As many of you know I spend time at the San Diego Wild Animal park which is close to my home. The park is involved in many sucessful captive breeding programs, one of the best being for the California Condor. I got a chance to shoot some close ups of one a few weeks ago. I saw one of the last truly wild Condors about 30 years ago on a hike in Southern California. I surprised it while is was feasting on a dead deer. I got to see it take off and it flew right over my head at about 25 feet. The one I saw had a wingspan of about 7 feet. It was one of those moments a nature lover like myself will never forget (sorry to say I didn't have my old Minolts 35mm with me that day).

Today there are only a few very remote places that you can see these magnificent birds. I'm happy that I live so close to the park and can get over to see them, even if it is in captivity. Here are some closeups.