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© Heinz Plenge |
The Andean Condor is one of the largest birds on earth. An adult male can weigh about 12 kilos and measure between the extremes of its beak and tail 1.30 meters. Its spread in flight can reach 3.50 meters. The Andean condor prefers roosting and breeding at elevations of 10,000- 16,000 ft (3,000 to 5,000 m).
There, on inaccessible ledges of rock, its nest consisting merely of a few sticks placed around the eggs. Depending almost entirely on strong, warm wind currents to support its soaring flight, the Andean condor is found in regions of high altitude and strong wind. It can fly over about 7000 meters of altitude and in favorable climatic conditions it can maintain the flight during a certain time at about 55 Km/hour.
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Condor, © PromPeru |
In Inkan times, the Condor or "Apu Kuntur" was considered a very special divinity, believed to be a messenger from the sun God. This majestic bird was represented in much of their artwork and jewelry. An ancient myth tells of the condor daily lifting the sun into the sky, and returning it safely to a sacred lake each night.
One of best known Peruvian songs is El Cóndor Pasa (The condor passes), composed by Peruvian musician Daniel Alomía Robles. To many people the condor nowadays still is the symbol of the Andes, as well as being a symbol of strength and majesty.
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Condor, painted on a Peruvian artisan fishing boat, symbolizing strength |
But centuries of habitat loss, dwindling food supplies, human persecution, and the impact of the pesticide DDT on the bird's reproductive success have restricted once-robust populations of the bird to remote sections of the high Andes in Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Andean condors are clearly adapted for exceptionally low mortality and reproductive output, and are therefore highly vulnerable to human persecution, which persists over most of its range owing to alleged attacks on livestock. Even if people do not directly hunt the condor, they often put out poisoned carcasses in order to kill pumas or the condors themselves. Condors fall victim to these carcasses.
Become a Mundo Azul conservation volunteer and help protecting the Andean Condor
Why do we need condors and other vultures?
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© Heinz Plenge |
Many people think of vultures as ugly and dirty. This is not true however. As an adaptation for hygiene, the head and neck have few feathers, exposing the skin to the sterilizing effects of dehydration and ultraviolet light at high altitudes, and are meticulously kept clean by the bird.
Of course, a diet of dead and decaying flesh would turn our stomachs inside out. But think of how our landscape would look without the help of the vulture. Serving as nature's janitors, these wonderful birds fly about, stomaching the most revolting of cuisine, and ridding our ecosystem of maggots and disease-carrying viruses in the process. With 100 times the botulism of a human, the stomach of a vulture can digest meat in advanced stages of decay, a favor to every other creature in the world.
Become a Mundo Azul conservation volunteer and help protecting the Andean Condor
Read more about the condors natural history
Read more about the condors conservation status