December 6, 2005
Condor Takes Flight - Corrections to Daily Sun
As the Arizona Daily Sun p.2 article dated 6 December 2005 correctly reported, the fledging of the Vermilion Cliffs California Condor chick took place recently in standard condor fashion...an overzealous "romp-and-stomp" near the edge of the cave.
But as sharp-eyed Master Naturalists have pointed out, the photograph accompanying the article is actually a 13 month old picture of condor #350 in it's Battleship Rock nest, posted on this blog on 12 November 2004. The AZ Daily Sun attributes the photo to Debbie Freeman of AZGFD. I requested the photo directly from Chad Olson, then at the Grand Canyon National Park Science Center, and then leading the Park's Condor Nest Watch Program, after viewing it on his digital camera moments after it was taken at Hopi Point. Chad has moved on, and it is not readily possible to recheck whether or how he got this photo from Debbie Freeman of AZGFD, but Chad and I were both taking photos at a steady clip, and as far as I know, never used anyone else's nest photos.
To see the original publication of this photo, along with photographic specifications, go to:
Photo of Canyon Condor Chick
The Daily Sun article correctly reported that the condor chick below the South Rim is being monitored for its imminent fledging.