Bird-watchingtips

The California Condor is an endangered bird. To see one outside of a zoo ... take lots of water, a sunhat, polarized sunglasses,sunscreen,your favorite birding binoculars and a spotting scope, if you have one, or a friend who has one. Bring a chair or camp stool and be prepared to sit in the scrubby terrain at Tejon Pass in California. Be sure to bring lots of patience too. Sometimes you can see several in one day. Other days you will see none.

You will be looking UP a lot. Follow the thermals with your glasses and look for a HUGE bird. Bigger than EAGLES. Bigger than Vultures. Not bigger than a sea-faring Albatross. But if you see an Albatross at Tejon Pass, you better call somebody in a hurry. You have been in the sun too long!

This land is threatened with development and these ancient vultures are also endangered by lead poisoning. They are carrion feeders. That means they eat dead meat. That is why they have no feathers on their heads. It is a way to prevent parasites from jumping into their feathers from their dead food. They also have no feathers on their legs. To keep cool and to kill parasites they spray bird poop on their legs, one or both of them as needed. For more on these fascinating birds and their legal and ethical dilemma see Birds Binoculars N More.

Great video of Condors responding to the BIG SUR FIRE at this link.
Update on the condors too in the Big Sur fire area

Don't worry it will be a miracle if you ever got close enough for that to be a problem. But you can just imagine the STINK from eating all that dead rotting meat.

You must see this post about rich birds and rich Brits!
It seems a REAL study has been done and surprise, there are more birds in British suburbs than in urban areas. Why am I not surprised?


Another amazing bit of Bird News.
Take a look at the California Condors and their rescue from the Big Sur wildfires. Take a look at the California Condors and their rescue from the Big Sur wildfires.