BIG SUR  (AP) — A solar-powered "condor cam" in the hills of Big Sur, on the Central California coast, allows the public to view North America's largest birds from the comfort of home.

The San Jose Mercury News the live-streaming camera went online Monday.

It already has captured video of the birds feeding and preening in the wild. There are only about 430 of the massive, vulture-like birds alive in the world today.

Kelly Sorenson, executive director of Ventana Wildlife Society, says the camera is aimed at a main feeding area, and allows scientists to zoom in on each bird so they can identify them.

Like the panda-cam at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the condor cam uses inexpensive video technology to help the public interact with wildlife.

The camera can be found at www.ventanaws.org.