Before my scenic flight over the canyon the other day, I had some time to kill while waiting for it's departure time. At the National Geographic Center in Tusayan, where they show the IMAX film about the Grand Canyon, I took in the Condor Encounter. The title of the show is enough to get a lot of people interested, due to the fact that the CA Condor is one of the most endangered bird species in the world. There's a little bit of deception with the title of the show, in that the bird used in the show is an Andean Condor, not a CA Condor. The other birds were mostly non-native birds to the Grand Canyon, but it was still an entertaining, and educational way to spend about 30 minutes. As with the IMAX film, this show was also free to folks who work in the park, so, once again, the price was right!
The host, and owner of the birds, raised this Andean Condor from a chick, and it was 15 years old. According to him, the Andean version is a little larger than it's CA Cousin, and it was indeed an impressive bird. A few decades ago, the CA Condor's numbers were down to only 22 left in existence. The decision was made to capture the remaining birds, and attempt a captive breeding program to save the species. Over the years, the program has had great success, and now, over 300 birds have been released, some here at the Grand Canyon. They are frequently seen right here at the South Rim.
After the bird show, I returned to the airport, and boarded my flight over, and around the Canyon. It was a fun way to spend a day off, with lots of memorable scenes, and pictures.
This small bird is a Falcon, capable of reaching diving speeds over 200 mph!
Red tailed Hawk, common throughout the U.S.
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