California Condor

Gallery: AvianPosted April 10, 2010165 views15 comments

Canon 7D, 100-400mm @ 400mm, handheld.

1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 400.

Crop to 82% (14.7 of 18MP)

One of the (many) special things about living where I do is the opportunity to see California Condors on a fairly regular basis. This shot was taken at Navajo Bridge, one of the condors' favorite hangouts.

I'm sure that purists would prefer not to see the tags and radio transmitters, but they are a critical aspect of the realities of the condors' existence today. Pushed to the edge in the early 80s, captive breeding has slowly brought condor numbers back up. Each reintroduced bird is carefully monitored, and the radio transmitters have saved the lives of many sick birds and revealed the cause of death (lead poisoning) of many others. Without intensive management and some long-term changes, we won't have the chance to enjoy these spectacular birds. So I'm ok with the tags (and look forward to a day when they won't need them). This bird, 73, is an 8 year old male.

I like the banking pose and the recognizable canyon walls in the background here. One challenge with condors is getting the eye to show well.

Comments and critiques appreciated. Please view larger version if possible.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 10, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Brian,
This is a very cool shot. Excellent exposure. You are right about the eye. Reminds me of trying to get a turkey vultures eye as well. Love the background with the recognizable wall. The tag does not bother me at all in fact I think it adds a dimension to the photo that has it's story to tell. It shows how critical the balance is amongst these huge flyers. Really good sharpness on this one. I have never seen one in the wild as I'm sure is the case with most people. You are very lucky to live in an area where they live. Kudos!!! Dave

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 10, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Grea catch!
Nice detail , pose, and BG.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on April 10, 2010 at 7:33 PM

Great image of a remarkable bird! I too like the image for the same reasons you do - the great pose and environment. In addition, I like the details on the condor. Looks like you had some pretty harsh light to deal with.

I do not mind the tags in the least. Thanks for sharing this!

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 10, 2010 at 8:40 PM

I don't even want to know where you were standing to capture this! Such a cool capture...I like the story, the number and the photo. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 10, 2010 at 9:53 PM

Congrats on this super rare find! Larger version is much better as far as separation from the background is concerned. While I would love to see a shot of it against a blank blue BG, the inclusion of habitat actually sets this apart.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 10, 2010 at 9:59 PM

Excellent flight shot, Brian. Good job on the exposure, and I don't mind the tags.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on April 10, 2010 at 10:06 PM

It certainly is a spectacular bird, Brian. Very fine capture. At only an 82% crop you are pretty well filling the frame with this fellow at 400mm. Nice and sharp. The large version especially shows great detail. I know we've discussed the importance of a catchlight in the eye in previous posts. However, this is a case where there are so many other interesting characteristics to this image that I don't miss it a bit.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 10, 2010 at 10:09 PM

A fine image. I've yet to come up to see them.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 10, 2010 at 10:24 PM

Thanks all for the comments.

Sharon, you DON"T want to know where I was standing, but probably not for the reason you think. This was taken from a highway bridge (fairly low speed limit, and a good 6 feet between the white line and the rail, but still....). There is a pedestrian bridge (the former highway bridge before the new one was built) 100 yds away, but the birds seem to be much better seen from the current bridge....

Luke, as rare as they are (only ~350 in the world), they are actually very commonly seen. On the South Rim at Grand Canyon Village, they are present Mar-Oct and seen nearly every day, and in the other months, they are pretty easy to find at Navajo Bridge. I have another bird against blue sky that I may post soon.

Steve, thanks, I agree--this is one of the rare cases where I find that the absence of catchlight doesn't hurt, though I do wish that the eye itself stood out better. They eyes are mostly dark, and the red irises don't stand out very well from the face either.

Rich M., probably best that I stay away from politics here, but Reagan is not among the politicians that Arizona can claim (and I'll decline comment on those it can).

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 11, 2010 at 8:22 AM

Outstanding image, no more to add.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on April 11, 2010 at 9:34 AM

Thanks for posting this lovely image of this endangered bird. The bird banders I know would be thrilled to see the wing tag. It tells us a lot about the bird and its fight for survival.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on April 11, 2010 at 11:16 AM

An awesome bird Brian, lucky you ! I can't recall ever seeing one posted here before now.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on April 11, 2010 at 11:22 AM

I love the shot and I think the number 73 adds interest and illustrates the reality of this birds fragile existence. The focus from wing to wing is absolutely perfect.

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on April 15, 2010 at 11:34 AM

Great shot of a rare bird! This is the first picture I have seen of one of these birds. The tag doesn't bother me at all but if they are going to tag them maybe the tag should be a white star in a blue circle with red and white stripes on the side!

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Marcello Oliva on April 15, 2010 at 12:20 PM

I think this picture is simply perfect..

It's able to give us a lot of information on the bird and on the living habitat.

Really good job!

Marcello Oliva, Italy

www.marcellooliva.com

Registered on April 13, 2010, 3 Posts, 18 Comments