CALIFORNIA CONDOR #374

EDIT: Regarding this encounter, I received an email from the fish and wildlife service. This condor is actually #374 not #74. The agent informed me that in fact "374 is a juvenile male born 4/29/2005 in the LA Zoo and released at our refuge at Bitter Creek NWR in Kern County in October of 2007."

Nat, Charlie and I have a thing for wild, rare birds of prey (see previous encounter), but this one takes the cake!


I suspect any large bird would take one look at our marshmellowy four-legged companion and imagine him slightly toasted with two bits of Hershey on a graham cracker. Mmmmm! S'more Charlie please!

California Condors are a rare bird indeed. These giants are deemed "Critically Endangered,"
and according to the California Condor Conservation, there only 332 CA condors left in the WORLD! With only half of them in the wild.

We happened upon #374 in the mountains just above Sylmar (All of the CA condors are tagged). He soared over us while we were parked and eating a little lunch and so we hopped in the truck and followed. Around a corner, he was just sitting in the road.

It didn't take much to spook him and off he went.


California Condors have the largest wingspan of any bird in North America at around 9.5 feet! (Trumped only by the Andean Condor of S. America)
This is a two lane road. This animal looked like a prehistoric pterodactyl.



California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

Check out their story!
California Condor Conservation
Wiki CA Condor

This might be the same bird... CLICK


---- This also might be the only time EVER in history that showing THIS is appropriate ----