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Home/Canyon Column/2007 Archives/Feathered Friends Doing Fine

Feathered Friends Doing Fine

Condor 350 fledged | NPS Photo by Mike Quinn
Condor 350 fledged | NPS Photo by Mike Quinn

It’s springtime at Grand Canyon National Park, and warming temperatures have resulted in the usual spike in visitation. These visitors to the South Rim can once again be seen hanging out on cliffs, grooming each other, and soaring for hours on the afternoon’s rising air currents. No, I’m not referring to the legions of spring breakers, but rather the endangered California condors (though the two species do share a few habits on occasion).

A number of federal agencies and non-profit organizations such as the Peregrine Fund can be credited with bringing the condors back from the brink of worldwide extinction in the 1980s. The majestic birds were reintroduced to northern Arizona in 1996 after an absence dating back to the 20s. Today Arizona’s condors split time between the warmer lowlands of the Arizona/Utah border, and the Grand Canyon itself.

On March 3rd, seven additional condors were released north of the canyon, bringing the total population in the Grand Canyon State to fifty-nine individuals. Dozens of the birds can be spotted daily in the vicinity of Grand Canyon Village, providing no shortage of entertainment for park patrons of all ages.

Published on: April 15, 2007

Categories: 2007 Archives, Canyon ColumnTags: California Condors, fledglings, Grand Canyon, reintroduced to northern Arizona, soaring in park

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.

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