Grand Canyon - Sunset at Grandview Point - August 2002

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After the hike, we drove up to Grandview Point to see the Sunset. We sat back and relaxed at the rim for about 3 hours. You have more appreciation for the view when you have actually hiked down in the canyon earlier in the day. While sitting at the edge of the canyon cliff, a large group of turkey vultures played follow-the-leader, tag, and speed soaring. The quiet evening ambience was only broken by the whispering sound of the birds' 6 foot (1.8 m) wingspan. The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a close cousin to the endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus). A reintroduction program that started in 1996 is now showing results, and there are currently about 30 condors enjoying their natural canyon habitat. The California condor dominates these wide open spaces with its graceful flight. Not even the immensity of the Grand Canyon can minimize the condor's 9.5 foot (3 m) wingspan. Although we could not identify any condors in the sky, you have a good chance of spotting a condor if you look for it. These birds cover more distance than we do in a whole day of hiking. They have very keen senses of sight, smell and hearing. They find food by sight and also by an extremely acute sense of smell which is capable of detecting parts per trillion and discerning from which direction they came. The Turkey Vultures is known to be the most graceful soaring bird in the world. When soaring they hold their wings in a dihedral or "V" shape and they seldom flap. Most other large birds hold their wings straight out and flap frequently. Turkey Vultures live and work together, in cooperation and friendliness. They communicate with friends and neighbors when they find something to eat. They let the others know where the food is. And when there is a big feast they communicate with neighboring flocks in distant roosts. Also, when they find food they will go to the California Condors and lead them to it. We had a few close calls where the vultures would fly in and try to catch Petter's pretzels. They are very fast, and it can be quite scary to be approached by an incoming flyby from these large steatlhy birds. This vulture is floating effortlessly above the rim. It follows the thermals and updrafts with an instinct admired by experienced glider pilots. It can "feel" the air as it plays updrafts and minor variations with his wing-tip fingers. Nice view of the North rim just before sunset. Canyon valleys are gradually left in the shade as the sun sets. Nice view of the North rim -- colored in red as the sun sets.

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