MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD: Condor 34 soars above Pt. Sublime in Grand Canyon National. This bird nearly died of lead poisoning just months before this photo was taken. But by early 2009 it was missing in the wild and presumed dead. Long live the California Condor.
This photo was taken on August 24, 2006 in Coconino County, Arizona, US, using a Nikon D70.
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Desert Vu (70 months ago | reply)
The California Condor is an ice-age relict snatched from extinction by removal of its last numbers from the wild in 1987. After an aggressive captive-breeding program, it was reintroduced in 1992 in California and 1996 in Arizona, where it had disappeared around 1925. Wild reproduction in Grand Canyon began in 2003. This bird remains one of rarest and most endangered in the world.
1. Condor 34 has not always been so magnificent. This bird was near death in early 2006 due to lead poisoning. Heroic efforts by by National Park Service, Peregrine Fund, and Phoenix Zoo saved him. Read all about it:
www.phoenixzoo.org/news/press_release_detail. aspx?ARTICLE...
For another view of the same bird inside the canyon:
www.flickr.com/photos/desertvu/226634833/in/s et-721576044...
2. UPDATE JULY 2008: Condor 34 and female Condor 210 successfully produced a wild fledged young condor, #441. According to Peregrine Fund, "this young condor fledged from a very isolated cave in a secluded canyon west of the Kaibab Plateau in the Grand Canyon". Condor 34 adds fathering a new wild condor to its list of surviving the odds.
3. UPDATE MARCH 2009 (National Park Service): Nearly-13-year-old male #134/tag 34 is missing and presumed dead. His former mate, female #210/tag 10 has paired up with male #122/tag 22 who previously lost his mate, female #119. They seem to be incubating an egg in the same area and perhaps the same cave that 210 & 134 used in 2007, in the vicinity of Tapeats Creek, 40-some miles downstream of Phantom Ranch.
camden hackworth (70 months ago | reply)
Incredible capture,I would love to see one of these someday, your very lucky!
NatuurfotoRien added this photo to his favorites. (68 months ago)
Desert Vu (68 months ago | reply)
There is a bit of color noise in the sky when the "original" size is viewed. This is the ventral view of the earlier dorsal view post, same bird, same time, same place, but a totally different feel between the two images.
Coming from: BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY CRTIQUE & COMMENTARY at
www.flickr.com/groups/bird_photo_critique
drewweber added this photo to his favorites. (68 months ago)
drewweber (68 months ago | reply)
Fantastic, what a great bird. Beautiful flight shot as well.
Photo Patty (68 months ago | reply)
Outstanding shot! What a treat to see this! Awesome.
Gypsy Flores Photography added this photo to her favorites. (67 months ago)
Gypsy Flores Photography (67 months ago | reply)
I really like your animal photo!
You are invited to post this photo to Spectacular Animals, invite only
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doddita added this photo to her favorites. (64 months ago)
Caspian Tern (56 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Banded Birds & Auxiliary Markers, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
brodmann's 17 (49 months ago | reply)
Congratulations!
You are invited to display this image and join our group.
"Winged Wonders" (Invite only) post 1, comment 2
Chris@184 added this photo to his favorites. (49 months ago)
Chris@184 (49 months ago | reply)
Excellent!
Great to see them 'back'
You deserve another "Winged
Wonders" award!
Fantastic Image!
Seen in: "Winged Wonders" (Invite only) post 1, comment 2
~ 180 saint paul ~ and striatus added this photo to their favorites.
striatus (31 months ago | reply)
Excellent flight shot.
Eris Delphi, Randy52, Javi.Medina, nam/, and 2 other people added this photo to their favorites.