California condor encounter (1 Viewer)

[OwlTalon]

I visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park this summer. Reintroduced condors live in both of these areas. And I had sightings in both areas. But I worry about all my sightings, a lot. I have gotten confirmation from the Peregrine Fund and Zion thru e-mail, but I want your opinions. The first time. I was sitting by the edge of the canyon, when my dad called me, saying there was a condor. I ran to him, coming around the lodge looking up. A large bird (which I later found out was the bird my dad was looking at) flew over me. It was all-dark lookin, big, and it had its wings swept back slightly. But I was in a rush, and I mostly ignored it. When I got to my dad, he told me it had flown right over me. He said it was much bigger than the nearby soaring TV's, but it was definitely a vulture, not an eagle or something. It had spread primaries like fingers, a small head, broad wings, and a short tail. He didn't see a tag on the wing, but he was focused on the field marks. It flew over him, banked, swept back its wings, and flew over me as I came into view. The second time, Zion in Utah. We were waiting for the bus stop, when we noticed two large birds, circling a mountain peak. Definitely not TVs, no dihedral or rocking. Very large, and slowly circling. We watched them for 15-20 minutes until the bus came, and not once did they flap. We disregarded the birds because at the time we didn't know condors visited Zion. We read that months later, and asked experts for confirmation, and we got it. I feel more confident about the Grand Canyon encounter, because at least one of us got a really good look at the bird. So what do you think? I am confident. Either way, these three birds won't be the last condors I see!

 

[RavensNest]

I was at the Grand Canyon last year in May, and my boyfriend and I saw 8 condor there. Initially, we saw several vultures flying down in the canyon, but with such a huge backdrop, they didn't look very large, so we assumed they were turkey vultures. Twenty minutes later, still at the same lookout, we looked over the edge of the cliff at the tops of some enormous pine trees to see a condor sitting at the top of one, white wing tags very visible (#87), and several others flying close by! Was a first for us! Just amazing...

 

[OwlTalon]

They are beautiful (yet ugly) birds. i love their sheer size and wingspan. The white patches on there wings are really cool, although the bird I saw was a juvenile, I couldn't tell on the others. I hope they keep surviving in the wild.

 

[bineshii]

I was lucky enough to see 3 condors flying overhead on the South Kaibab Trail (south rim GCNP). One landed on a ledge above the trail and I was able to get a photo - see my gallery. Unfortunately it was a long shot.

The white underwing coverts are distinctive in adult condors, and the sheer size of them is impressive. The wing tags are fairly easy to see, the one that landed was number 10, released in 2000

 

[OwlTalon]

I was just looking at some pictres of condors soaring today, and my dad walks over and says, "Oh, so that's where the tags are!" I asked him what he meant, and he said he had initially seen two "bumps" on the wings near the wrist which he disregarded because he thought the tags were closer to the body on the wing. This means that the condor we saw was probably not wild-hatched, unless it had been caught and tagged for some reason. I don't know how many released juveniles there are flying around (My dad definitely saw a bald, gray head and whitish mottling in the wing linings), but it was a cool experiince whether it was wild-hatched or released.

 

[Abbygirl]

i've never seen a california condor but what i've heard about them is they are a bird you can't miss. and they measure huge in size. The biggest size birds in america. MEASUREMENTS: The California Condor has a body length of 43 - 52 inches, a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet, and weighs 18 - 23 pounds. I hope to see one, one day in my lifetime! Wow what a sighting that would be! How awesome!

 

[OwlTalon]

i've never seen a california condor but what i've heard about them is they are a bird you can't miss. and they measure huge in size. The biggest size birds in america. MEASUREMENTS: The California Condor has a body length of 43 - 52 inches, a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet, and weighs 18 - 23 pounds. I hope to see one, one day in my lifetime! Wow what a sighting that would be! How awesome!

I hope you do. Almost everyone I've talked to who has visited the Grand Canyon has seen condors. There must be something about them that causes you to notice them, if there in the area you just happen to look in there direction. It is just birders' dumb luck that I looked up in time to in time to see the bird. If you ever visit the canyon, doesn't matter which rim, ask rangers where's the best place to see condors. There are a few places they show up regularly.
P.S. If you want my advice, everyone, go to the North Rim. The area is slightly cooler and is much more forested and lush. Aside from condors, there are Williamson's sapsuckers, brown creeprs, white-throated swifts, red-tails, turkey vultures, and a few types of hummingbirds. And if you like other animals; deer, elk, coyotes, scorpions, cougars, and the Kaibab squirrel, a tassel-eared squirrel found on the canyon's North rim and nowhere else.

 

[Lisa W]

Condors in the Canyon

Took the following in the Summer of 05 outside of Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim. Sorry they aren't very good. Still had the old film camera and short lens. Wish I could have gotten better shots. They are magnificent to see flying - I'll have that visual in my head for a long time.

 

[Common Raven]

Took the following in the Summer of 05 outside of Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim. Sorry they aren't very good. Still had the old film camera and short lens. Wish I could have gotten better shots. They are magnificent to see flying - I'll have that visual in my head for a long time.

We stayed at the Grand Canyon South Rim for 5 days this August. After 3 days, we were disappointed, as we had not seen any. Then, on the 4th day, they all came back to the South Rim. At one point, two of them landed just about 5 feet away! We stood close to them and guarded them from other people that were rushing to see them until the Park Rangers closed off the area. When #A3 flew off, we felt and heard the gush of wind from it's wings!
At the South Rim, they also have free condor talks conducted by the National Park Service.

 

[xFritzx]

im lucky enough to be visiting california around christmas. i am very much interested in trying to spot a condor, what would you say is the best area to do this?

 

[craig whitmore]

im lucky enough to be visiting california around christmas. i am very much interested in trying to spot a condor, what would you say is the best area to do this?

You may want to visit this site

http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/vultures/cacondor.html

Craig

 

[Andy in West Oz]

Great pics Lisa and CR. When everyone has been talking about tags I wasn't thinking they were that big! Makes sense though. Easy to read from a distance.

Cheers

Andy

 

[OwlTalon]

I had no idea people dug up this old thread! Great pics CR!

 

[OwlTalon]

I only saw my bird for about a second, and I thought it was a TV at first (Only my dad's much longer, detailed view helped to ID its distinctive features. I am positive about the Grand Canyon bird since my dad saw it so well, but the Zion birds.........not so much, not sure i count them), but when I return, I will be armed with a camera!

"Shoot it, SHOOT IT!!!" *click* "Ooh, good shot"

 

[RavensNest]

Always lookin' for condors...

Nice pix. Unfortunately, the one's we saw at the GCanyon we too far away for our cameras, but we WILL be going back. We have several places very near us to check for them (So California); Pinnacles Nat'l Monument, Carrizo Plain Nat'l Monument and that surrounding area (Bitterwater Creek ?). We go to Carrizo regularly to look around. Going back there to check for Sandhill Cranes on their nesting stop there at the salt lake, but we're always on the lookout for condors. Planning a Pinnacles trip soon before it gets too hot there.

 

[Andy in West Oz]

Recent news re Condors via The Peregrine Fund:

http://www.peregrinefund.org/notes_category.asp?category=California Condor Releases in Arizona

Exciting times!

Cheers

 

[Lisa W]

Definitely exciting news. Hopefully all will work for that breeding pair, and we'll see others make the same progress!

 

[Astir&Grouch]

California Condors

California Condor's are regularly spotted at the Marksagunt Plateau in Southern Utah. The Virgin River's headwaters begin here. This is the river responsbile for carving Zion Canyon. I had the opportunity to view, photograph and video-tape sixteen of these magnificent creatures last October. Some of the photos may be viewed here:

http://greatbasinblooms.spaces.live.com/

In addition, I compiled a short movie and posted it on "YouTube":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFm9bwhoycs

 

[dafi]

Exelent stuff what fantastic soaring birds. Hope i will be lucky enough to see them one day.