California Condor

I've been on a vulture kick lately. Here is the true king of vultures - the California Condor. These birds are the largest of the vultures, weighing in at 25 pounds and standing over 4 1/2 feet tall. But get this - their wingspans measure 9 1/2 feet from wing tip to wing tip!

John Muir reported seeing flights of condors so large that they would block out the noon day sun. Getting a close-up look at that featherless, swollen head and neck, I would have been very thankful that they stayed airborne and away from me.

Sadly, at one point, the California Condor population declined to less that 26 individuals in the world. Through the incredible work of the good folks with the California Condor Recovery Program, much has been done to protect this species, though it still stands on the brink.

Photo courtesy: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.