Parque Condor and the Andean Condor

Overlooking Otavalo and the beautiful volcanic mountains that surround it, lies Parque Condor. This is one of the most picturesque and inviting avian parks I have visited and it has become a favorite destination for our family. Cobblestone paths wind through beautiful gardens and large bamboo cages that house the park's many birds. 

All of the park's winged inhabitants have been rescued, mainly from illegal traffickers or brought in due to gunshot wounds, car collisions and the likes. All birds that can be rehabilitated are released back into the wild and the rest find a reasonably nice home in the park. 

On our most recent visit (during the grandmas gone wild trip) there was a very special visitor at the park. A wild Andean Condor, one of only 40 left in the country, soared over the park and eventually landed on a rock outcropping just outside the captive condors cage. After several minutes, during which the captive male strutted around and did everything in his power to attract her, she spread her enormous wings(roughly 9-10 feet) and flew off into the mountains. 

At one time, Andean Condors were common in Ecuador but now they are considered a threatened species. Condors only lay one to two eggs every two years so even though there are a number of captive breeding sites in Ecuador, their populations are not likely to increase in the near future. In addition, there are still many people here who think that condors will kill and eat their livestock. For this reason they either shoot them or poison a dead animal so that the condors, who are members of the vulture family, die after consuming it. About twelve years ago, researchers found a poisoned animal with 12 dead condors around it. They estimate that it will take roughy 25 years to replace these 12 birds. Biologists and volunteers at Parque Condor and other environmental education sites around the country are actively educating the public about condors to hopefully end this type of needless killing. The Andean Condors are magnificent birds and I hope their numbers don't ever drop as low as their California Condor cousins. I feel very lucky to have seen one in the wild. 

The rare Oakes Condor