ventana wildlife society ( vws ) is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization founded in 1977 by a group of private citizens to restore endangered species native to central california .

vws has three full-time staff biologists , together with seasonal interns , monitoring , tracking and researching endangered species , songbirds and butterflies .

educational science programs for school children - offered in a variety of central coast locations - bring youth in touch with nature in their own neighborhoods , or through summer science camps .

ventana wildlife society

this camera is made possible by ventana wildlife society , oakland zoo and hdontap .
join ventana wildlife society or renew your membership today . ventana wildlife society is recognized by the internal revenue service as a 501 ( c ) 3 non - profit organization .
please note : the ventana wildlife society website has several recent photographs of the condors .
ventana wildlife society launches first ever condor cam in the wilds of big sur , california .
to mail payment : ventana wildlife society 9699 blue larkspur lane , ste . 105 monterey , ca 93940
to learn more about monarch butterflies and and the research ventana wildlife society is doing visit our monarch butterflies page .
8 . submitted artwork becomes the sole property of ventana wildlife society and may be edited and / or used for advertising .
ventana wildlife society researchers began releasing condors in big sur five years later ; releases at the pinnacles kicked off in 2003 .
ventana wildlife society executive director kelly sorenson , right , and wildlife biologist amy list monitor california condors on june 21 . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
the condor cave - some great news from ventana wildlife . . . | facebook
we ' re proud to display the logos of collaborators that help ventana wildlife society accomplish its mission , programs and services . we also thank our
this short video ( 3 : 22 ) tells how it all started for ventana wildlife society in the words of our co - founder , sal lucido .
ventana wildlife society ( founded in 1977 ) : in california alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction . ventana wildlife society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats . ventana wildlife society released 66 bald eagles to central california in the 1980 ' s and 90 ' s and began reintroducing california condors in 1997 . rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink , we focus on the present . we recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective . focusing on youth education , we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife . our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet , particularly in california . online at urltoken photo credit : joe burnett / ventana wildlife society
pinnacles national park joined the california condor recovery program as a release and management site in 2003 . the park currently co - manages 86 wild condors in central california with ventana wildlife society . for more information on individual condors , visit our condor profiles page and ventana wildlife society ' s profiles page . biologists use a variety of techniques to manage and monitor the population .
“if we don’t know what they’re doing , we don’t know what’s going wrong , ” said list , who works for the ventana wildlife society , which manages the condor sanctuary in big sur .
, which is a non - profit , 501 ( c ) 3 , organization . the society is dedicated to the preservation of native plants and animals through research , education , and restoration . by the efforts of the ventana wildlife society , condors are now seen throughout the mountains , coastal canyons and valleys of big sur . you can help in these efforts by donating time or money . please contact the ventana wildlife society directly if you would like to help .
copyright © 2012 ventana wildlife society , 19045 portola dr . ste . f - 1 , salinas , ca 93908 , phone : 831 - 455 - 9514 , fax : 831 - 455 - 2846
ventana wildlife society’s condor recovery program is seeking qualified students to assist with condor observations via internet - based , live - streaming video monitoring of a remote condor release site starting in january of 2015 .
copyright © 2007 ventana wildlife society , 19045 portola dr . ste . f - 1 , salinas , ca 93908 , phone : 831 - 455 - 9514 , fax : 831 - 455 - 2846
become a member ; get involved with the american ornithological society ( aos ) .
in california alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction . ventana wildlife society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats . rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink , we focus on the present .
we conduct a variety of research projects to further our mission to conserve native wildlife and their habitats . some of our research projects are conducted as ecological services , and designed specifically to meet the objectives of our clients . others are original ventana wildlife society research projects that we have designed to meet our own conservation objectives . we regularly publish our results in major peer - reviewed wildlife journals .
a california condor takes flight in the ventana wilderness . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
wolstenholme’s crew at the pinnacles co - manages the monterey county flock with the ventana wildlife society , a nonprofit conservation group based in salinas and big sur . the organization led efforts to restore california’s bald eagle population in the 1980s and 1990s , before turning its attention to condors .
big sur condor tours by the ventana wildlife society are on hold while crews rebuild the pfeiffer canyon bridge on highway 1 . construction is scheduled to end in september ; tours will resume after the road reopens . visit urltoken or call ( 831 ) 455 - 9514 for updates . sfchronicle article
in california alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction . ventana wildlife society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats . rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink , we focus on the present . we recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective . focusing on youth education , we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife . our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet , particularly in california .
phase 1 – effective july 1 , 2015 , nonlead ammunition required when taking nelson bighorn sheep and all wildlife on state wildlife areas and ecological reserves .
once lead treatment has been completed , zoo veterinarians plan to extract the pellets to determine the type of ammunition .
we are extremely grateful the bird is still alive , but dismayed this innocent condor was both lead poisoned and gunshot ,
said kelly sorenson , executive director of the ventana wildlife society .
view images of condors and other wildlife from trail cameras in pinnacles national park .
also known as the
condor sanctuary ,
this 80 - acre parcel of land is located in a coastal canyon in remote big sur , california surrounded by the ventana wilderness . this is the site where our bald eagle reintroduction program took place and is the current home of the california condor recovery program being led by ventana wildlife society . the property was purchased from sal and ada lucido at a bargain sale as they donated the majority of the value . the cash portion of the purchase was provided by the hind foundation and william r . hearst , iii as well as linda stevens , paula norwood , robert stephens , joyce harris and julian and helga sands . the story of how ventana wildlife society got its start narrated by co - founder sal lucido .
this site is for the american ornithological society ( aos ) and information on advancing the scientific knowledge and conservation of birds .
as of january 1 , 2017 currently there are over 250 + condors free - flying in the world , of which over 160 + are in california . ventana wildlife society is the only non - profit organization releasing and monitoring california condors in california . ventana wildlife society began condor releases in big sur in 1997 and then initiated a second release site in 2003 at pinnacles national monument in collaboration with the national parks service . currently , ventana wildlife society and the national parks service combined monitor a flock of over 86 wild condors in central california and at least ten breeding pairs . in order for california condors to become self - sustaining , they must be able to survive without intervention . the threats they face , such as lead poisoning from spent ammunition must be adequately addressed . to ensure the long - term survival of the species we have expanded our collaboration and non - lead outreach to include more hunters , ranchers and land managers that can provide safe , clean food supplies for the condors .
for more information contact : ventana wildlife society p . o . box 894 carmel valley , ca 93924 telephone : ( 831 ) 455 - 9514 urltoken notes from the field supplied by the ventana wildlife society . condor facts range : in 1800 , from baja california to british columbia ; reintroduced populations in central and southern california and in northern arizonafood : carcasses of large animals such as deer , cattle and sea mammals . wingspan : up to 11 feet weight : 20 to 25 pounds life span : 60 to 80 years ; they mate for life . reproduction : one egg every two years in the wild . flying ability : over 150 miles in a day .
directions : andrew molera state park is located 26 miles south of carmel , ca . the entrance to the park is on the west side of highway one . veer left when you see the signs for molera horseback tours and ventana wildlife society . go approximately 1 / 8th of a mile and the discovery center is on your left .
working to reduce the effects of contaminants and other stressful impacts on fish wildlife and their habitats and to plan , implement and monitor restoration projects so that fish and wildlife resources can be recovered .
protecting , enhancing and restoring important fish and wildlife habitats on public and private lands through partnerships .
the california condor recovery program ( recovery program ) is a multi - entity effort , led by the u . s . fish and wildlife service , to recover the endangered california condor . partners in condor recovery include the u . s . forest service , national park service , bureau of land management , arizona game and fish department , california department of fish and wildlife , utah department of fish and wildlife , the federal government of mexico , the yurok tribe , san diego zoo , los angeles zoo , oregon zoo , santa barbara zoo , chapultepec zoo , the peregrine fund , ventana wildlife society , and a host of other governmental and non - governmental organizations .
for the condor biologists at ventana wildlife society’s base camp , deep in big sur at the end of a steep 17 - mile dirt road , this was and is a normal activity . ( they set out the food – mostly stillborn calves donated from ranches , free of toxic lead bullets – after dark to help ensure that condors don’t start to associate humans with food . )
we recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective . focusing on youth education , we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife . our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet , particularly in california .
since 1977 ventana wildlife society has been involved with conservation ecology and species recovery . having successfully restored the peregrine falcon and bald eagle in our earlier days , we continue to restore the california condor through our reintroduction efforts in central california . we currently assist in managing california condors in the wild locally , with a goal of seeing 150 free - flying birds including 15 breeding pairs in central california .
three newcomers arrived to the release site this month . condor chicks r36 , r51 , and r54 were transported from los angeles zoo and san diego wild animal park to ventana wildlife society ' s big sur release site on january 24 , 2002 . these three chicks are 8 - 9 months in age and have joined r42 , r56 , r60 , and mentor condor r63 in the release pen .
u . s . fish and wildlife service home page | department of the interior | urltoken | about the u . s . fish and wildlife service | accessibility | privacy | notices | disclaimer | foia
u . s . fish and wildlife service ' s july 1999 proposed ( pdf ) rule to remove the bald eagle in the lower 48 states from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife ( . pdf )
in this wednesday , june 21 , 2017 photo , ventana wildlife society executive director kelly sorenson poses for a portrait inside a cabin used by researchers to study california condors in the ventana wilderness east of big sur , calif . three decades after being pushed to the brink of extinction , the california condor is staging an impressive comeback , thanks to captive - breeding programs and reduced use of lead ammunition near their feeding grounds . “we’re seeing very encouraging results that the condors can become self - sustaining again , ” said sorenson . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
given the success of bald eagle reintroduction , ventana wildlife society was requested by the us fish and wildlife service to join the california condor recovery program in a ten - year first phase effort to bring the condor back from the brink of extinction . vws is the first private non - profit in california to release condors . these majestic birds can be seen flying over the mountains and valleys of california ' s central coast . the goal of vws is to restore condors to california . the latest information about the released condors is summarized in the condor reintroduction notes from the field . ( field notes supplied by the ventana wildlife society ) click here to download an indexed copy of notes from the field from november 1998 to february 2001 ( pdf 128k ) click here to download our local tourist guide , big sur guide , in adobe pdf . ( 800k ) click here to download a birder ' s checklist of all the birds known to exist in big sur .
report condor sightings you can help with our research by reporting condor sightings . please include tag numbers if possible and if you get a photograph of the condor , please include that as well . if you have a condor sightings outside of the normal range of big sur & pinnacles national monument , these are of particular interest to us . learn more about condor cam . frequently asked questions about condor cam . watch video about the oakland zoo and ventana wildlife society ' s collaboration
pinnacles national monument is approximately 20 miles due east of the big sur and was a nesting site for a pair of condors back in the late 1890 ' s / early 1900 ' s . we hope the range expansion into a known historical nesting area will aid the condors as they approach breeding age and begin
house hunting
for new nest sites . check out our new webcam and view updated images of the mentor and six chicks within ventana wildlife society ' s release pen .
that’s exactly the goal of ventana wildlife society in bringing teens out to the field for these short programs ( night one is at andrew molera state park , night two at the base camp ) : they’re aiming to inspire a new generation of scientists , like gaya , but also to get people to care about the weird , ugly birds the nonprofit is devoted to protecting . the large scavengers , which help complete the food web , are endangered due to ddt and lead poisoning from spent ammunition .
a sudden shift in behavior by 286 was an indication the bird may have health problems .
we had been trying to capture him since late january because of signs of weakness and poor health ,
said ventana wildlife society biologist joe burnett . upon capture on march 4 , biologists noted the condor was wobbly on his feet . testing revealed a high lead level in his blood , indicating potentially fatal lead exposure . condor biologists immediately transferred the bird to the los angeles zoo for lead poisoning treatment .
we thank the following collaborators : u . s . fish and wildlife service , national park service , national fish and wildlife foundation , kinnoull foundation , sylvanus charitable trust , ruth smart foundation , biodiversity first ! , marisla foundation , and condor survival fund .
“it was actually going out and working with the wildlife and the ecosystem , while being in the ecosystem , ” she says .
phase 3 – effective july 1 , 2019 , nonlead ammunition will be required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in california .
conserving the nature of america by conserving fish , wildlife and plants and serving the people of california , nevada and the klamath basin .
since 1980 , dozens of birds were translocated to santa catalina island as chicks or eggs from wild nests on the mainland or from captive breeding ( institute for wildlife studies ) . in a second reintroduction effort , 66 eaglets were translocated and released from 1987 to 1995 in the central coast mountains south of monterey bay ( ventana wildlife society ) . the first nesting pair from those releases formed in 1993 , and many more pairs have established territories in the central coast range counties since then . from 1985 to 2007 the san francisco zoo , at its avian conservation center operated captive breeding efforts for bald eagles , hatching and releasing 103 eagle chicks on the channel islands of california .
notes from the field , september 2002 the national park service provided helicopter service to assist the ventana wildlife society in transporting condor pen materials to the new release site at pinnacles national monument . the successful operation took a full day and was a great collaborative effort between the national park service and ventana wildlife society . construction at the new site will begin after all the permits are finally in place , which will be sometime in early october of 2002 . the big sur wild condor population is holding strong at 17 birds with 7 captive condors still awaiting release this winter . all the condors in the big sur flock , with exception of w31 , continue their large - scale movements to the southernmost extent of their range near hopper mountain wildlife refuge . five condors from the big sur flock have been stopping over in the atascadero / paso robles area , almost halfway between the big sur and hopper mountain release sites , to feed on wild carcasses . local residents in atascadero and paso robles observed condors b70 , or9 , y90 , y92 , and y94 feeding on two separate deer carcasses . both deer were shot and killed illegally by poachers , greatly increasing the risk of lead poisoning to the condors which fed on those deer .
in 2003 , a fourth condor breeding center was established at the oregon zoo ' s jonsson center for wildlife conservation in clackamas county oregon .
park biologists , working closely with ventana wildlife society biologists , are specially trained and permitted to participate in biannual trapping of california condors in the spring and fall . during these trapping seasons , malfunctioning transmitters are replaced , measurements and samples are taken for research , and each condor’s blood is tested for lead levels . blood lead levels are monitored because lead poisoning remains the number one factor in condor mortality . condors with elevated lead levels are treated at pinnacles , los angeles zoo , or oakland zoo . you can find more information on our condors and lead information page .
we ' re proud to keep these two properties protected as wildlife sanctuaries in perpetuity and are honored by the incredible generosity of our donors that made it possible . if you are interested in going to either of these wildlife sanctuaries , we do offer a california condor sanctuary tour which you can view
timeline of condor recovery 1890 - estimated population at 600 birds . 1967 - listed endangered under the federal endangered species act . 1975 - california condor recovery program established . 1982 - first captive bred condor is born and population reached all - time low of 22 individuals . 1987 - last wild - born condor , ac9 , brought into captivity , 27 condors left . 1992 - first releases of captive - reared condors in to the wild in southern california by usfws . 1997 ; first release of condors to big sur by ventana wildlife society . 2000 ; ac8 becomes first wild - born condor to be released back to the wild . 2002 ; ac9 released back to the wild . 2002 ; april : first chick born in the wild in 18 years in southern california . 2003 ; national park service and ventana wildlife society start joint effort to release condors at pinnacles national monument . 2007 - first chick hatches in the wild in central california in over a 100 years . 2008 - nonlead ammunition required in condor range in california . 2012 - vws initiates free non - lead ammunition program . 2017 - total wild population ( ca , az , baja ) reaches 290 + birds .
as the fate of the species hung in the balance , ventana wildlife society began releasing captive - bred condors in 1997 to restore a population along the central california coast . since then , we have monitored their population growth , their prolific scavenging on marine and land mammals , and their success nesting in the wild . these magnificent birds are self - sufficient in most respects , but full recovery of the population is still threatened by lead poisoning . we continue to manage the central california flock with the national park service , moving ever closer to our goal of a self - sustaining population .
in 1987 , wildlife officials captured the last remaining 22 condors and took them to the san diego and los angeles zoos to be protected and bred in captivity .
connect with us and other u . s . fish and wildlife service programs through our social media
hub
and these additional new media applications . . .
wildlife biologist amy list shows some lead bullets like the ones that kill california condors after the bird eats a contaminated carcass . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
educating the public about the plight of endangered species is a critical element to any recovery program . current threats to condor survival are human induced and can be addressed through education and partnerships . lead poisoning , from ingesting ammunition fragments in carcasses , continues to be the number one threat to condor survival and the recovery program as a whole . since 2007 , pinnacles has partnered with the institute for wildlife studies and surrounding communities to promote the use of non - lead ammunition for hunting and ranching operations . in addition , ventana wildlife society has a non - lead ammunition program to assist hunters in accessing alternatives to lead . for more information about non - lead ammunition , visit urltoken and for more information on wildlife and lead visit our lead information page . in addition to these focused lead reduction efforts , biologists collaborate with the park’s interpretive branch to provide accurate and current educational programs to park visitors and school groups . park biologists can often be seen tracking on trails , and are happy to answer questions about the condor program .
carl young weather station at anderson peak , big sur , ca this weather station is dedicated to the memory of meteorologist carl young , son of vws co - founders ' sal and ada lucido . carl dedicated his life to weather research and died tragically in 2013 in pursuit of an ef - 3 tornado in oklahoma . the new weather station will help the vws condor crew avoid dangerous weather conditions in the mountains of big sur , just as carl ' s work helped warn people of dangerous tornados . carl was incredibly supportive of ventana wildlife society ' s work and spent many days of his youth and adult life in the field assisting his parents with vws ' s mission .
all ammunition in a hunter’s possession may be inspected by wildlife officers . in some cases , if a wildlife officer suspects a hunter is in possession of lead ammunition and cannot prove otherwise in the field , he or she may seize a cartridge or bullet for further analysis . hunters are encouraged to assist in confirming compliance by retaining ammunition boxes or other packaging .
visit our recent cam photos page to see a few screen grabs of other wildlife captured in the area . so far includes a buck , golden eagle , a raven . . .
each week of discovery camp , two spaces are available for teens interested in staying involved with ventana wildlife society . participants earn community or service learning hours and develop their skills as an outdoor leader . as an outdoor leader in training , teens will assist staff with organizing younger campers , help with camp set up , take down and meal preparation on thursday night , earning a letter documenting their time with this program . there is an opportunity to assist with or lead a group activity depending on comfort level as well . whether your camper has a strong interest in working with youth outdoors , or they are simply interested in one more summer with our camp - this is an exciting opportunity . same price as for ages 8 - 12 .
each pinnacles condor is outfitted with a visual id tag , at least one radio transmitter and some are also given a gps transmitter . these allow park biologists to track the movements and behaviors of the flock . condor staff and volunteers can often be seen tracking along the trails within the park or along the roads in the surrounding areas . pinnacles biologists regularly communicate with biologists from ventana wildlife society , who track in the big sur area , and us fish and wildlife biologists , who track in southern california , to monitor the entire california flock . additional sightings from the public help biologists track this far - ranging species . should i report a condor sighting ? any condor sightings can help pinnacles staff better understand our flock’s movements and behavior . especially if you see a condor engaging in potentially dangerous behaviors such as feeding along a road , approaching humans , or perching on manmade structures , please report the sighting as soon as possible .
federal officials said in august that for the first time in nearly 40 years , condors were roosting in the blue ridge national wildlife refuge , expanding to their historical range in the southern sierra nevada .
clean water . clean air . abundant wildlife . the national wildlife refuge system provides and protects 150 million acres of land and water in the united states , plus more than 418 million acres of national marine monuments . the national fish hatchery sysytem protects imperiled species and game fishes , including pacific salmon and native western trout . plants , salamanders and freshwater mussels are also beneficiaries to the work conducted by our scientists .
many breeding territories are being maintained and protected under local management plans . key winter habitats are monitored annually . public land agencies - such as the u . s . forest service and county and state parks - provide site protection and public viewing and education opportunities . california department of fish and wildlife protects bald eagle nesting , foraging and wintering habitats in various parts of the state on its ecological reserves and wildlife areas .
new condor country application , created by the santa barbara zoo and u . s . fish & wildlife service , is based on real practices , real locations , and real challenges facing condors in the wild .
the big news this month came from los angeles zoo . condor y79 , a 4 - year old male , was first released at our big sur site on january 30 , 1999 . he was recaptured shortly after his release on march 19 , 1999 , due to human - oriented behavior . his affinity with humans presented dangers to his own well - being as well as influencing the rest of the flock . the last 3 years he has been residing at the los angeles zoo ' s captive breeding facility and during that time has shown an improvement in behavior and flees at the site of people . based on these behavioral changes , ventana wildlife society decided that y79 deserved another shot at life in the wild and on august 13 , 2002 , he was transferred from the los angeles zoo to our big sur release pen .
in this wednesday , june 21 , 2017 photo , wildlife biologist amy list observes california condors up close from inside an enclosure in the ventana wilderness east of big sur , calif . three decades after being pushed to the brink of extinction , the california condor is staging an impressive comeback , thanks to captive - breeding programs and reduced use of lead ammunition near their feeding grounds . “if we don’t know what they’re doing , we don’t know what’s going wrong , ” said list . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
the giant vultures flap their wings and circle the sky before perching on branches and observing their observers . wildlife biologist amy list uses a handheld antenna to track the birds , which wear radio transmitters and numbered tags .
rimfire firearms are not legal in california for hunting or depredation take of big game animals or wild turkeys . rimfire firearms are legal for take of nongame species and small game mammals . beginning on july 1 , 2015 , certified nonlead rimfire ammunition will be required to take any wildlife species ( game and nongame ) on cdfw properties . the statewide requirement for use of nonlead rimfire when taking wildlife will go into effect on july 1 , 2019 .
since 1992 , when the u . s . fish and wildlife service ( usfws ) began reintroducing captive - bred condors to the wild , the usfws and its public and private partners have grown the population to 410 birds .
the condorkids ( youtube ) program , with support from the u . s . fish & wildlife service , santa barbara zoo and cornell lab of ornithology , is a pilot education and outreach effort that connects students with california condor conservation and recovery efforts .
to ensure that eagles continue to thrive , the u . s . fish and wildlife service worked with state wildlife agencies to monitor eagles . if it appears that bald eagles again need the protection of the endangered species act , the service can propose to relist the species . the service opened a 90 - day public comment period on july 9 , 2007 for the draft post - delisting monitoring plan . we evaluated comments on the plan and released the final bald eagle monitoring plan on june 3 , 2010 .
in this wednesday , june 21 , 2017 photo , a california condor sits perched on a tree branch in the ventana wilderness east of big sur , calif . three decades after being pushed to the brink of extinction , the california condor is staging an impressive comeback , thanks to captive - breeding programs and reduced use of lead ammunition near their feeding grounds . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
a list of cdfw wildlife areas and ecological reserves along with specific regulations for each can be found in the booklet , hunting regulations for waterfowl , upland game and department lands public use . maps can also be accessed using the cdfw land viewer tool or viewed at the cdfw website .
the pacific bald eagle recovery plan ( pdf ) , adopted by u . s . fish and wildlife service in 1986 , encompasses a seven - state area that includes california . california department of fish and wildlife participated on the recovery team that prepared the plan . the following recovery goals were established to guide and measure population recovery : 1 ) a minimum of 800 breeding pairs , 2 ) average annual productivity of at least 1 young per active breeding pair , 3 ) breeding population goals met for at least 80 % of management zones , and 4 ) no decline in major winter concentrations .
the bald eagle was added to the federal list of endangered species in 1967 , and to the california list of endangered species ( pdf ) in 1971 . the fish and wildlife service removed the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species in august 8 , 2007 , but remains endangered in california . although the fish and wildlife service removed the bald eagle from endangered status , the bird will still be protected by the migratory bird treaty act and the bald and golden eagle protection act . both laws prohibit killing , selling or otherwise harming eagles , their nests , or eggs . the fish and wildlife service has recently revised a final rule on two new permit regulations that would allow for the take of eagles and eagle nests under the bald and golden eagle protection act ( eagle act ) . also , the bald eagle is classified as a
fully protected bird ( pdf )
under california law .
in summer 2007 we piloted our condor wilderness camp for teens , taking small groups students to our remote condor sanctuary and base camp in big sur . the program gives youth a unique chance to take an active role in our condor reintroduction program and experience what it is like to be a field wildlife biologist . we believe that education at all levels is the foundation of any recovery effort , and that building passion for the environment is the first step toward building strong leadership and stewardship . we have also hosted these camps at pinnacles national park and bitter creek national wildlife refuge , both partners in the california condor recovery team .
california condors huddle around a watering hole in the ventana wilderness east of big sur , calif . ( ap photo / marcio jose sanchez ) after up to a year at the zoo , chicks are taken to a release site such as the big sur sanctuary , where a flock has grown to about 90 condors that travel between big sur and pinnacles national park . they scavenge , breed and raise chicks on their own , under the close watch of list , the wildlife biologist , and her colleagues . “i hope that i’m out of a job soon because condors don’t need to be managed in the future , ” she said . “i hope that they’re self - sustaining and wild and free , and nobody needs to trap or tag or monitor them at all . ”
in october 2013 , assembly bill 711 was signed into law requiring the use of nonlead ammunition when taking any wildlife with a firearm in california . this law requires the commission to adopt by july 1 , 2015 , regulations that phase - in the statute’s requirements , but it must be fully implemented by july 1 , 2019 .
notes from the field , february 2002 spring was in the air this month as we observed the first breeding attempt ever by the big sur flock . ventana wildlife society biologist , jessica steffen , watched male condor b64 perform a brief courtship display , wings half open and head down , to condor b71 . after the courtship display , b64 approached b71 , hopping onto her back , attempting to copulate . b71 accepted his advances , although both condors at five years in age are still too young and inexperienced to successfully breed . condors typically reach breeding age between 6 - 8 years of age . at that time they will establish a breeding territory and select a nest site . based on what we have seen so far , b64 and b71 could be well on their way to a life - long pair bond in the wild . the excitement kept rolling in this month as the big sur flock discovered a dead sea lion on the coast , just five miles north of the release site . this was the fourth dead marine mammal the condors have fed upon along the big sur coast and the second time at this particular rocky beach . b64 and b71 fed on a dead sea lion at this same rocky beach site in march of 1999 , the first wild feeding ever by the big sur flock .
you can see live footage of a captive california condor nest during the breeding season at san diego zoo global . you can visit the facebook page , the condor cave , to see live footage of a free - flying condor nest , or visit hopper mountain national wildlife refuge webcam . you can view images of free - flying condors at pinnacles national park .
meaningful experiences in nature are what inspires passion for stewardship - whether it be quietly journaling in the shade of a giant redwood , kayaking into elkhorn slough , or having a condor soar so close overhead that the rustle of its feathers can be heard . vws works to inspire hope for humans and wildlife to thrive together by offering meaningful educational experiences for all ages .
wildlife biologists had noted a marked change in the behavior of the condor , a male identified as # 286 ( all california condors are identified by studbook numbers ) . the 6 - year - old bird had previously been high in the pecking order in his flock , but toward the end of january younger and less dominant birds started picking on him . the salinas californian reports :
meaningful experiences in nature are what inspires passion for stewardship - whether it be quietly journaling in the shade of a giant redwood , observing ornithologists with songbirds in hand , or having a condor soar so close overhead that the rustle of it ' s feathers can be heard . vws works to inspire hope for humans and wildlife to thrive together by offering meaningful educational experiences for all ages .
phase 2 – effective july 1 , 2016 , nonlead shot required when taking upland game birds with a shotgun , except for dove , quail , snipe , and any game birds taken on licensed game bird clubs . in addition , nonlead shot required when using a shotgun to take resident small game mammals , furbearing mammals , nongame mammals , nongame birds , and any wildlife for depredation purposes .
monterey county weekly article about condor wilderness camp . this program is for teens interested in learning what it takes to be a wildlife field biologist working with endangered species . this is an intense field experience and is not for the faint of heart ! campers will meet condor biologists , learn about the condor reintroduction program , track wild condors using radio telemetry and participate in a work project benefiting the condors .
protection of nesting areas , restrictions on use of ddt , and other special wildlife management actions have allowed the population to rebound . the number of breeding pairs in the pacific states is approaching twice the minimum goal listed in the recovery plan , and progress in meeting the other criteria has been good . the status of the species has generally improved , as well , in the rest of the lower 48 states .
fieldnotes showcases the activities , events and conservation work of the u . s . fish and wildlife service here in the pacific southwest region . the articles inside are written by our employees and reflect the efforts of the service and our partners in conserving and preserving the unique natural resources here in california , nevada and the klamath basin . after you ' ve visited fieldnotes , follow us on these social media channels . . .
after the excitement of the feeding , a good portion of the big sur flock flew south 200 miles to hopper mtn . wildlife refuge . only w31 , or4 , and or99 remained in big sur and had the whole coast to themselves . these three took some nice flights north into the backcountry around pico blanco and bixby mtn . , returning on occasion to the release site to visit the chicks in the flight pen or to feed on a carcass .
there are now 276 california condors in the wild , but sorenson says it’s too early to declare victory : if vws were to stop their releases , the lead mortality in the flock would still outpace population growth . the solution , he says , is continued releases and outreach to hunters and ranchers , who sorenson says are increasingly receptive to the message about the dangers of lead bullets to wildlife . to that end , vws has distributed 4 , 500 boxes of copper ammunition since 2012 .
the question of how to save the condors has been strongly debated in the conservation community . a distinguished panel set up jointly by the national audubon society and the american ornithologists ' union despaired of being able to save the species in the wild . the panel was convinced that irresponsible hunters would continue to shoot the condors , that the birds could not be protected from pesticide contamination , and that their habitat would continue to shrink and deteriorate . to learn more of their biology , the panel recommended initiation of a
hands - on
conservation program , including capturing of most remaining adults , keeping them captive long enough to determine their sex ( by means of a simple surgical procedure ) , and placing radio transmitters on them , before releasing them .
the regulation phases - in the requirement to use certified nonlead ammunition depending on where and what you are hunting . the first phase begins july 1 , 2015 , and requires use of nonlead ammunition when hunting on all cdfw properties and for all 2015 bighorn sheep hunts . effective july 1 , 2016 , hunters using shotguns will be required to use certified nonlead ammunition to take upland game species ( except for dove , quail , snipe , and any species taken on licensed game bird clubs ) , fur - bearing and nongame species , and any species taken under the authority of a depredation permit . shotgun ammunition containing pellets composed of materials approved as nontoxic by the u . s . fish and wildlife service , as identified in title 14 section 507 . 1 , is considered certified . effective july 1 , 2019 , the use of certified nonlead ammunition will be required statewide when taking any wildlife . the new regulation does not modify the existing requirements to use certified nonlead ammunition when taking big game and nongame within the california condor range .
the regulations do not require use of nonlead ammunition when target shooting . use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless cdfw or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer . the regulations do not prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition , provided the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife . with the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection , hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition in locations where nonlead ammunition is required .
many organizations are collaborating to recover the california condor so that this species can once again fly free . these include united states fish and wildlife service , california department of fish and game , oakland zoo , los angeles zoo , san diego wild animal park , usda forest service , national park service , arizona game and fish , peregrine fund , oregon zoo . to recover a species over such a large geographic area requires the coordinated effort by many dedicated organizations . the recovery goals for the species overall are to have 150 individuals inthe wild each in arizona and california / baja mexico . the goal is to have 15 breeding pairs in each area with a population that is self - sustaining and growing .
a crucial part of any endangered species recovery program is documenting and addressing threats . through tracking efforts , biologists are able to recover deceased condors from the field and submit them for necropsy and analysis in an attempt to determine the cause of death . gaining an understanding of threats to the species assists the recovery program in addressing these hazards . in 2012 researchers published a paper ( rideout et al . , 2012 ) examining condor deaths in the wild from 1992 - 2009 . a definitive cause of death was determined on 76 out of 100 condors recovered and the leading cause of death was lead poisoning , representing 30 % of known condor mortalities . efforts to reduce lead exposure in all wildlife have increased due to this understanding . learn more about condors and lead . .
today , lead poisoning is a serious problem for the birds in the wild . in an effort to get the lead out of condor range , the governor signed assembly bill 821 ( ridley - tree condor preservation act ( pdf ) ) in 2007 to create a
non - lead
zone relative to hunting within the range of the california condor . in 2008 , the california fish and game commission adopted regulations to implement this law . in 2013 , the governor signed assembly bill 711 which requires the use of nonlead ammunition statewide for the taking of all wildlife , including game mammals , game birds , nongame birds , and nongame mammals . full implementation of this law is required by july 2019 . for more information on nonlead see the section below , condors and lead .
historically , bald eagles were widespread and abundant in california , but no historical information exists on population size . by the late 1960s and early 1970s , when the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species , fewer than 30 nesting pairs remained in california - - all in the northern third of the state . contaminants across the landscape posed a serious problem for bald eagles . shortly after world war ii , ddt pesticide was used extensively to control mosquitoes and other insects . it was later determined that ddt and its residues were poisoning bald eagles causing egg shell thinning that resulting in many failed nesting attempts . ddt also affected other species such as peregrine falcons and brown pelicans . ddt was banned in the united states in 1972 due to it ' s negative effects on wildlife species . another contaminant causing bald eagles deaths is lead . lead has and is still poisoning bald eagles throughout the united states when eagles inadvertently feed on contaminated prey or carcasses .
html public
- / / w3c / / dtd xhtml + rdfa 1 . 0 / / en
urltoken
perilously close to extinction in the lower 48 states three decades ago , the bald eagle has made a remarkable comeback , owing to restrictions on contaminants , enforcement of protective laws , and special management programs designed to improve its reproductive success and survival .
the bald eagle ( haliaeetus leucocephalus ) , our national symbol and one of north america ' s largest birds , weighs about 8 to 14 pounds and has a wingspan of 6½ to 8 feet . females are larger than males , and birds of northern states and provinces tend to be larger than those from the southern portions of the breeding range . adults are dark brown with a pure white head and tail . younger birds are mostly brown , mottled with varying amounts of white . they acquire their adult plumage at 4 or 5 years of age .
the range of this raptor is wholly within north america , including alaska , canada , the lower 48 states , and northwest mexico . bald eagles in winter may be found throughout most of california at lakes , reservoirs , rivers , and some rangelands and coastal wetlands . the state ' s breeding habitats are mainly in mountain and foothill forests and woodlands near reservoirs , lakes , and rivers . most breeding territories are in northern california , but the eagles also nest in scattered locations in the central and southern sierra nevada mountains and foothills , in several locations from the central coast range to inland southern california , and on santa catalina island .