Condors at GC
Posted: Apr 14 2002 8:04 am
Various numbers of the California Condors have been making regular appearances at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We just returned from spending six days there and the condors were 'viewable' on five of six days. We will be posting other information about our trip later but this condor information is 'news' and we figured we'd post it right away.
Anywhere from 2-6 condors were soaring and roosting right below the Rim at the Bright Angel Lodge. They were also soaring over and under hikers on the BA Trail. Quite an awe-inspiring sight! The Peregrine Fund condor watchers told us the large birds had also made several low passes at small children standing along the Rim. We could even see them from the shuttle bus windows and later as they settled down for the night on Thursday, sitting like large black chickens on the Kaibab limestone outcrops.
There are two mating pairs that the watchers think have actually laid eggs in caves in the Redwall Limestone near Hopi Point. You can usually chat with a condor watcher in that vicinity. Look for guys or gals with little ET-style radio antennas and small boxes with lots of dials and switches. The watchers are real talkative people and will answer any and all of your questions.
If you have ever wanted to see the condors up close and personal, this is a real good time to head up to the South Rim. While there's no guarantee that they wil put on a show for you, there are VERY high odds that they will be there. The watchers tell us that the condors are attracted to crowds and 'commotion' and so they are pretty regular visitors to the South Rim. Sometimes, they land on the rock walls right outside of the El Tovar! Of course, at times like those, the Rangers and the watchers keep the people a 'respectable' distance away from the birds.
Anyway, we thought we'd pass this info along for those whose schedule allows the flexibility to head up there right away to see America's latest endangered species success story unfold.
J&S in RR
Anywhere from 2-6 condors were soaring and roosting right below the Rim at the Bright Angel Lodge. They were also soaring over and under hikers on the BA Trail. Quite an awe-inspiring sight! The Peregrine Fund condor watchers told us the large birds had also made several low passes at small children standing along the Rim. We could even see them from the shuttle bus windows and later as they settled down for the night on Thursday, sitting like large black chickens on the Kaibab limestone outcrops.
There are two mating pairs that the watchers think have actually laid eggs in caves in the Redwall Limestone near Hopi Point. You can usually chat with a condor watcher in that vicinity. Look for guys or gals with little ET-style radio antennas and small boxes with lots of dials and switches. The watchers are real talkative people and will answer any and all of your questions.
If you have ever wanted to see the condors up close and personal, this is a real good time to head up to the South Rim. While there's no guarantee that they wil put on a show for you, there are VERY high odds that they will be there. The watchers tell us that the condors are attracted to crowds and 'commotion' and so they are pretty regular visitors to the South Rim. Sometimes, they land on the rock walls right outside of the El Tovar! Of course, at times like those, the Rangers and the watchers keep the people a 'respectable' distance away from the birds.
Anyway, we thought we'd pass this info along for those whose schedule allows the flexibility to head up there right away to see America's latest endangered species success story unfold.
J&S in RR