Six captive breed California condors where first released from the Vermilion Cliffs of northern Arizona in 1996. Within a year only three remained. One was found dead of a puncture wound from a Golden Eagle, one flew into power lines near Page, Arizona and the other simply disappeared. Now 74 condors have been released in Arizona plus there have been 13 wild born of which only 9 remain. This is truly a success story considering there were only 22 California condors left in the wild in 1982 when the capture and captive breeding began.
We don’t see many condors on the North Rim. They are attracted to crowds so are seen more frequently on the South Rim, where 90% of the 5 million visitors a year go. But Wednesday a couple of visitors told me they’d seen a pair perched on a rock ledge below Angels Window. I didn’t see them there but when I walked past the window to the end of the trail at Cape Royal a shadow caught my eye causing me to look up and there one flew. I immediately pointed up into the sky and announced “condor overhead” and every visitors eyes turned skyward with cameras clicking. My shots aren’t the best. But then I had to answer a lot of condor questions.
To see more of what’s up in the sky go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.Published 9/1/11 after this post by the Peregrine Fund who participates in the condor recovery program. Although condors are increasing in the wild they still die from lead poisoning. Check out the Summer 2011 update by clicking now.
