Parque Condor

While in Otavalo, twice we drove to Parque Condor and twice we struck out!  Is that any way to do a tourist business, I ask you?  The first time we went, they were closed due to some sort of  maintenance.  Really?  The second time they were open, but did not have the condor show because of the rain.  The rain affects the show because they release the falcons and condors for a flight demonstration and rain apparently isn't good for the demonstration (no, I don't know why).  But, our second trip wasn't a total loss because at least we were able to enter the park and walk around all the exhibits.

 

At Parque Condor you get an up-close view of Andean condors as well as eagles, owls, falcons and hawks.  This Dutch-owned foundation which rehabilitates these and other birds of prey is perched on the steep hillside of Pucara Alto, very close to town.  The park opened approximately six years ago and is now home to over 70 birds of prey.

 

 Here is the entrance to Parque Condor. We never made it past this gate the first time!

  Malin (left) and Romy (right) in front of the entrance wall.

 Gary in front of the entrance wall.

 This might be a Black Chested Buzzard Eagle.  And then again, it might not be!  I took photos of some of the bird signage and then some I just didn't!  It was a random sign picture taking day, what can I say?  Plus, many of the birds I couldn't get photos of because they were in aviaries and the fencing just didn't allow for good photos because my camera had a tendency to focus on the fencing thus causing the fowl to be blurred.  You can actually see the fencing in these two below.

 

The condor is an Andean symbol an identifiable to Ecuadorians as the bald eagle is to Americans.  Just like the bald eagle, the condor also lives under the threat of extinction.  Estimates put the wild population at around 40-60 birds.  There are two at Parque Condor and they are HUGE.  You really can't see just how big this birdy is from this photo, but it was really big--take my word for it.

 

 

 I'm sure you can figure out what this majestic creature is!

 

 

 

 Here's Romy at the amphitheatre.

  Here's Malin on the steps of the amphitheatre.  Isn't that the cutest little hat on her?

The stone amphitheatre (below) is where they awe tourists with their flight demonstrations.  Unfortunately, we were not in the awed category.

  

The next three shots are views of the valley from the amphitheatre.

 

Here I am with that spunky little granddaughter, Malin, having loads of fun with Grammy.

 The grounds were also magnificent.  The stone pathways throughout were laid to connect the various aviaries built to house the condors, falcons, condors and hawks.

 

This is just some of the beautiful flora and fauna that lined the stone paths. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Song of Solomon 2:12-13
The flowers have already appeared in the land; the time has arrived for pruning the vines, and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its figs, and the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.  Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along!