Tracy Aviary unveiling new sculpture in honor of Andy N. Condor
Sep 6, 2024, 10:29 AM | Updated: 12:24 pm
Andy N. Condor and Keeper Helen Dishaw. The keeper of a condor that spent 63 years at Tracy Aviary was brought to tears after seeing a sculpture created in his honor. (Helen Dishaw)
(Helen Dishaw)
SALT LAKE CITY — The keeper of a condor that spent 63 years at Tracy Aviary was brought to tears after seeing a sculpture created in his honor.
Tracy Aviary’s Helen Dishaw spent the last 13 years caring for its longest-standing resident, Andy N. Condor. She would walk the grounds with the vulture to greet visitors every day.
The condor that garnered over 20,000 followers from around the world on Facebook, because of his unique charm and trust in humans, died of natural causes just over a year ago.
“I loved him, yes, but there’s so many — thousands of people that loved him and cried real tears at his loss,” Dishaw said.
For her, life at the aviary hasn’t been the same without Andy.
“[He was] just one in a million,” Dishaw said. “Like, unbelievably irreplaceable.”
Despite her grief, she has devoted the past nine months to helping artist Adam Matano craft a bronze sculpture commemorating Andy.
“It looks just like him,” Dishaw said.
The official unveiling will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. near the entrance of Tracy Aviary
Eric Cabrera is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio. You can follow him on Instagram.
Related: Tracy Aviary condor, Andy N. Condor, has passed away
