Buzzed (Again) By Condors at Pinnacles

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Messages 1 - 80 of total 80 in this topic
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 12, 2014 - 01:10am PT
We were working on a first ascent at Pinns today when this big bird flew by below us. Our partner on the ground happened to get the photo.

This isn't an unusual encounter for climbers there at all. Condors often buzz climbers and/or perch close by, totallly unconcerned by the presence of humans. When they fly by, they remind me of passengers on an airline - looking out the window with great curiosity.

Uncropped version:



Cropped version:

caughtinside

Social climber
Oakland, CA
Jan 12, 2014 - 01:36am PT
Nice photo! Thanks for posting. I would love to see a condor some time. Maybe a visit to the pins is in order.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 12, 2014 - 01:46am PT
Be the Condor carrion!
jaaan

Trad climber
Chamonix, France
Jan 12, 2014 - 05:25am PT
Wow, that's fabulous! Must have been very exciting. I think they're just very curious - we have a large colony of Griffons living near us - and they're pretty big, though 30cm smaller than your Condors - but it seems they like to come and check people out:




tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Jan 12, 2014 - 08:41am PT
Is a condor a big vulture?
jaaan

Trad climber
Chamonix, France
Jan 12, 2014 - 09:01am PT
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Condor

Seems a really successful reintroduction. Interesting that one of the release sites is the Pinnacles. You guys really are lucky to see these birds on a regular basis.
Roxy

Trad climber
CA Central Coast
Jan 12, 2014 - 10:56am PT
Beautiful shot!!

talk about something to inspire the name of a route
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Jan 12, 2014 - 11:00am PT

AWESOME!!!!
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Jan 12, 2014 - 11:01am PT
Great shot! TFPU

Looks like a pretty mature bird based on the coloration.

Wing tag#?
msiddens

Trad climber
Jan 12, 2014 - 11:27am PT
Cool brad looks amazing.
this just in

climber
north fork
Jan 12, 2014 - 11:43am PT
Yeah, really good shot. That bird has got some balls to fly under climbers on that stone. ROCK! Thanks for the pic.
clinker

Trad climber
California
Jan 12, 2014 - 12:02pm PT
Due to the poor quality of rock at most of Pinns, the condors and buzzards regard climbers with an optimistic point of view.

Great photo.
L

climber
California dreamin' on the farside of the world..
Jan 12, 2014 - 12:13pm PT
Awesome photo! And how cool is it that they fly beneath you while you're climbing?!?!

I was in Big Sur for the holidays and had several sightings of condors along the PCH. One of them flew next to the window of our moving car for about 10 yards...I wasn't fast enough to get a pic, but got a natural high from the encounter that lasted the rest of the day. ;-)

Thanks for sharing the wonder.
Mike Bolte

Trad climber
Planet Earth
Jan 12, 2014 - 12:28pm PT
cool! great photo
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
Jan 12, 2014 - 12:31pm PT
Nice photo! Looks like a fun route.
Reeotch

climber
4 Corners Area
Jan 12, 2014 - 12:36pm PT
Yep, nice shot.

I think they are trying to tell you something . . .

"Find someplace else to climb!"
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Jan 12, 2014 - 02:04pm PT
Great pictures, thanks

I have spent three days at the Pinns and have not seen one yet, still hoping. I am spending some time hiking in the Grand Canyon this winter and learned that there are Condors in the Canyon. Would love to see one. The top of the South Kaibab trail is supposed t to be a good place to watch for them.

A very successful program to save the Condors. They actually removed all Condors from the wild to jump start the breeding program. There big enemy is now lead shot. Unfortunately the 2nd Amendment trumps the birds rights (that was for Ron :)

[Click to View YouTube Video]
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Jan 13, 2014 - 03:08pm PT
Nice pictures. In the 46 years I've been climbing at Pinnacles, I've seen lots of turkey vultures, but rarely have I seen condors, and never for long enough to photograph them. In the last 10-15 years, though, I've generally stayed away from the Monument (now Park!) when raptor closures were in place.

Thanks for all the great shots.

John
mucci

Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
Jan 13, 2014 - 03:42pm PT
Another reason Pinnacles is Badass.

Thanks for posting one of the best shots of the chickenhawks I have seen from a master of mud!

Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
Jan 13, 2014 - 05:05pm PT
Great shot. Great post
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
Jan 13, 2014 - 06:31pm PT
Cool! You should share those photos on the "Birds" thread here.
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2014 - 06:36pm PT
When I started this thread I'd forgotten that I posted other condor footage to this site a few years ago. My wife had videoed condors circling us and then made a really cool, short movie of it (bonus points to anyone who can identify the name of the song she used for the background music).

Here's a link to that video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2rWXLUnocQ
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
Jan 13, 2014 - 06:57pm PT
exactly Fortmental!

lol
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2014 - 07:29pm PT

Cool! You should share those photos on the "Birds" thread here.

I should have thought of that.
bhilden

Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
Jan 13, 2014 - 07:39pm PT
Condor #76 and I spent about 30 minutes together 15' from each other on top of the Sponge last week. Not sure who won the 'blinking' contest.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Jan 17, 2014 - 04:34pm PT
Great shots!

January 3 years ago, atop the Sponge, having a snack with two friends. Three Condors came straight at us, in formation, from the deep canyon to the west. Eye to eye, about 30 feet left to go and they split formation around us and soared up to their eyrie on the crag across the trail.

A bit later we saw 8 or so soaring above the High Peaks trail. (verified by binoculars)

Later in the afternoon, climbing the SE routes on the Flatiron, two roped teams. I'm belaying my second. When he gets about 20 feet off the ground, two Condors fly directly beneath him. At the belay I told him about it. He laughed. They'd been sitting about 30 feet away on the slope below the south "buttress" of the Flatiron watching him as he'd belayed me.

Durned Endangered Species Act. Them Pinns Condors think they own the place.
L

climber
California dreamin' on the farside of the world..
Jan 17, 2014 - 04:42pm PT
"(bonus points to anyone who can identify the name of the song she used for the background music)"

Really cool video--and clever of her to use El Condor Pasa (one of my favs) as the soundtrack.
matty

Trad climber
under the sea
Jan 17, 2014 - 06:13pm PT
^^^Knott a condor! go post in the birds thread =]


On topic...They have really, really big feathers (this one is almost 30 inches)

matty

Trad climber
under the sea
Jan 17, 2014 - 06:17pm PT
Great documentary on Condors: http://www.thecondorsshadow.com/


I saw it on PBS
matty

Trad climber
under the sea
Jan 17, 2014 - 06:18pm PT
skamoto

Mountain climber
coalinga ca
Jan 17, 2014 - 06:25pm PT
thats pretty sweet, I have yet to see a condor in real life and I go to the pinnacles alot. BTW brad young your guide book for the pinns is by far the best guide book i own to date. its super easy to follow and i love the history in the beg of the book.
ThomasKeefer

Trad climber
San Diego
Jan 17, 2014 - 06:30pm PT
I saw one on a hike near Garrapata point. I thought it was pretty close when I first spotted it and it just getting closer and closer until I realized how HUGE it was. By the time it was within a couple hundred feet, I was amazed. Beautiful to see something that big in the air!
matty

Trad climber
under the sea
Jan 17, 2014 - 08:06pm PT
No...chickens taste like condor! Chuck Norris told me so;)

Actually they probably taste like their food. Dead animals.


"Animals... fun to pet better to eat!"
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jan 17, 2014 - 10:21pm PT
Link to Pinnacles NPS condor info.
27 condors wild and free at Pinnacles.

http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/condors.htm

9 1/2 foot wingspan!

http://www.friendsofcondors.org/during-the-pl
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 17, 2014 - 10:32pm PT
Skamoto, that was a very high compliment you paid to the guidebook. Thank you very much.
briham89

Big Wall climber
san jose and south lake tahoe, ca
Jan 17, 2014 - 11:03pm PT
Nice shot. Wish I could have been there.
Rob Roy Ramey

Trad climber
Colorado
Jan 18, 2014 - 01:25am PT
Just to keep the history alive, please recall how a rag-tag crew of Yosemite climbers were critical to saving this species (and the peregrine falcon) from extinction:

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=535204&tn=0#msg542627




L

climber
California dreamin' on the farside of the world..
Jan 18, 2014 - 04:16pm PT
Fantastic history lesson on the saving of the Condors, Rob Roy.

Thank you on so many levels.
bhilden

Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
Jan 18, 2014 - 05:32pm PT
Rob Roy,

when you took the egg, did you leave a placebo replacement egg? The reason I ask this is that the NPS staff removed a condor egg at the Pinnacles to look at it and while they were doing the examination, they left a wooden egg in it's place so the mother wouldn't freak out and abandon the nest.
Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California now Ireland
Jan 18, 2014 - 06:02pm PT
Let's get one thing straight. The Pinnacles are not rock nor rock climbing. Forget the condors. Cheese-grating 'rock' (when one takes a fall) is not climbing, but some sadistic and masochistic undertaking. Mud with some pebbles in it glued together. But it is a wondrous place.

That said, what a great pic of a condor and masochists.

But the Pinnacles have some good hikes. First time I went I took loads of photos, and then dummy me realized that there was no film in the camera, Mamiya-Sekor 1000DTL (since stolen in a burglary on my flat in Dun Laoghaire).

Okay, the Pinnacles are unique. VERY UNIQUE.

And so are the Condors.

Jaan, Chamonix now? Lucky sod. Best wishes.
Rob Roy Ramey

Trad climber
Colorado
Jan 18, 2014 - 11:02pm PT
bhilden,
Our strategy was to maximize the reproductive output, so we would "double clutch" or "triple clutch" each breeding pair of condors. This was done by taking the first egg for the captive population to induce "recycling" in the breeding pair (the laying of another egg). Sometimes, we could take the second egg, and if early enough in the season, the condors would lay a third egg (which we would then take). So, whereas the birds would typically lay one egg with a 50% chance of hatching and survival to one year (and if a the young survived, no egg would be laid in the second year), we could obtain up to six eggs in two years, each with a high probability of survival in captivity. It was a clever strategy, devised by Noel and Helen Snyder, that ultimately yielded the number of condors we have today.

On the first egg pick up, we substituted a swan's egg fitted with two thermocouples, a transmitter, and filled with wax. This was used to transmit data on incubation temperature and the frequency that they rolled the egg, both key variables to hatching success. We buried the receiver antenna in the nest substrate with wires running to the bottom of the cliff where a data logger printed the time and temperature on a roll of paper. Those data were collected each day and relayed to the San Diego Zoo so they could adjust their incubation protocols.

So, to answer your question, artificial eggs are sometimes used to keep birds at a nest site. This was a strategy that we used with peregrine falcons to keep them incubating until captive-reared nestlings could be substituted for the eggs that we took earlier for captive incubation. I suspect that to be the case you describe at the Pinnacles, although it is worthwhile asking the NPS about their strategy and rationale.

While the condor recovery is moving ahead, it is not without future peril from ravens. Once, while watching the condor incubate the fake egg, I observed a raven landing at the cave entrance. The condor stood up to defend the egg but the raven quickly dashed in and pecked a hole in it. Fortunately, it was the wax-filled fake. This same pair of ravens would raid swallow nests on the cliffs by pecking out the bottoms of the nests by clinging to the cliff while flapping. Subsequently, we found that in 7 out of 10 condor nest territories with known cases of egg breakage, we also found condor eggshells in nearby raven nests (those within 1/4 mile). We expect that it was a learned behavior, which was why ravens that displayed egg-eating tendencies near condor nests were dispatched. The peril now is that if ravens start eating eggs elsewhere and that behavior spreads through a population, that will be the end of successful condor nesting in the area. With raven populations far above natural levels in the West, this is not only a threat to condors but other species as well (i.e. sage grouse).

We published some of our research on nest sites in the journal "Condor": http://www.wildlifescienceintl.com/WSI,_Inc/Published_Works_files/CondorNestSites.pdf A bit more history for the birders: our co-author, Fred Sibley is the father of David Sibley, the famous ornithologist. Fred was also a climber and rappelled into quite a few condor nests in the backcountry, alone, in the 1960s and 70s. We used his original field notes to relocate many of the nests we studied.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
Jan 19, 2014 - 02:27am PT
fascinating, thx!
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
Jan 19, 2014 - 02:29am PT
oh, and here's the crag buddies this morning...


Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California now Ireland
Jan 19, 2014 - 06:47am PT
Rob Roy, my hat is off to you for helping to keep the species alive. Best Wishes.
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jan 19, 2014 - 11:58pm PT
The California Condor Recovery Program has a volunteer internship program. This is 6 month commitment during which time volunteer interns will receive a living allowance of $39 per day of work while working on and around one of two wildlife refuges central to condor activity in Southern CA.
This volunteer opportunity focuses on the management of the free flying population of California Condors in Southern California. Selected applicants will track this population throughout its range using radio telemetry and by ground-truthing GPS transmitter data. Volunteers will observe condor behavior at feeding sites, roosts and nests. Field work requires: the ability to work independently and as a team; work and sometimes camp in remote areas during inclement weather or harsh environmental conditions; travel via ATV, 4WD vehicle, or by foot in steep mountainous terrain; carry 50lb carcasses to feeding sites; keep detailed field notes; follow data collection protocols for the collection and entry of accurate and consistent data; and assist in routine office work.
Check the Texas A & M wildlife job board for the latest position availibility.
the albatross

Gym climber
Flagstaff
Jan 20, 2014 - 06:50pm PT
Rob Roy thank you for your help in preserving this curious species. I frequently see them in my treks and climbs in the Vermilion Cliffs.
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jun 14, 2014 - 02:40pm PT
http://ventanaws.org/pressroom/

First California Condor Observed in San Mateo County Since 1904

Condor #597, also known as "Lupine" took a trip from Pinnacles National Park on May 30, 2014 and returned just two days later. In the process, she discovered new territory. Similar to the pioneers, Condor #597 explored the landscape and expanded the current range of her kind. Fortunately, this recent excursion was recorded by a motion-activated camera on private property near the town of Pescadero, in San Mateo County, just 35 miles away from San Francisco and 6 miles from Ano Nuevo State Park, where up to 10,000 elephant seals come to breed and give birth. The property owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent the photo to Ventana Wildlife Society on June 10 after discovering it on his camera.

The last verified sighting of the California condor in San Mateo County was in 1904 near Stanford University.
Jan

Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
Jun 14, 2014 - 02:59pm PT
Thanks for a fascinating thread!
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 14, 2014 - 05:01pm PT
Well, it's worth a try:

Here's a link, "The Master" to a web site filled with tons of "proof whatsoever" that lead shot is a serious harm to humans and to wildlife:

http://huntingwithnonlead.org/

Now, as I said, it's worth a try. But I won't hold out much hope. See, the web site is filled with scientific articles and studies; what normal people often call "proof." But I'm sure you'll enlighten us as to how it's a fake site, or how it's a liberal/commie/pinko front. Or how your God doesn't agree, and therefore it must be wrong.

Ho-hum.

Do us all a favor by either:

1. Going to a different thread (maybe a political one) to rant there, or

2. Carefully read the "proof whatsoever," and admit that it's pretty solid (in which case I will then publicly apologize to you for my sarcasm).
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jun 16, 2014 - 07:12pm PT
Well researched article on current research into lead poisoning.
It may be that poachers, not licensed hunters, are the real problem in terms of who is continuing to use lead ammo. And the worst poaching may occur on public lands at illegal pot growing sites, which sadly are widespread in condor country.

http://blog.condorwatch.org/2014/06/16/california-condor-feathers-tell-harrowing-tale-of-struggle-and-survival-guest-post-by-alex-tamura/

California Condor Feathers Tell Harrowing Tale of Struggle and Survival

The Wiyot Tribe of Humboldt Bay describes the origins of mankind through a tale of survival and rebirth. The creator of all things, Gouriqhdat Gaqilh, had become weary of the wicked ways of man and summoned a deluge to drown the Earth and destroy all living things. The sole survivor was the great Wiyot hero Shadash, or Condor, who started a new civilization cleansed of evil.

In 1860, about 100 Wiyot people were massacred while celebrating a ceremony honoring that tale of rebirth and survival. Like Condor, the tribe’s survivors endured. Today, the Wiyot still see condors—and condor feathers—as symbols of renewal. Recently, they performed their first World Renewal Ceremony in more than 150 years, with a gift of 48 condor feathers from the Sía Essential Species Repository. However, the jet-black plumage provides a glimpse into another story of survival—this time for the birds themselves.

These condor feathers reveal the chemical traces of lead poisoning, a serious continuing threat to the population in California. UC Santa Cruz toxicologist Myra Finkelstein is one of the researchers using feathers to tell this story. “Analyzing their feathers has really become a powerful way to understand what’s going on with these birds when they’re out there in the wild,” Finkelstein says.
crankster

Trad climber
Jun 16, 2014 - 07:18pm PT
Very cool
BrassNuts

Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
Jun 16, 2014 - 07:25pm PT
Very cool thread that I missed before. Thanks to everyone involved with the Condor program!
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jul 6, 2014 - 04:08pm PT
http://www.thecondorsshadow.com/friends/Condors_Event_Poster_Ojai.pdf

Southern CA condor friends: Meet and greet the US Fish and Wildlife Service condor recovery program biologists, see a 3 year old condor live appearance, and settle in under the stars at a lovely outdoor amphitheater for a free screening of a new documentary film on the condor recovery effort.
Only 20 minutes from the beach in lovely Ojai Canyon, the evening of Friday July 18. Save the date for an event full of magnificent, highly endangered birds and many friends. Famiilies, citizen scientists, outdoors enthusiasts all welcome. We are also welcoming hunters wanting to share beta on alternatives to lead ammunition.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Jul 6, 2014 - 05:44pm PT
Lead free bullets are good enough for the US Army.
http://www.army.mil/article/56157/

the M855A1 is the new "green" bullet
The performance of the EPR against soft targets is the same as that of the M855 -- but it is more consistent. The new round is also "superior to 7.62mm M80 against soft targets," Woods said. But at the same time the new "green round" is more Earth-friendly than both the M855 and the M80 -- it is also more effective than either of them against hard targets.

A test fire an Aberdeen Proving Ground range pitted the M855A1 round against the M855 and the M80 in multiple weapons -- the two 5.56mm rounds were fired in both the M4 and the M16, and the 7.62 M80 round was fired in an M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle. All three rounds are use today.

In all test firings against a sheet of 3/8-inch mild steel plate at 300 meters, the M855A1 came out on top.

I expect a gun aficionado to chime in with something like "but they're not the same bullet. the M855A1 is longer and more tapered" or some such diversion.
That's a non-sequiter
They point is the Army is completely satisfied with the new round.
So hunters, please clean up your ammunition.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Jul 6, 2014 - 06:44pm PT
That's what happens when condor sees you rap bolting
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Jul 6, 2014 - 08:09pm PT
They point is the Army is completely satisfied with the new round.
So hunters, please clean up your ammunition.

The army isn't interested in and is constricted by international law from using a round that produces a reliable and humane kill.

Not to mention that a human being is about half the size of even a medium size deer and quite a bit more fragile.
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Jul 6, 2014 - 10:56pm PT
That's what happens when condor sees you rap bolting

They were fixing a bad bolt and would slit their own wrists rather than rap-bolt at the Pinns, Troublemaker.

How is that manufractured crack on the Captain's West face coming?
couchmaster

climber
Jul 7, 2014 - 08:30am PT
Rob Roy Ramey said:
"Once, while watching the condor incubate the fake egg, I observed a raven landing at the cave entrance. The condor stood up to defend the egg but the raven quickly dashed in and pecked a hole in it. Fortunately, it was the wax-filled fake. This same pair of ravens would raid swallow nests on the cliffs by pecking out the bottoms of the nests by clinging to the cliff while flapping. Subsequently, we found that in 7 out of 10 condor nest territories with known cases of egg breakage, we also found condor eggshells in nearby raven nests (those within 1/4 mile). We expect that it was a learned behavior, which was why ravens that displayed egg-eating tendencies near condor nests were dispatched. The peril now is that if ravens start eating eggs elsewhere and that behavior spreads through a population, that will be the end of successful condor nesting in the area. With raven populations far above natural levels in the West, this is not only a threat to condors but other species as well (i.e. sage grouse). "

Ravens are widely known to commonly raid many other birds nests and eat the eggs. Rob Roy, I'm curious, did you or the biologists consider bait eggs of DRC-1339 to kill the Ravens that preyed on the nests (Delaney and Coates studies of Raven predation on Sage Grouse eggs). Also, it's interesting that you make this out to be a possible extinction issue for the Condors, but the regular news doesn't mention egg predation of Condor eggs by Ravens at all. Any idea why?
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jul 7, 2014 - 03:42pm PT
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting public comments about the implementation of AB711 banning most uses of lead ammunition on or before July 1, 2019 throughout the state of California.
Comments should be sent to wildlifemgmt@wildlife.ca.gov before July 28.
The Wildlife Resources Committee, a Committee of the California Fish and Game Commission meets July 28th. The California Condor and AB711 implementation is part of the meeting agenda.
As lead from ammunition is the number one cause of California Condor death and illness it is in the best interest of the Condor (and anyone else, human or wild, eating game taken with ammunition) for this legislation to be implemented sooner rather than later. The law was written to provide for phase-in implementation to start in 2015 with full implementation on or before July 1, 2019.
A PowerPoint presentation re some of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s concerns in developing the implementation plan for AB 711 is available at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashxDocumentID=77723&inline=1 The location of this document on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has changed in the past, so the link may not work and you’ll need to search the website at wildlife.ca.gov.
Jingy

climber
Somewhere out there
Jul 7, 2014 - 06:00pm PT
knowing that condors are protected....

If one decided to buzz me while I'm climbing I usually get out...

I suppose that could be one of the reasons for the bird swooping in the first place, right?

But then again, climbers gotta climb, and that's more important, isn't it? Our climbing?

then I read how condors are dying.. and then I read how condor only mate once about every 2 years... then I read that piece above..
Once, while watching the condor incubate the fake egg, I observed a raven landing at the cave entrance. The condor stood up to defend the egg but the raven quickly dashed in and pecked a hole in it. Fortunately, it was the wax-filled fake. This same pair of ravens would raid swallow nests on the cliffs by pecking out the bottoms of the nests by clinging to the cliff while flapping. Subsequently, we found that in 7 out of 10 condor nest territories with known cases of egg breakage, we also found condor eggshells in nearby raven nests (those within 1/4 mile).
and I thought to myself is it really that important that I continue my climbing in the face of this dying bird species swiping at me like it does?

It's always good to know that we humans are way better than all other animals on this planet....
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Jul 7, 2014 - 11:10pm PT
No worries about swooping condors, climbers. Condors are highly curious. If they cruise close to a climber, they're just checking out what's happening. All condor nests are monitored by volunteers or USFWS biologists. So, for now climbers don't need to worry about interrupting a condor in its nest cave.
They fly fast so you might only hear a whoosh before you realize what's just cruised your way. There are far fewer condors than peregrine falcons If you see a condor, count yourself privileged. These are magnificent creatures.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Jul 8, 2014 - 06:49pm PT
Question:
Aren't all California Condors tagged?
You can see the tags clearly in Mungeclimber's pic on previous page. They are carefully monitored from egg laying to hatching. I thought they are all tagged as fledgelings.
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Mar 25, 2015 - 10:48pm PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]

https://www.facebook.com/TheCondorCave

Celebrate #womenshistorymonth by honoring the dusty, up for adventure condor recovery program team members who have rappelled to many California condor nests in the past decade


Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Mar 27, 2015 - 08:25pm PT
now with video! edited above post.....
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
therealmccoy from Nevada City
Mar 27, 2015 - 10:18pm PT
So, I was out at the Emeralds today climbing, Emeralds up near Donner summit, belaying my partner, when I see this GIANT bird sort of buzz the wall she was climbing at. Got a really good luck at its underside, and a glance at its head. It had what I would estimate to be a 6 to 7 foot wingspan, and the colors exactly as seen in these pictures, with the hairless vulture head. And this shocked me however, because I didn't believe there are Condors in the area. I had my camera out and ready after this, but I never saw this bird again on this day unfortunately.

I guess I saw a big vulture?
son of stan

Boulder climber
San Jose CA
Mar 27, 2015 - 10:42pm PT
Reality check.
Those birds know instinctively that spooking animals clinging to
cliff-sides can cause a fall resulting in death and a fresh meal.

They are not just curious. They want to kill you without getting hurt
themselves.

Eagles have been seen briefly grabbing goats then drop them to their deaths.
A condor shadow would startle any cliff dwelling rodent. Wouldn't know if
its a dangerous hawk. Condors playing the odds.


They eat your eyes first btw.



Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Mar 30, 2015 - 01:39pm PT
Kaholatingtong, It's possible you saw an immature Golden Eagle. The immature eagles have some large white feather areas.
If not, you likely saw a Turkey Vulture (wingspan 5-6 feet). Same colors as condor, same pink/red, bare-of-feathers head.
The closest flock of condors to Donner in northern California are the Pinnacles birds. But they haven't taken any recent long flights toward Donner. This is known because half the wild condor flock has GPS transmitters (satellite data) or GPM transmitters (sends data via cellphone signal), and all wild birds have radio transmitters (except birds whose transmitter needs replacement due to feather molt).
All condors have wing tags with a number. The tag color indicates the year the bird was born.
Happy birding, climbers have the best view!
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
therealmccoy from Nevada City
Mar 30, 2015 - 01:58pm PT
^^ Thanks for all the info blue, I am rather naive on the subject. It just caught my attention because I had recently visited this thread and the image of what the condor looked like was fresh in my mind.

And I agree. Climbers get the best views of birds, maybe someday I will have to learn a little more.
Bluelens

climber
Pasadena, CA
Aug 27, 2015 - 09:04pm PT
https://baynature.org/articles/a-condor-recovery-fueled-by-volunteers-needs-more-help/

Pinnacles NP Condor Nest Observation volunteers needed.
Bluelens

Social climber
Pasadena, CA
Aug 27, 2015 - 09:13pm PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]

Live streaming Condor nest cameras are up!
john hansen

climber
Aug 27, 2015 - 09:35pm PT
The first time I saw a condor was in Zion. I did not know they were up there, they had found there own way there after being released further south. We were below the tunnel wall and I saw what I thought were turkey vultures. When I looked through the bino's I instantly said, California Condor. Nothing else it could be.

I since found out they show up there sometimes.

Another time on the south rim of the Grand Canyon I was walking the rim trail and saw one on a tower about 100 feet away. Thinking it was pretty cool I told the next people coming down the trail "hey there is a condor out there'.


They said" Oh yeah, there are two of them back at the lookout about 10 feet away"

I went back and a condor researcher was starting to shoo them away from where they were hanging out near the lookout.


Seems they do well in the Grand Canyon.
Bluelens

Social climber
Pasadena, CA
Apr 6, 2016 - 06:57am PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Condor chick hatched Monday - live nest cam stream from Ventura County.
Craig Fry

Trad climber
So Cal.
Apr 6, 2016 - 06:13pm PT
Loven it
Thanks for posting the live feed

you can hear all kinds of birds singing in the backgroud
Bluelens

Social climber
Pasadena, CA
Apr 6, 2016 - 08:55pm PT
The chorus of unseen singing birds is a bonus track! Mountain spring piped into my city living room.

[Click to View YouTube Video]

You are watching a clip from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Condor Webcam, one of the first two webcams to stream live video of California condors nesting in the wild. The nestcam was installed last spring. The camera is live-streaming from near the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southern California. Another live streaming webcam managed by the Ventana Wildlife Society will broadcast from a remote area of Big Sur along the central California coast.

The egg was incubated as part of the California Condor Recovery Program’s captive breeding effort at Los Angeles Zoo, and replaced the California condor #111 and California condor #509 pair’s wild-laid egg that went missing in March. Biologists quickly mobilized to replace the missing egg with a dummy egg to ensure the male and female continued to incubate at the nest.

On April 2, the captive-bred egg was placed into the nest. The soon-to-be condor parents, 22-year-old female condor, California condor #111 and her seven-year-old mate, California condor #509, have been courting since fall of 2014, and hatched their first wild chick together in April 2015. Sadly, the pair’s first chick died from lead poisoning, a harsh reality of the man-made threat condors continue to face in the wild.

The Hopper Mountain NWR nest webcam was made possible through the financial and technical support of the following project partners: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Barbara Zoo, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, and Friends of California Condors Wild and Free. The Big Sur nest webcam was made possible through the financial and technical support of the following project partners: Ventana Wildlife Society, Oakland Zoo and FedEx.

The 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.

http://www.huntingwithnonlead.org/
yo-so-mighty

Big Wall climber
salinas, ca
Apr 6, 2016 - 09:52pm PT
An amazing photo taken by a friend who happens to be the resident biologist at the Pinns. This bird was approx 20' from my kids and I as we climbed at the High Peaks. An experience that I will always remember.
tuolumne_tradster

Trad climber
Leading Edge of North American Plate
Apr 6, 2016 - 10:00pm PT
is that a radio transmitter on the condor's wing?
yo-so-mighty

Big Wall climber
salinas, ca
Apr 6, 2016 - 10:05pm PT
Yes, my friend seemed well acquainted with them and said that this particular bird had a 9.7' wing span.
yo-so-mighty

Big Wall climber
salinas, ca
Apr 6, 2016 - 10:18pm PT
The same bird from about 100 yards away, after we were advised to shoo it away.
Craig Fry

Trad climber
So Cal.
Apr 14, 2016 - 08:35am PT
Bump

Getting tired of having to search back so far

Check out the live feed of the baby condor one page back!

There have been studies done of the "feeling of being watched"
Pretty much it's a negative, you can't tell if you are being watched or not.

but it is something that I wonder about.
Bluelens

Social climber
Pasadena, CA
Jun 7, 2016 - 09:31pm PT

From the "Northwest Condor Watch" Facebook page.

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