Endangered California Condor BIF
While on Vaca in N. AZ, I was fortunate to see three California Condors in the Lee's Ferry area at Marble Canyon. I have seen them before around the Vermillion Cliffs area and Navajo Bridge, but when they are in flight, they are too far away, or just sitting on the bridge.
This time thru there were a couple condors just hanging around and little (9ft Wing Span) #73 came gliding in right below us. What a treat! Photos are not that clear, but I felt fortunate that I even grabbed a few snaps of him gliding in and landing on a rock outcroping just below us.
This is #73-273 A Male Calif Condor born on 4/23/2002 at the WCBP Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho
The California Condor is one of the world's rarest bird species. In 1987, AC-9, the last wild condor, was captured. There were only 22 condors in existence, all in captivity. As of April 2011, there are 394 condors known to be living, including 181 in the wild.
As of 7/18/09: 76 wild condors in AZ/UT (counting 413M/13 and both chicks)
Updated in Feb of 2011 there are now only 73 Due to motality from lead poisoning. Lead pellets left in dead animals by hunters are ingested by these birds causing elevated lead in their blood.
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This time thru there were a couple condors just hanging around and little (9ft Wing Span) #73 came gliding in right below us. What a treat! Photos are not that clear, but I felt fortunate that I even grabbed a few snaps of him gliding in and landing on a rock outcroping just below us.
This is #73-273 A Male Calif Condor born on 4/23/2002 at the WCBP Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho
The California Condor is one of the world's rarest bird species. In 1987, AC-9, the last wild condor, was captured. There were only 22 condors in existence, all in captivity. As of April 2011, there are 394 condors known to be living, including 181 in the wild.
As of 7/18/09: 76 wild condors in AZ/UT (counting 413M/13 and both chicks)
Updated in Feb of 2011 there are now only 73 Due to motality from lead poisoning. Lead pellets left in dead animals by hunters are ingested by these birds causing elevated lead in their blood.
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Thankx Leilani, I am not much of a bird Tog, but wanted to share these.
Harry & Jwear, when in the Southwest enjoying the wonders of northern AZ, be sure to stop at the Historic Navajo Bridge, there is usually at least one of these creatures sitting on the struts beneath the bridge at Lee's Ferry. I was just happy to finally see one in flight. You can loose prspective of the size of this bird when seeing them in such an expansive habitat.
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