@jamespuente_: CALIFORNIA CONDOR in ZION 🏜️ While hiking Angels Landing in November 2023, I asked the rangers checking trail permits if they’d seen any condors recently. To my surprise, they said yes! The ranger directed me to where they’d last seen it, and there she was: the rarest and largest bird in North America – the California condor – perched on a rock spire beneath the chains section on Angels Landing, warming herself in the morning sun. With an over 9-foot wingspan (!!!) the California condor is one of the largest flying birds on Earth! And one of the rarest… Their numbers dropped to as low as 23 by 1982… but protection and breeding programs have helped raise their population to 561! (as of 2022) This particular condor is V9, a female born in a breeding program in 2017, released into the wild in 2018, still thriving years later – an excellent example of this species’ comeback from the brink of extinction. I spent over an hour waiting for her to warm up enough to MAYBE take flight (I hoped). About an hour-twenty of waiting on a rock ledge above – my hopes came true. She jumped, she soared, and she disappeared into the morning light of Zion Canyon. Mission complete 🥹 ✅ I pinched myself, packed my gear, and continued hiking up Angels Landing (10/10 recommend, condor or not 😁) Zion National Park 🫶 what a dream *note: I filmed this in November 2023, and this same condor V9 has recently been reported in the Grand Canyon in 2025 🥲 how cool is that #zionnationalpark #angelslanding #californiacondor #utah #wildlifephotography

James Puente

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Region: US

Tuesday 09 December 2025 04:47:55 GMT