11/8/2023 0 Comments Condor vs vulture![]() Differences in physical traits, behavior, diet, and nesting occur between condors and other vultures.The size and taxonomy distinguish condors from their vulture counterparts, as they belong to separate families.Condors are a type of New World vulture, while the term “vulture” includes both Old and New World species.From their distinct calls to the diverse locations they call home, condors and vultures are truly unique birds that captivate the attention of wildlife enthusiasts and researchers alike. As you dive deeper into the world of these fascinating birds, you’ll discover the unique characteristics that set them apart.Īs you explore further, you will uncover differences in their physical traits, behaviors, diets, and nesting habits that provide a deeper understanding of these incredible carrion feeders. “There must be a return to the natural order.Condors and vultures are often mistaken for one another due to their similarities in appearance and behavior, however, there are some important distinctions between these two remarkable birds.Įssentially, condors are a type of vulture, belonging to the New World vulture species, while the term “vulture” encompasses both Old and New World vulture species, including condors. “Today, we are living in conflict,” Jácome says. Some of the most crucial Patagonian lands where the birds have been released back into the wild are proposed for development for energy production, using wind turbines and green hydrogen. The data allows them to identify key habitats and educate policymakers about which areas should be targeted for protection. In addition to hatching, rescuing, and releasing condors, scientists with PCCA are using GPS-tracking collars to follow the birds once they return to the wild. Photographer and National Geographic Explorer Sofia Lopez Mañan is dedicated to recognizing this unique role the bird plays in Indigenous society and has spent the last six years working intimately with the PCCA “condor family.” More than anything, she says it felt like fate: “I started working with condors because they chose me.” The condor is a sacred bird for all our people in South America.” “One wing is scientific knowledge, and the other is culture. “Our work is like the two wings of the condor,” he says. To Jácome, this is an essential part of reintroducing the condor to its home. Many Patagonian villagers, he says, recall stories their grandparents told of the enormous birds, flying over the hills.īecause of this deep-seated connection with Andean peoples, every time the PCCA releases a condor, the local community hosts a unique ceremony, led by a spiritual leader, to celebrate the bird’s return and offer prayers. They’re the “spirit of the Andes,” says Luis Jácome, director of the PCCA. To many, the loss of the condor-and its slow resurgence-is personal and emotional. Now, for the first time in 170 years, the Andean condor can be seen coast to coast in Argentina. Local oral histories and historical references, such as Charles Darwin’s notes from his time there, have helped conservationists reconstruct that range. Right: Kurruf is one of 64 condors the program has released along Patagonia’s Atlantic coast as part of an effort to reestablish the Andean condor’s 19th century range. In doing so, the group has reestablished Andean condors along the Atlantic coast of southern Patagonia. ![]() In that time, the program has rescued at least 370 condors-more than five percent of the species’ overall population-and has hatched and released 80 condor chicks. The Andean Condor Conservation Program (PCCA) has been leading that effort in Argentina for three decades. But scientists, conservationists, and Indigenous communities are helping the iconic bird make a comeback. Deliberate hunting and poaching are rare, but still happens.Ĭlassified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only about 6,700 adult condors remain in the wild today. Some agricultural communities leave out poison bait to kill predators that prey on their livestock, a practice that also kills condors indirectly. Lead bullets, buried in carcasses abandoned by hunters, slowly poison the scavengers’ blood. Wind turbines and power lines can stop condors mid-flight. ![]() The illustrious vulture, however, hasn’t been able to withstand human encroachment. It’s the national bird of at least four countries. With a wingspan of 10 feet and a life span of 50 years, the bird has long been revered among Indigenous Andean cultures as a symbol of power and immortality. The Andean condor, a massive South American cousin of the California condor, once soared along the full length and breadth of the Andes and beyond. The world’s largest bird of prey is in trouble, and locals are working to save it. ![]()
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