Wednesday, May 9, 2012

A Face Only a Mother Could Love

Near Lee's Ferry, which I talked about in my last post, is Marble Canyon.


This is the first part of the Grand Canyon trip for the rafters who left Lee's Ferry just upstream.


And this is where the bridge was built in 1929. At the time it was the only bridge across the Colorado River for 600 miles. The old bridge, now a pedestrian bridge, is on the left. It was later replaced by a wider bridge, on the right. But where am I going with that title?


Wow! It's a California Condor, the largest bird in North America. Nearly extinct at one time, they are trying to make a comeback, with the help of several organizations. Many are released near here, and seem to like landing below the 2 bridges.


And here's another one - a juvenile, with a black head. There are only 386 California Condors in the world today, including 213 in the wild.


And yet another one! Their wingspan is 9 1/2 feet. I'm feeling really lucky.


But wait - what is that on the other side of the pedestrian bridge! A condor landed on the railing!!! I wonder if I can get over there in time.


Carolyn and I hurried on over, and tried not to scare her.


But I needn't have worried - she seemed perfectly comfortable posing. (I was zooming a lot, and not really as close as this looks...)


But here's why they aren't really afraid of humans - most are raised by humans wearing condor puppet heads on their hands at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho.


Sometimes, they stick their head out of their neck feathers. All the birds are numbered and have radio transmitters.


An eyeball closeup! Wow - what an experience!

20 comments:

  1. Oh so lucky! I loved Marble Canyon but didn't get to see a condor!

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  2. How incredible!! I was excited I got to see the condors floating far above. This is a once in a life time experience. Fantastic pictures.

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  3. How lucky you were! We saw the condors there but they were just sitting on the rocks. Waited for a long time, then went back later hoping to see them fly, and they were gone.
    What great photos.

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  4. Amazing captures and I am So jealous. Seems every time I stop at Navajo Bridge it's the middle of the day and no condors. They are magnificent birds.

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  5. Awesome photos of the condors. Perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity!

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  6. That is truly a face only a mother could love!!! Great pics!!

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  7. Wow! What a privelege to see these rare birds. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Great pictures of the condors. We absolutely love the part of Arizona you are presently in. Wish we had been there with you.

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  9. Not the prettiest of birds I can think of, but truly amazing pictures!

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  10. Luck and skill to get such great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Even a mother might have trouble liking the face on that sucker!

    Great photos and how lucky to get so close to such a magnificent bird.

    I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild.

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  12. What a great opportunity to see California condors close-up like that ... and in the wild.

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  13. Great post the pictures are great.
    Thanks
    dan

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  14. awesome find Diana!! Terrific photos too!!

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  15. What great photos! Glad you got to see those birds.

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  16. So I guess that sock puppet doesn't really fool them. How amazing to see these massive creatures in the wild!

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  17. Wow! What incredible luck that these birds found their way to you. They must have known you would appreciate them.

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  18. Another amazing place to add to my list! Great shots!

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  19. And here I thought I was going to see my face in your post!

    Awesome shots, what a special find.

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