California Condors

The spectacular California Condor, a very rare and highly endangered species adds to it own drama by choosing the awe-inspiring Big Sur Coastline as a hangout. One of the my greatest experiences with nature was a California Condor making a very low, deliberate pass directly at me at eye level, then going straight over my head, very close. His approach started 100 yards or so away, wings locked in glide, moving directly toward my head, staring me down. I did not know what he had in mind! A few yards away, he slowly started pulling up. Over the noise of the ocean breakers below I could easily hear the whistle of the wind through the 22 pound bird's giant wings as it passed over me. It was not more than 10 feet over my head. Its huge shadow on the ground was impressive and somewhat menacing. Wingspan is 9 to 10 feet. Most likely it was just curious (a trait they have that can work against them), because I had stood there and watched it and a couple of other Condors for a long time before this happened. Less than 150 California Condors are flying free- mostly in the mountains and coastline around Big Sur, The Grand Canyon, Pinnacles National Monument, Zion, and a handful in Mexico. I have had the thrill of photographing many of these free flyers-22 of them close enough to read their wing tag serial numbers. Their steady glide is rock solid and majestic, with very long intervals between wing beats. The Ventana Wildlife Society (and others) work hard to keep these birds healthy and safe. The bird's locations are electronically monitored daily.  If one appears to be stationary, even over a short period of time, a search rescue is initiated to check on it. Because each Condor's transmitter sends a unique signal with a dimensional characteristic, researchers miles away can I.D a specific bird and, with a twist of the receiver, tell if the bird is on the wing or perched! UPDATE: The Ventana Wildlife Society facilites were devastated by the massive 2008 wildfires, and your donations for the rebuild are badly needed to continue the bird's recovery process from near extinction. (Google "Ventana Wildlife Society").