March 28, 2004
Condors!
So I finally managed to see the condors in the San Gabriels. After a 1/2 hr wait during which time I seriously doubted that I was in the right place, 2 birds appeared above the ridge and sailed around one of the radio towers before landing. Pretty huge! They were far off and there was a heat haze and I was unable to read their tags. I took some record shots. A little while later further down the road, I stopped to take some scenic pics and the same pair (presumably) sailed over me. This is a good site to see these birds - perhaps only 1.5 hrs (or less) from LAX?
Land of the Condors
Los Angeles in the background
Driving a little further down, I was stunned to see an adult bird by the side of the road. I managed to get a couple of shots before it took off.
Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley in the background
And a little further on this young bird
Directions - take 405 north to 5 north to 14 north. Exit Sand Canyon and head south east in to the mountains. After about 15mins drive, turn right on Bear Divide. Continue up this narrow road for a few miles until you reach Camp 9 fire suppression station. Birds hang out on road up to camp 9 and also on the radio towers. Do not try to feed the birds - they need to be kept wild and afraid of humans.
Posted by Andyb at March 28, 2004 11:41 PMAndy
The photos are great. I particularly like the one of the condor flying away.
Posted by: Dawn at March 29, 2004 08:22 PMI know what an exciting experience that was for you--great! Many years ago I was lucky enough to be very close to (just up a hillside from) the entire band of wild, free-flying Condors. They were resting, preening, taking off, soaring. In flight, they are simply magnificent.
Posted by: Marian at March 30, 2004 10:40 PMThanks for the comments guys. Yes, very exciting experience to see such enormous birds up close. Hopefully, they'll regain their fear of man, stop eating the garbage on the roads and establish a wild population!
Posted by: andyb at April 4, 2004 03:38 AMCondors by nature are extremely curious, and they have, as you know, discovered the San Gabriels with all of it's attractions. Unfortunately this area poses some risks to the birds. Those condors frequenting the San Gabriels are free-flying birds from the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and Sespe area near Fillmore. The younger birds have been known to pick up and ingest bits of plastic, glass, metal fragments, and cloth they find along the roadside. Younger breeding birds have been subsequently feeding this "mico-trash" to their nestlings which has resulted in the chick's death. We suspect condors picking up this trash are looking for bone fragments that would provide them and their chicks with needed calcium. Three wild chicks are due to hatch this week. You can help by picking up trash and encouraging others to do the same, and not littering. Enjoy the condors from a distance. Please don't approach the birds or try to feed them. US Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and volunteers are monitoring the area. If you are present and see condors in the area and no biologists present please call the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex office at 805-644-5185. If you can read the numbers on the wing tags that information would be helpful.For more information visit our website at http://hoppermountain.fws.gov.
USFWS Hopper Mtn.National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Ventura