THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR

There are thousands of photos and photographers of Condors, but these are mine and were taken in the wild. Getting these pictures was an adventure in itself. 

The winter of 2010/11 found us in California. This particular trip I spent a lot of time at Pinnicles National Monument as I wanted to see and get a picture of the biggest bird in North America. After several visits I saw many Condors, but too far away. I finally decided to climb as high as I dared, sat and waited, and numbered tag 63 (463) came to check me out. The young Condor flew right over me and I missed part of the wing in the shot. It rolled around the mountain just below me and I clicked away getting beautiful clicks from above the bird. It was a good day.

A short time later an older bird, tag 30 (330), also came fairly close and more great clicks on the good old Nikon. It was a very good day.

Some more of my Condor #63 and #30 pictures

This looks like tag 18 (418) and 51 (351)

It wasn't safe to climb any closer and I did not want to disturb the birds. I dislike packing many pounds of lens and gear with me as I want to enjoy my outings. Nightfall was on me and I still had to climb down so these were the best clicks I got.

Some more of Condor #51 and #18 (a nesting pair looking like creating a home)

The following pics and commentary were copied from the  National Park Service website

                                  " http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/profiles.htm"

(#63) 463

Hatched at the World Center for Birds of Prey on 4/2/08 and reared by foster parents, 463 was released into Pinnacles on 11/24/09. 463 continues to be the most dominant bird of the 2009 cohort. He sometimes crowded and pushed the other juveniles from the "best" perches while in the flight pen. 463 also began feeding before the other birds, with the exception of the adult mentor. Within his first year in the wild he explored most of the territory regularly visited by the Pinnacles flock and still continues to be one of the more adventurous condors by exploring the far reaches of the Central California range. (copy/paste NPS)

(#30) 330

A younger sibling of 317, condor 330 hatched on 4/19/04 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Of the 2005 cohort, condor 330 is one of the most dominant. 330 is one of the largest birds in the flock and is known to fight back when confronted. 330 has taken to being a difficult bird to trap, he is elusive and enjoys spending time outside of the park. (copy/paste NPS)

(#15) 351

Condor 351 hatched on 5/28/04 at the LA Zoo. Along with 345, he was one of the last to be released in 2005, and spends much of his time on the Big Sur coast with his mate, 418. Although their nesting attempt in 2014 failed, they have opportunity to succeed in the upcoming years. (copy/paste NPS)

NPS

(#18) 418

Condor 418 hatched at the LA Zoo on 5/10/06. 418 acclimated quickly to the Pinnacles flight pen and bulked up from only 14 pounds when she arrived to a healthier weight of 20 pounds. She was released on 12/6/06. 418 enjoys spending time along the Big Sur coast and had her first attempt at nesting with 351 in 2014. (copy/paste NPS)