WE SAW A CONDOR!!!!!!
Field Notes: August 8, 2004 - Bryce Canyon National Park - Riggs Spring Loop Trail, Southeastern Tip 6:03pm MDT - 77 degrees F - wind SE ~5mph - 25% cloud cover - 55% humidity - On a hike downtrail from our campsite.
J: *scans the sky, hoping* oh... my... god... there, see that small plane? *clutches your arm* it's not.
Sean: *tries to see what you're pointing at* where???
J: *falls to my knees, gets out the scope, my eyes following the large dark shape of in the distance* 2 o'clock, 80 degrees
Sean: J?? *stoops down beside you and looks* what is it?
J: *grins at you* I think... look at it with the binocs while I set up the scope. it should have a number tag on one or both upper wings. *sets the scope on its tripod by touch, never taking my eyes off the huge bird* red naked head, white on the leading edges of the underside of its wings...
Sean: what is it!! *tugs at your sleeve like an excited child*
J: I can't say the name in case it's not *grins at you*
Sean: *grabs the binoclars and looks* That's a big whatever it is
J: *catches it in the scope as it soars lazily in circles* fucking huge. holy shit.... *sits and looks up at it* look in the scope, Sean. It is.
Sean: *looks through the scope* oh wow...this is like...the coolest thing ever
J: *breathless, mouth hanging open* uh-huh... *takes the binocs from you and looks*
Sean: *sits back and stares in awe*
J: oh my fucking god... *pulls you close and kisses you*
Sean: that is the biggest damn bird I've ever seen
J: Sean... we found a fucking condor
Sean: *eyes widen in surprise and kisses back*
J: *lies back to watch it with the binocs and laughs like a madman*
Sean: wow..that's pretty cool *laughs and shakes his head*
J: Condor number 23. wow. my god, it's fucking gorgeous. *squeezes your hand*
Sean: Yeah it sure is.....pretty
J: *chuckles and grins at you* yeah, never seen a prettier naked wrinkly red head *hands you the binocs and readjusts the scope to catch it again. Digs out my notebook, checks the time, wind, direction, height, cloudcover, writes like crazy, sketches*
Sean: Wow you sure are um..into this whole bird and nature thing
J: *grins at you* I do believe I warned you? *makes notes of exact location* too bad we don't have a GPS
Sean: yeah sorry I left mine at home *winks*
J: *takes out my cell phone, calls the ranger station that I already had on speed dial, gives them details. Kisses your cheek, laughing* there are fewer than 75 California Condors in the wild. Anywhere. In the world. Number 23 has honored us with his or her presence. *looks at you, still grinning* We've been deemed worthy.
Sean: *wraps arms around his knees* we're pretty special then
J: *beams at you* yeah. *wraps my arms around you, including your knees, and squeezes. Sighs deeply, happily* you don't know what this means to me. it's... *blushes* it's a dream I've had since childhood. *wipes my eyes on your shoulder*
Sean: *watches the bird* I wonder what they are thinking?
J: *smiles slowly at you* "Why aren't those humans dead yet? They look very tasty."
Sean: *laughs* probably
J: or we can hope he or she is thinking about getting laid, that would be even better.
We found out later from the rangers that Condor #23 is a seven year old female, and they are hoping she will breed; courtship behaviors have been observed. The rangers had really magnificent scopes and I got scope envy. Condor photos and lots more information at the Bryce Canyon page about California Condors.
I guess all the crossing of fingers and toes paid off.
J: *scans the sky, hoping* oh... my... god... there, see that small plane? *clutches your arm* it's not.
Sean: *tries to see what you're pointing at* where???
J: *falls to my knees, gets out the scope, my eyes following the large dark shape of in the distance* 2 o'clock, 80 degrees
Sean: J?? *stoops down beside you and looks* what is it?
J: *grins at you* I think... look at it with the binocs while I set up the scope. it should have a number tag on one or both upper wings. *sets the scope on its tripod by touch, never taking my eyes off the huge bird* red naked head, white on the leading edges of the underside of its wings...
Sean: what is it!! *tugs at your sleeve like an excited child*
J: I can't say the name in case it's not *grins at you*
Sean: *grabs the binoclars and looks* That's a big whatever it is
J: *catches it in the scope as it soars lazily in circles* fucking huge. holy shit.... *sits and looks up at it* look in the scope, Sean. It is.
Sean: *looks through the scope* oh wow...this is like...the coolest thing ever
J: *breathless, mouth hanging open* uh-huh... *takes the binocs from you and looks*
Sean: *sits back and stares in awe*
J: oh my fucking god... *pulls you close and kisses you*
Sean: that is the biggest damn bird I've ever seen
J: Sean... we found a fucking condor
Sean: *eyes widen in surprise and kisses back*
J: *lies back to watch it with the binocs and laughs like a madman*
Sean: wow..that's pretty cool *laughs and shakes his head*
J: Condor number 23. wow. my god, it's fucking gorgeous. *squeezes your hand*
Sean: Yeah it sure is.....pretty
J: *chuckles and grins at you* yeah, never seen a prettier naked wrinkly red head *hands you the binocs and readjusts the scope to catch it again. Digs out my notebook, checks the time, wind, direction, height, cloudcover, writes like crazy, sketches*
Sean: Wow you sure are um..into this whole bird and nature thing
J: *grins at you* I do believe I warned you? *makes notes of exact location* too bad we don't have a GPS
Sean: yeah sorry I left mine at home *winks*
J: *takes out my cell phone, calls the ranger station that I already had on speed dial, gives them details. Kisses your cheek, laughing* there are fewer than 75 California Condors in the wild. Anywhere. In the world. Number 23 has honored us with his or her presence. *looks at you, still grinning* We've been deemed worthy.
Sean: *wraps arms around his knees* we're pretty special then
J: *beams at you* yeah. *wraps my arms around you, including your knees, and squeezes. Sighs deeply, happily* you don't know what this means to me. it's... *blushes* it's a dream I've had since childhood. *wipes my eyes on your shoulder*
Sean: *watches the bird* I wonder what they are thinking?
J: *smiles slowly at you* "Why aren't those humans dead yet? They look very tasty."
Sean: *laughs* probably
J: or we can hope he or she is thinking about getting laid, that would be even better.
We found out later from the rangers that Condor #23 is a seven year old female, and they are hoping she will breed; courtship behaviors have been observed. The rangers had really magnificent scopes and I got scope envy. Condor photos and lots more information at the Bryce Canyon page about California Condors.
I guess all the crossing of fingers and toes paid off.