This post is in observance of Earth Day 2010 and to take a moment to recognize one program that is slowly, but surely bringing a beautiful and majestic bird back from the brink of extinction.
The bird I am referring to and is seen in the accompanying photo is the California condor. OK, I’ll be the first to admit, it’s got a face that only a mother could love. Seriously, its not what one would think of as a pretty bird. And when it’s roosting, it seems to lumber somewhat awkwardly. But when when this enormous bird takes to the skies, it soars with the strength of a Bald Eagle and with the grace of a prima ballerina. And these are really big birds with a wingspan that can exceed nine feet.
When we first spotted this bird, it was roosting on a house in Big Sur, and there also happened to be good sized, somewhat burly workman in the driveway of the house. This bird, and another that was also roosting at the same location, were both clearly larger than this man’s torso. Reading about their size is one thing. Seeing these winged creatures in comparison to a man, is totally another.
This image is in reality a composite of the same bird, taken about 3 seconds apart. I made the decision to merge the two images into a composite, as I thought in this manner it shows an interesting perspective of its wings in flight.
A little history of the CA condor.
In 1982, on the brink of extinction, the last 22 California condors were placed in a captive breeding program. The world population of California condors is now approximately 350 birds, more than half of which are flying free in the skies above California, Arizona and Baja California, Mexico. The others are in breeding centers and programs at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park and Los Angeles Zoo. Two additional breeding centers which are now assisting with the recovery of the species are the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey and the Oregon Zoo.
And in March 2010 a California condor was born in the wild. This was the first hatching of a chick in the wild in over 50 years. This is really good news in spite of the fact that the egg this chick came from was actually conceived in a park.
More information on the California condor and the ongoing efforts to fully bring this bird back into wild can be found at CA Condor Conservation and Ventana Wildlife Association.
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