While hiking Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, Jessica Harrington and a group of hikers had an up-close encounter with one of North America’s largest and rarest species.
And it all began with a rush of wind from overhead.
As the group made their way up the trail, two California condors passed above them — their nearly 10-foot wingspans stirring the air with surprising force.
“The breeze and energy that we felt as they flew over was really palpable!” Harrington told The Dodo.
Moments later, something even more remarkable happened. One of the condors landed on a crag mere feet away from where Harrington and the others were about to pass, putting his majestic form on full display.
“There was definite reverence in the air, as we were all in awe that this was happening,” Harrington said.
“The condor sat there as many people cautiously walked past it. It seemed curious of us just as much as we were curious about it,” Harrington said. “The size was unbelievable. It is very much a creature of strength.”
The condor, one of only a few hundred in the wild, bore a tag that allows researchers to track his movements and behavior.
Jessica Harrington
Just a few decades earlier, future sightings of California condors were in jeopardy. Due to various harmful human activities, the condor population had collapsed to just 27 individuals in the early 1980s. Thanks to conservation efforts put in place to save them, however, their numbers have since rebounded.
Harrington’s encounter that day serves as a reminder of what was nearly lost.
“It was by far the highlight of the hike. I know they are rare,” Harrington said. “I feel lucky that it gave me the opportunity to see it up close.”
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