The spectacular but endangered California Condor is the largest bird in North America. These superb gliders travel widely to feed on carcasses of deer, pigs, cattle, sea lions, whales, and other animals. Pairs nest in caves high on cliff faces. The population fell to just 22 birds in the 1980s, but there are now some 230 free-flying birds in California, Arizona, and Baja California with another 160 in captivity. Lead poisoning remains a severe threat to their long-term prospects.

Size & Shape
California Condors are the largest wild birds in North America. The wings are exceptionally long and broad, with long primary feathers giving a fingered look to the wingtips. In flight the body is noticeably bulky, the head appears small, and the tail is short and broad.

Color Pattern
Adults are black with striking white patches under the wings. The naked head and neck are yellowish orange. Immatures have dark heads, grayer necks, and mottled grayish instead of clear white patches under the wings. Adult coloration is reached at 6-8 years of age.

Behavior
Condors are masterful soarers that rarely flap their wings. They have a solid, heavy appearance in the air, and don’t get buffeted by the wind in the way that smaller soaring birds do. Condors are social birds that form groups around carcasses, at bathing spots, and at roosts.

Habitat
California Condors scavenge for carrion in habitats ranging from Pacific beaches to mountain forests and meadows. They nest in caves on cliff faces in mountains up to 6,000 feet in elevation. Their size makes take-off difficult, leading them to use high perches for easier take-offs.

Measurements
Both Sexes

Length
46.1–52.8 in
117–134 cm
Wingspan
109.1 in
277 cm
Weight
246.9–349.2 oz
7000–9900 g

Relative Size
Larger than a Bald Eagle; this is the largest bird in North America.

Other Names
Condor de Californie (French)
Condor californiano, Buitre (Spanish)

Ventana Wildlife Society Condor Cam: http://ventanaws.org/condor_cam/

How Ventana Wildlife Society got started.


Condor Arrival


Another video on condors: http://vimeo.com/42104311#

California Condor Facts:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Condor/id
http://ventanaws.org/species_condors_history/
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/an...ifornia-condor/

I'll never see or hear about the California Condor without remembering our friend and mentor Coverts. Here are the notes from his Condor Class he did for us. I am so grateful that we still have them.
RE: MISC INFORMATION

Cool Facts

What’s in a name? The name “condor” comes from cuntur, which originated from the Inca name for the Andean Condor. Their scientific name, Gymnogyps californianus, comes from the Greek words gymnos, meaning naked, and refers to the head, and gyps meaning vulture; californianus is Latin and refers to the birds’ range.
In the late Pleistocene, about 40,000 years ago, California Condors were found throughout North America. At this time, giant mammals roamed the continent, offering condors a reliable food supply. When Lewis and Clark explored the Pacific Northwest in 1805 they found condors there. Until the 1930s, they occurred in the mountains of Baja California.
One reason California Condor recovery has been slow is their extremely slow reproduction rate. Female condors lay only one egg per nesting attempt, and they don’t always nest every year. The young depend on their parents for more than 12 months, and take 6-8 years to reach maturity.
Condors soar slowly and stably. They average about 30 mph in flight and can get up to over 40 mph. They take about 16 seconds to complete a circle in soaring flight. By comparison, Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles normally circle in 12–14 seconds, and Red-tailed Hawks circle in about 8–10 seconds.
At carcasses, California Condors dominate other scavengers. The exception is when a Golden Eagle is present. Although the condor weighs about twice as much as an eagle, the superior talons of the eagle command respect.
Condors can survive 1–2 weeks without eating. When they find a carcass they eat their fill, storing up to 3 pounds of meat in their crop (a part of the esophagus) before they leave.
California Condors once foraged on offshore islands, visiting mammal and seabird colonies to eat carrion, eggs and possibly live prey such as nestlings.
In cold weather, condors raise their neck feathers to keep warm. In hot weather, condors (and other vultures) urinate onto a leg. As the waste evaporates, it cools off blood circulating in the leg, lowering the whole body temperature. Condors bathe frequently and this helps avoid buildup of wastes on the legs.
Adult condors sometimes temporarily restrain an overenthusiastic nestling by placing a foot on its neck and clamping it to the floor. This forceful approach is also a common way for an adult to remove a nestling’s bill from its throat at the end of a feeding.
Young may take months to perfect flight and landings. “Crash” landings have been observed in young four months after their first flight.
California Condors can probably live to be 60 or more years old—although none of the condors now alive are older than 40 yet.

Ventana Wildlife Society's Condor Webcam,Big thank-you going out for this amazing cam,10/22/13

Published on Oct 22, 2013 by eaglewhisperer18
Tuesday scenes 45min edited video between 4pm-5pm PT,thank you cam operator,get the popcorn out,my first video from this amazing condor cam.A golden eagle shows up for some food and even mantles and chases away a condor I believe,more condors show up amazing too watch these beautiful birds,and rest you will have to watch video lol To long to explain,it was hard to stop recording lol,I did not want too miss a thing.Here is a few links for cam and info,Cam link,http://www.ventanaws.org/condor_cam/
Facebook page,http://www.facebook.com/VentanaWildli...
Info on Condors,http://ventanaws.org

Published on Oct 23, 2013 by eaglewhisperer18

Wednesday around 12:00 noon,this is what said.Ventana Wildlife Society's Condor we will be re-releasing three condors that have been at the Los Angeles zoo for lead contamination treatment. Join us as we return these three condors into the wilds of Big Sur LIVE on our new Condor Cam. http://www.ventanaws.org/condor_cam/
Thank you for the amazing cam to all involved.

I really like these funny condors. They act like clowns poking and pushing each other. LOL Here's a new video from today.

Ventana Wildlife Society's Condor Webcam,Dancing on log & golden eagle returns,10/24/13 by eagleviewer18

Watch the Condors display their wings! I'm not sure if they were trying to look big and scary to the GE's or they were just drying off after taking a bath.

Ventana Wildlife Society's Condor,Viewer discretion advised,Wow lots of condors feasting,11/14/13 published by eaglewhisperer18



Ventana Wildlife Society's Condor,Not sure what this condor is doing lol,11/13/13

Published on Nov 19, 2013 by eaglewhisperer18
Tuesday clips,9:03am-11:00am PT.
1st clip,beautiful wing spread,my turn on lookout post lol.
2nd clip,Golden eagle chases away condors from eating prey.
3rd clip golden eagle eating prey and a golden eagle perching on pole

Every time I see these Condors I think of Coverts. He would have loved this site.


Published by eaglewhisperer18