Marble Canyon Condors

Plateau point in the canyon south rim.

Marble canyon condors.

Navajo bridge marble canyon. The california condor gymnogyps californianus is one of the world s largest and rarest birds with a wingspan of 9 to 10 feet and weight of up to about 25 pounds the condor is closely related to the turkey vulture cathartes aura and andean condor vultur gryphus like all vultures the condor feeds on carrion or dead animals. Here are some links about california condors i have posted in the. The upper part of the grand canyon.

Drove in northern arizona out to navajo bridge in marble canyon. Specifically in the soil at the edge of the canyon. In winter months condors frequent the colorado river corridor near marble canyon and in summer months condors are seen frequently at the south rim of the grand canyon. We even got to see 7 endangered california condors sunning themselves under the navajo bridge.

Now only a footbridge it was once instrumental in opening up previously almost inaccessible parts of arizona. The pediocactus bradyi aka marble canyon cactus is a really small prickly thing that only grows in marble canyon. In other words right where we were staying. The 1923 bridge once the longest single span steel bridge in the world gives an opportunity to get a condor s eye view of marble canyon.

No sign of mother on this morning for me condor 496 h9. California condors almost became extinct in the 20th century and the rare bird was placed on the federal endangered species list in 1967. We stayed at cliff dwellers lodge at the base of the vermillion cliffs and then went through marble canyon in the morning so glad we did as we would ve missed all of this in the dark. On the bridge i saw california condor 354 54 along with his chick condor 952 no tag or transmitter yet.

The california condor isn t the only endangered species hanging around in these parts.