California Condor Cleaning Itself

here's hoping the species makes a recovery. truly amazing animals.... the sad reality is that these birds are adapted into a niche that has been depleted. there just isn't the mass availability of large herd animals that there once was. i definitely wish the very best for the species though.

skr831 - in early May pf 2007 I saw 3 of these magnificent birds in probably the same vicinity as you, 2 of them together and a 3rd one a short distance away, they were on the other side of a giant rock right alongside the road on Highway 1 in Big Sur. It was one of the most magnificent moments of my life to witness. Luckily I got to see them before we were shooed away by someone who came along (part of the team that tracks them).

grimes point? fillmore? or what..

You should've reported it's tag number

Cool video! How did you get so close to it? Were there other condors around?

I was standing on the side of Highway 1. At around 10 seconds into the video you can hear cars passing right behind me - not more than 10 feet away. The Condor was over the side of the cliff, but not too far. I do have a good telephoto but if my memory is correct, it was about 30-40 feet away from me. At the end of the video I pan up so that you can see the cut of the road.

wow... vary nice, rare shots
AC 9,
the last California Condor to be put into captivity from the wild...correct?

Yes, this guy was the last condor in the wild - then in captivity for a long time. It is great to see him again!

Yes. AC9 was captured Easter Sunday, 1987 near Bittercreek NWR.

This video was taken on Highway 1 in Big Sur between Grimes Point and the Coast Gallery.