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California Condor


California Condor
Photo Information
Copyright: SC Davidson (azleader) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 52 W: 2 N: 186] (911)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-14
Categories: Birds, Desert
Camera: Sony DSC-F717
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-10 10:22
Viewed: 1494
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
California Condor: Gymnogyps californianus

Since there are a lot of birds submitted for Arizona at TrekNature I thought I'd make my contribution...

This is a rare sight. It is a California Condor photographed in the wild from about 5 feet (1.5 meters) distance at Navajo Bridge, Arizona USA. Navajo Bridge is southwest of Page, Arizona and northeast of the Grand Canyon.

This is bird #95 photographed in August 2004. According to a report in April of 2004 this was total world wide California Condor population at that time:

Total Population: 218 individuals
Population in the wild: 94
-----------------------------
Arizona: 45
Southern California: 20
Central California: 24
Baja California: 5

About the California Condor...
The California Condor is the largest bird in North America. It can have a wingspan of 9.5 feet (2.9 meters). This particular bird is about 4.5 feet tall (1.4 meters). It could have easily held my whole head in its talons. It is one BIG bird!

Due to pesticides and other human activities the California Condor population was reduced to only 22 individuals in 1982 and was saved from extinction only when all the remaining birds were captured and bred in captivity. That group included the last remaining mating pair. The Peregrine Fund established a breeding program to save the species and reintroduce it back into the wild.

Basically, a condor is a giant vulture. Unlike other birds that depend on laying enough eggs to insure that at least some of them survive to maturity the California Condor produces only one egg every other year if the breeding cycle is successful. They depend on extensive parental care for their young to survive to maturity.

At the time I took this picture I had no idea what it was. All I knew is that it is the biggest, ugliest bird I'd ever seen! Only later did a friend of mine tell me what it is.

A picture showing the whole bird, its identification number and the general location where it was photographed can be found here: Full Condor View(click here)

Special Update::
Someone contacted me to tell me that this particular bird was sighted at Studio Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon on 10/15/2007.

Closeup sightings of California Condors in the wild are exceedingly rare. Studio Point is about 125 miles or so south of where this picture was taken.
earthtraveler, jaycee, lawhill, jmirah, pirate, Proframe has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Mikolaj: Thanks...azleader 1 02-20 09:17
To lawhill: Please with this picture...azleader 1 08-13 09:46
To pirate: Lucky...azleader 1 08-13 09:43
To jaycee: Condors in Page, AZ...azleader 1 08-10 17:02
To Evelynn: Getting close to a California Condor...azleader 1 08-10 14:39
To manyee: Another California Condor image...azleader 1 08-10 14:36
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Critiques [Translate]

amazing portrait, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3027 W: 226 N: 5985] (20449)
  • [2007-08-10 12:18]
  • [+]

Hi Steve,
Talk about a rare sight! Congratulations!
I have huffed and puffed and scaled mountains trying to get a glimpse of this endangered bird, but have only seen black blobs with a big white sign with a number on it perched on some precarious ledge.
This is an amazing capture. An unheard-of close-up in the wild.
Great details and colors and fantastic texture on the head and neck.
Supporting images such as your pictures showing the whole bird with the number can be uploaded to "Workshop" (Click on "Post to Workshop" under Photo Options on the green sidebar to the left.) I, for one, would be interested in seeing some alternate perspectives of this rare and imposing vulture.
Thank you for sharing. : )

Fine Condor image Steve. Wonderfully sharp, good composition, color , and POV. Great BG color.
TFS
Richard

Well.... well... how the heck did you get so close to a condor? I twice climbed to the uppermost trail in Pinnacles National Monument in California... to the condor roosting rocks... but no one was at home, or completely out of camera range. You managed to get superb detail and color. Just super.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hello Steve,
You've made a great capture by photographing this bird.
You are very fortunate to have had the chance to come this close to this very big bird in the wild.
Must be very rare indeed and I never did see an image of this "Mothers Finest" before.
Like you already did mention in your great note, this is the ugliest bird I've ever seen an image of, but the way you did portrait it is marvelous and Ilove it :)
Composition, sharpness and lighting are superb and therfore colors and details are very beautiful.
Perfect work. My compliments.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice weekend,
Harry

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2313 W: 11 N: 6373] (20486)
  • [2007-08-10 16:26]
  • [+]

Hi Steve,

I had no idea that this bird could be seen in the Page area - or anywhere in Arizona. You are right - it is ugly - but the portrait is excellent. Wonderful colors and details of the face, neck and plummage. What a beak! A belated welcome to TN.

Jane

Hi Steve,
I was a couple the weeks ago on the Grand Canyon and I have some shots of this great
Condor, yes they have numbers and a radio to transmit position, like GPS I been read like you said are only 94 o so they release this year after a total extinctions done by men, people on the area was afraid for the kids, if you see this guys fly, they are impressive
and have estrange pose wend glide they doing hanging the feet’s like ready to grab something,
your shot is incredible sharp and you was incredible lucky to be so close , well done
TFS. Best regards/Lawhill

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 5 N: 901] (3574)
  • [2007-08-10 18:32]

Hi Steve,
An excellent portrait of an unusual subject...Outstanding POV against a fine BBG...Great detail and pose...Very well captured...

TFS
Jim

Hi Steve
incredible close up with great colours and very nice compo. open bill is just perfect
tfs
TOM

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3328 W: 148 N: 6111] (18631)
  • [2007-08-18 23:31]

Hi Steve, reading Manyee's notes and yours, I see this fellow is quite a rarity to capture on camera. So well done.
Good sharpness and colours. Yes, it's ugly but quite a c atch!
TFS
Janice

Hello Steve,
What a head...:-)
Looks like it has been taken in hell:-)
Good work!
TFS
Annick

Hi Steve
Wonderful portrait of this seldom seen magnificent bird....POV and focus are spot on...

Hello SC! Amazing perspective. Very nice lightness and sharpness. Good capture. Beautiful portrait. Well done!

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