Spotting the Andean Condor, Colombia
- Gerard McGarrigle
- Mar 30, 2017
- 3 min read
Here in the 'Eje Cafetero' zone of Colombia we are very fortunate to have access to so many beautiful views and surrounded by an abundance of flora and fauna. Colombia is home to over 1,900 species of birds, more than any other country in the world and here in the 'Eje Cafetero' zone is where 40% of those species exist.
The Valley of Cocora is home to two distinctive national symbols of Colombia. The wax palm tree and the Andean Condor.
Both are sadly under threat but both are now protected by Colombian law with conservation groups working hard to aid the population of both tree and bird.
The Andean Condor is not the longest bird in the world nor does it have the impressive wingspan of the wandering albatross, it is however, the largest known flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It has an average wingspan of 2.7m to 3.2m (8 ft 10 in to 10 ft 6 in) and a maximum wingspan of 3.3m (10 ft 10 in) which is still very impressive. The male is larger than the female, weighing in at about 11kg to 15kg compared to his female counterpart that weighs in at about 8kg to 11kg. The Andean Condor can reach a length of 1m to 1.3m (3 ft 3 in to 4 ft 3 in) and have a life expectancy of 50 years in the wild, some have been known to live until 70 and more in captivity. Condors are monogamous and mate for life. They usually nest in rocky hard to reach places at about 5,000m and lay between 1 and 2 eggs, usually 1, with a reproduction rate once every 2 to 3 years. What percentage of these hatchlings reach maturity is still uncertain but it takes these hatchlings around 6 to 11 years to reach sexual maturity, so as a species it's slow to recover in numbers. Condors are scavengers, feeding on carrion (decaying dead animals), despite this knowledge these majestic animals, in all of their territory within latin america, have been susceptible to misguided peasants and farmers who either poison or shoot them, seeing them as a threat to their livestock and livlihoods.
The first time I spotted the Andean Condor in Cocora was just before we were getting ready to leave. I happened to be taking some photo's of the valley and was lucky to have my camera on hand, just not lucky enough to have it switched on, in the right mode and ready to snap him as he he approached. I did manage to catch him as he he did his fly by though while I frantically got the camera in order. The background of the tall palm trees and mountains makes his size look unimpressive however, but these are tall trees (as tall as 60m) and the Andes mountain range after all. There are other vultures in this area, known locally as Gallinazo's but the Condor outmuscles these guys by considerable size. It's a moment I won't ever forget.
The next time I spotted the Condor was when I was working as a guide, our guests had a pair of binoculars with them so I was lucky to see the big guy circling the mountainside on a clear sunny day for a longer period of time. The white feathers on the rear of his wings makes him easy to spot but seeing him through the magnified lens I could see his bulky size, white fluffy collar and his featherless head. I could just make out the crown on his head along with the waddle on his neck. He can flush these red depending on his mood.
About 2 hours after we hiked in the opposite direction we paused to absorb the view before the sea of clouds that were rolling in over the mountains blanketed our view. We also took the opportunity to catch our breaths, then, out of nowhere he glided close to the ground right under our noses. I only had my smartphone with me this day but again I was lucky to catch him in motion and on video too. Ok, he looks more like a seagull when I reviewed the video later, smartphones are not designed for videography, but it's definitely the Andean Condor and i'm one of the lucky ones to have spotted him in his natural environment up close and personal.
So, when you visit Cocora, remember to keep your eye's to the skies and fingers crossed this magnificent bird makes an entrance and gives you a lasting memory of Paradise in Colombia.
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