild burros WITH the wild flowers.

There’s about a million photos out there right now of the Salt river horses in the flowers. And while they are indeed beautiful, I need to photograph something different than everyone else. Plus, there really isn’t anything much cuter than a baby burro, unless it’s a baby burro in flowers.

These burros live wild and free on Arizona BLM land. Accessible to all of us. Our wild burros, our public land.

I have learned over the years, that photographing wild burros is pretty different than photographing wild horses. They are much more wary. I’m not sure if it’s because they are in smaller groups, or what. The burros can be found in small groups, or bands. Usually 3 or more together. Sometimes it’s a jack with a couple jennies, and babies. Or, it’s a big bachelor band. Like these guys.

They don’t seem to like the flowers. They eat around them, but not actually the flowers themselves.

They can be a little bit more approachable, these bachelor groups, but they still keep their distance.

Isn’t this guy a looker? Love that color, and his face is so unique.

I have learned, that slow and steady, taking my time, and moving cautiously allows them time to get use to the fact that I am in their space. And it is their space.

Their curiosity always gets the better of them though.

This is the smallest little foal I’ve seen in the area. She seems very confident of who she is, and what’s she’s doing.

I’ve added a couple images of her to my website, she is just too cute.

Spring Saunter

Spring Time

Keeping an Eye Out

This little one is pretty dang cute too. I love her coloring.

I mean really, that face!

 

She’s got attitude too.

I love these kinds of shots. Honestly, I couldn’t pose them better if I tried.

This one had a sweet look.

This though….cuteness overload.

Clearly I had a hard time deciding what to share here, so it’s a burro photo dump blog post. I’m sure no one minds though.

Of course, because I am me, and this is what I do. One artistic photoart piece to round everything out.

Southwest Style

I wanted to share just a few of the wildflower photos too. There’s a big variety growing this year, more than I am showing in these images. These are the most abundant, and colorful though.

Owl clover, lupine and poppies.

Nature. Wildness. Wildlife. Wild Places. All these things are available for everyone on Americas public lands. But sadly, there are huge spaces of public land that are managed not for the general public, like you and me to enjoy. But for the livestock industry, the oil and gas, and mineral industries. These special interest groups have the money, the voice, and the ear of the BLM and forest service. So guess who they listen too? And who suffers? The wild horses and burros are inhumanely rounded up, ripped from their homes, and from our sight.

We the people need to demand better. We are the owners of the public land, and we should have a say in what happens there.  Let your representatives know how you feel about this issue.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these sweet wild burros.