In grasslands, shrub cover is limited, and fires are often destructive to the nesting habitat for songbirds. Many will re-nest. Kirtland s warbler is an endangered songbird that requires fire for survival. It breeds only in the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan The California condor , one of the largest vultures in the western hemisphere, is nearing extinction because of the lack of fire in its habitat. It presently is restricted to a small area in the coastal mountains of California in the Los Padras National forest.
Vegetation is primarily chaparral.
Without burned openings in the chaparral, the bird is forced to feed in the lowlands. Frequently after gorging themselves, condors cannot achieve flight and will spend the night in a tree before returning to their young. If the birds can take off in the mountains where there are strong thermal breezes they probably have no difficulty in achieving flight and returning to their nestlings. Nutritive adequacy of their carrion food. Their change in diet to a higher proportion of domestic carrion might reduce the dietary calcium requirement of the California condors.