SOARING vs FLYING: The condor bird

 photo taken on May 11, 2011 of a condor bird soaring over the Grand Canyon.

Photo taken of same condor soaring towards the sun.

 

SOAR:  to rise high, to tower in thought or imagination.

FLY: to move through the air by the aid of wings.

I watched this California condor "soaring" above the Grand Canyon. This bird is an endangered species and is one of the world's rarest bird species. As of April 2011, there are 384 condors known to be living, including 181 in the wild. Unlike most birds that "fly", the condor soars. They rarely flap their wings, but use and allow the wind to guide them. They make flying look effortless. 

Some birds never fly like the ostrichs, penguins, emus.

Some birds fly and can only stay in flight by flapping their wings quickly.

and very few birds soar.

.....symbolic of  humans as well.

BTW:

Here are a couple of interesting facts about the condor bird. The condor is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. These birds may live for 50 years or more, and mate for life. The world's oldest condor died at 100. The lack of a large sternum to anchor correspondingly large flight muscles identifies it physiologically as a primary soarer. The birds flap their wings on rising from the ground after attaining a moderate elevation they seem to sail on the air. The wings of the largest, when expanded are said to extend 15 feet.