Andean Condor » Our Endangered World Andean Condor up close courtesy of Drriss Andean Condor portrait courtesy of Nathan Rupert Andean Condor looking straight courtesy of Nathan Rupert Andean Condor flying courtesy of Eric Miraglia Andean Condor courtesy of Anthony Status: Near threatened Estimated numbers left in wild: Several thousand; no accurate figures are available Description The Andean condor is classified as a raptor, a bird of prey, and as such, is the largest of this type in the world. This is a very large and heavy bird, with a wingspan up to 320 centimetres and a beak to tail length between 100 centimetres and 130 centimetres. These birds can weigh 15 kilograms. Not only are the male birds larger than the females, but they are also distinguished by their wattles and comb. Both sexes sport a fluffy white collar, while the predominant body colour is black with white secondary wing feathers. This condor has a long lifespan, 50 years or more. Diet: Andean condors are scavengers, meaning that they feed mostly on dead animals, although they have been known to take sea birds and eggs.

Their beaks are not as strong as those of eagles and hawks, however, but are suited to tearing open carcasses. The lack of feathers on the head is an adaptation that keeps the bird cleaner when eating, and their digestive system has evolved to handle bacteria so that the condor will not become ill from eating rotten meat. Because the condor locates carcasses by sight, rather than by smell, it tends to avoid forested or brushy areas where spotting dead animals could be difficult or impossible. Areas such as these might also present problems with the bird getting airborne again, too. The Andean condor will sometimes fly 120 kilometres in a day in search of food. Yellow: Extant (resident) (Source IUCN Red List) Breeding: The Andean condor mates for life and nests at high elevations. It is thought that because of the heavy weight of the bird, it needs the altitude and strong air currents found in mountainous regions to get off the ground easily. The female lays one egg every other year right on the bare rock ledge and both parents participate in incubation and care of the chick.

The chicks are not able to fly until they are 6 months old, and remain under their parent’s care for two years. Location: The Andean condor is found all along the western coast of South America, along the ridge of the Andes Mountains, although it is rare in the northern section of its range. Although mountains are its favourite locale, it is sometimes found in deserts, grasslands, or along the shore. Conservation Threats: Humans have moved into some of the areas formerly used by the condors, and it is now very rare in Colombia and Venezuela. The Andean condor is sometimes killed by farmers who believe that it is attacking their livestock. Another threat comes from the primitive belief that different body parts of the condor will treat certain ailments – it is thought that cancer can be cured by eating the condor’s stomach, and that a person will get sharper eyesight by eating the eyes. Poisons used to kill predatory animals are sometimes ingested by the condor, and pesticide residues could be affecting fertility and overall health. Conservation efforts: Although numbers of the Andean condor had dipped perilously, efforts to save this species have been successful so far.

North and South American captive breeding, combined with release in the birds’ home range, has helped numbers of the condors to climb. The hand reared, released birds have bred in the wild. Organisations Do you know of or are you a part of an organisation that work to conserve the Andean Condor, then please contact us to have it featured on Our Endangered World. Condor Species Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) : Birds.com: Online Birds Guide with Facts, Articles, Videos, and Photos Browse > Home / Species / A-B / Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) Oftentimes when people think of vultures they think of an ugly, onimous bird, gloomily waiting around for the death of other creatures, a nightmarish bird. However, vultures play a vital role in our ecosystems and are certainly nothing to fear as they clean-up the landscape. Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus), part of the vulture family, are the largest flying birds on the Earth.

Originally they could be seen in the skies of Tierra del Fuego right along the South American Andes mountain range. Sadly, hunting led to a reduction in numbers and Andean Condors teetered on the brink of extinction. In 1973 the Andean Condor bird species was marked on the Endangered Species list . For many years South American’s have seen the powerful, huge Andean Condor as a symbol of health and strength. Villagers have sought the bones and organs of this fine creature for medicinal purposes and thus they were, and continue to be, subject to hunting. Habitat loss as well as air, water and food pollution have also led to a drastic reduction in the numbers of Andean Condors. Fortunately, though, various organizations have been involved in the conservation of this remarkable bird species, resulting in improved numbers of Andean Condors in certain localities. As the world’s largest flying bird, the Andean Condor weighs between 9 and 12 kgs, or 20 to 30 pounds as an adult. Their impressive wingspan extends 10 feet or 3 meters assisting them to stay aloft for hours on rising air currents.

Andean Condors are black, their wings are patched with white and they have a white ruff around the area of the neck. They have bare heads and the males are recognized by their fleshy comb. Wild Andean Condors can live to the age of 50 years, whilst captive birds have been known to live to about 75 years. Condors mate for life, and their nests are carefully constructed on cliff ledges, with eggs are often being laid on bare rock. In fact, this is a great locality for a nest as it affords a measure of protection from potential predators. Andean Condors are slow breeders and mating typically takes place every second year in July depending on food availability. The courtship display involves unusual hissing and clucking noises accompanied by the male strutting with his wings out. Incubation of the single egg lasts 54 to 58 days. Both of the condors will care for the young one until its second year. Andean Condors spend much of their day soaring on the updrafts of warm air currents. They forage over a vast area relying on their outstanding vision to spot their main food source – carrion.

Once a meal has been spotted they will descend to feed with other carrion eaters such as the Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture and King Vulture. Interestingly Andean Condors have an eating hierarchy with males of all ages dominating. Their bald head is perfectly adapted for dining on carrion as the bird is able to reach right into the carcass without feathers becoming soiled. Andean Condors will also feed on bird eggs and newborn animals should it be necessary. Andean Condors are a truly remarkable bird species worthy of conservation efforts and very important for the continued functioning of South American ecosystems. Species Profile: Andean Condor | Conservacion Patagonica News Conservacion Patagonica News Creating the Future Patagonia National Park Menu Donate! Species Profile: Andean Condor One of the largest and longest-living birds on earth, the Andean condor is a symbol of power, health and liberty for the people of Patagonia. On a clear morning at the Patagonia National Park Project, it is a wonderful treat to see the massive condor soaring down out of the Andes, skimming over the canopy of the southern beech forests with smooth, almost motionless flight.

Andean condors are truly impressive in size, as tall as 1.2 meters and with the largest wingspan of any living bird, measuring as much as 3 meters. These huge birds can weigh up to 26 pounds—that’s massive for a flying creature. In order to get around efficiently with all that bulk, the Andean condor prefers to roost high up on the bare cliffs of the Andes, where it can catch a strong thermal updraft in the warm morning air. Under good conditions, the condor can fly as far as 300km in a single day, soaring as high as 16,400 feet. Andean condors have a very long lifespan, reaching up to 50 years or more in the wild. They will reach sexual maturity in 6-8 years, at which point most birds will mate for life. Each mating pair will produce a single chick every two years. The female lays her egg on a bare cliff ledge, and both parents share the duty of incubation. The chick will not learn to fly until it is 6 months old, and will rely on its parents for another two years before it can survive on its own.

Andean condors live on a diet comprised mainly of the carrion of large mammals, though it has been known to feed on weak newborn animals and the eggs of seabirds along its coastal range. The condor’s bald head is actually a clever adaptation designed to maintain hygiene when feeding on some less savory carcasses. All throughout Patagonia, the condor’s original food sources–mainly large herds of guanacos–have become scarce in the last century as native grasslands have been transformed into estancias. The condor has adapted to feed on livestock carrion, drawing the ire—and the bullet fire—of ranchers who believe the bird to be killing their stock. On the contrary, lacking talons or other natural weaponry as a hawk or falcon might have, the condor is incapable of taking down live prey of the size of a sheep or a cow. Due to the increasing human impacts on critical habitat corridors in the last half-century, the Andean condor is now in serious danger of extinction, with populations across South America in severe decline. Poaching and poisoning by both ranchers and recreational hunters alike have devastated wild populations, and low reproduction rates have meant even greater population instability.

The viability of young condors has also been compromised by increasing pesticide concentrations throughout the food chain. As populations of its native food sources like the guanaco begin to bounce back and stabilize in the Patagonia National Park project, we hope to see increasing numbers of Andean condor chicks surviving into adulthood, and going on to fulfill their place as the elegant scavengers of the Andean steppe and mountains of Patagonia. Yet we alone cannot recover condor populations, as these large birds cover vast amounts of territory in their movements. Keeping condors safe from poison and bullets requires increasing regional awareness and pride in these magnificent creatures. Share this: Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) in Explore Raptors: Facts, habitat, diet | The Peregrine Fund How The Peregrine Fund is helping The Peregrine Fund has been supporting conservation and research for the Andean Condor in Ecuador (since 2008), Chile (2008-2009), Bolivia (since 2011) and Argentina (since 2012). Our support helps local biologists and students research and monitor wild populations and helps with captive breeding, environmental education, and community participation programs.

Since 2010, The Peregrine Fund, as a member of the Andean Condor Working Group, has been providing scientific advice to the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador on condor conservation, and since mid-2011 conducting collaborative research on movements and habitat use of Andean Condors. Where they live As its name suggests, the Andean Condor inhabits much of the Andes Mountain range along the Pacific coast region of western South America. It can be found from Colombia and northwestern Venezuela, all the way south to Tierra del Fuego. This large scavenger can be seen soaring over high montane canyons and peaks throughout the Andes or along the coast in the southern part of its range. It often soars over open grassland areas as it searches for food. What they do With the longest wingspan of any raptor, Andean Condors are built for soaring and they do so effortlessly. Soaring makes it possible for them to fly for long periods of time without expending much energy. They only need to flap their wings occasionally; the rest of the time, they are floating on air. When you see a soaring condor, notice that the tips of its wings are pointing up.

This helps with soaring by reducing drag, or air resistance. People who design airplanes have used this same feature on some airplane wings. Adult Andean Condors are unmistakable with their large black bodies, white neck ruff and featherless heads. Juveniles are grayish-brown with no white neck ruff. Of all the New World Vultures, the Andean Condor is the only one that shows sexual dimorphism, which means there is a visible difference in size and physical characteristics between the male and the female. The males are larger than the females and they have a comb on top of their heads, which the females lack. Male condors are born with this comb and each one is unique. Biologists take photos of the male condors and learn to identify individuals by the patterns of wrinkles on their combs and faces. Males have yellow eyes, while the female's eyes are red. At night, Andean Condors all get together to sleep. They can be found in relatively large numbers, roosting on inaccessible cliffs and rocky outcrops. These areas are up high to help keep them safe from ground predators.

If you are ever lucky enough to see an Andean Condor, you may notice that they often perch with their wings outspread, sunning themselves. Condors, like many birds and even humans, enjoy the feel of the warm sun on their backs. Condors spread their wings to allow the most sunlight to reach as many of their feathers as possible. They sun to stay warm and to keep their feathers healthy. Like the California Condor, the Andean Condor poops on its own legs from time to time! Scientists believe that California Condors do this to help them stay cool in warm weather. Temperatures in the Andes are much cooler, so scientists believe that certain properties in the uric acid help disinfect their legs to help keep them clean. Why they need our help The Andean Condor is suffering widespread declines, especially in the northern part of its range. They are endangered in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador and vulnerable in many other parts of South America. As with many raptor species, these birds are shot and poisoned, or some die due to a changing landscape and a lack of adequate food.

In one case, Andean Condors could be found at sea bird colonies in Peru, but there they came into conflict with guano workers. It is the job of a guano worker to collect sea bird excrement to be used as fertilizer. The guano workers wanted to stop the condors from feeding on nestling seabirds so that these young birds could grow up and produce more guano for them to collect. That is why Andean Condors were killed off in some of these coastal areas. In some countries, people capture condors for their rituals. Most often, the Andean Condors die a very slow death. In one ritual, the condor is tied to the back of a bucking bull. In another, the bird is tied to a frame and hit over and over until it dies. Many people in these countries are protesting these activities and trying to put a stop to them. What they eat Andean Condors, like other vultures, are principally carrion eaters, which means they eat animals that are already dead. However, some people who live in condor habitat have reported that these large birds occasionally also take newborn animals, such as cows and goats.

Andean Condors search for prey by soaring far and wide, using their keen eyesight to spot a meal. They are also attracted to large congregations of other raptors or scavengers, as this usually means that there is a feast to be had somewhere nearby. Andean Condors generally feed on large carrion, such as the remains of deer, cow, sheep, and the like, though they will eat smaller animals when they can find them. Usually, several condors gather at a single carcass. When the carcass is large, they tend to feed mainly on soft body parts and viscera, which basically means the guts. Because of their large size, Andean Condors are dominant over all other avian scavengers at a carcass. As nature's clean-up crew, condors and other carrion eaters often eat organisms in dead and decaying animals that are harmful to humans and the environment. They help keep us safe and the environment clean! Condors like to be clean, too. In fact, it is important for all birds to keep their feathers neat and well-groomed. But you’ve never seen a bird with a hair brush, right?

Instead, they use their beaks to clean, or preen, their feathers. Like all vultures, condors have very few feathers on their heads. When they eat, they sometimes put their heads deep into the cavities of rotting, stinky carcasses. If particles of this meat got deep into their feathers, they might cause bacteria or germs to grow. A bald head helps keep condors clean. Nest, eggs and young During courtship season, the male works hard to impress the female. He walks around with wings spread, making all kinds of unusual and interesting noises. When the time is right, the female lays one chalky white egg. Andean Condors don't build their own nests. Instead, they lay the egg right on the substrate in a natural cavity in rock piles or in a cave high in cliff. The embryo inside the egg needs a long time to develop. The female must incubate the egg for almost two months – a few days longer than a Harpy Eagle must incubate her egg. Once the egg hatches, the chick grows quickly. The parents must work hard to bring it enough food so it will grow into a healthy bird.

Condors can’t carry food in their feet like most birds of prey. Instead, the adults store food for their young in their crop, a special pouch inside their throats where food sits before it travels to the stomach to be digested. When the adult returns to the nest, it regurgitates, or throws up, this food, which the young chick happily eats. The chick remains in the nest 6-10 months until it is ready to fly, or fledge. It will stay with its parents for several more months learning how to find food and survive on its own. A juvenile, or young, condor is brownish in color. Condors become adults at 6 years of age. An adult pair usually produces only one chick every other year. This slow reproductive rate makes recovery of the species challenging. Andean Condor (Birds) In Depth Tutorials and Information Andean Condor (Birds) Vultur gryphus KEY FEATURES • Soars at altitudes up to 18,000′ and can spot an animal carcass from a distance of several miles • Has the largest wing area of any bird (nearly 6.5 sq.

ft., allowing it to glide on rising air currents • Can devour up to 15 lbs. of flesh at one sitting, but may eat so much it can’t take off again Found high in the Andes mountains of western South America, over the grasslands of Argentina south of the Rio Negro and on the coasts of Peru and Chile Lifecycle Hanging like a huge kite on the breeze, the condor performs the role of “undertaker” in its bleak homeland, locating carcasses far below and swooping down to tear into them. HABITAT A Sailing on high The condor soars on huge, slotted wings, supported on updrafts above monumentally high peaks. The Andean condor is native to the Andes mountain chain that extends north to south along the entire length of western South America, but also can be found over the coasts of Peru and Chile and the Patagonian steppe of Argentina. Wheeling and soaring over high mountains, windswept upland plains and lowland desert areas, the condor looks for signs of other scavengers gathering over carrion. It avoids forests, where locating carcasses and landing is difficult for such a broad-winged bird.

Although the Andean condor doesn’t migrate seasonally it covers huge areas while foraging. It relies on its superb soaring abilities to carry it at high altitudes back to its roosting site each evening. The condor tends to roost and nest on the faces of high cliffs, where few predators can gain access to its eggs and from where it can launch itself easily into the air. BEHAVIOR The condor usually roosts on cliff faces because it needs thermals (warm air currents) and cliffside updrafts to carry it aloft. It waits for the morning sun to heat the land and create the thermals and basks until its organs and flight muscles are warmed. When conditions are right for flight, it launches into the buoyant updrafts. When feeding on hot days from a carcass, the condor absorbs reflected heat from the ground. To stay cool, it radiates excess body heat through loose skin folds on its naked head and deficates on its legs. Back up on high, thick body plumage keeps it warm and it draws its head into its snug, downy neck ruff. South American Indians believed that eating the condor’s eyes would sharpen their own eyesight.

Quills from Andean condor’s wing feathers were used in mechanisms of harpsichords. The Andean condor’s a wingspan up to 25′. FOOD & FEEDING The condor scans the ground for carcasses, but often follows other scavengers, such as smaller vulture species.This benefits lesser vultures — only the condor (with its huge, hooked beak) can rip open the tough skin of some carcasses. Condors and other vultures feed in order of age seniority; each thrusts its head into the carcass for pieces of flesh to gobble down. The condor feeds mainly on the carrion of mammals such as sheep, cattle and llamas. In coastal areas, it pecks at beached whale carcasses, patrols seal rookeries for casualties and afterbirths and even raids seabird colonies for eggs. A Land of giants The condor is the biggest vulture in South America. 1 Follow the crowd From high in the sky, the condor scours the horizon.

Seeing a flock of vultures circling over a llama carcass, the big bird loses height… 2 Take the lead …and follows them to a fresh llama carcass lying on the ground.The smaller vultures stand back. 3 Rip .while the condor uses its stout, hooked bill to make the first cut in the llama’s tough hide. Once it has opened up the belly of the carcass.. Feed …the condor eats its fill. Less-senior condors await their turn at the carcass; they’re followed by smaller vulture species. BREEDING The condor breeds every other year; and even then only when enough carrion is available to feed the chick. Once paired, however; condors remain together for life.The nest site is usually situated high on a sheer cliff face; in a small cave or recessed ledge. The female lays a single; white egg on bare rock and both parents share the task of incubation.When the chick hatches, adults feed it partly digested flesh, passing it from bill to bill.

As the chick grows, it learns to help itself from food offerings dropped by adults in the nesting area.The juvenile takes six months to fledge and depends on its parents for many more months before becoming independent. Meet on the ledge Condors aren’t social, but pairs may use the same cliff ledge for nesting. CONSERVATION The Andean condor lives long and breeds slowly; any human interference rapidly upsets this pattern.The condor is hunted for sport and is persecuted by some farmers who believe it kills domestic livestock. It also suffers from pesticides that are carried up through food chains. Numbers have plummeted, but the condor isn’t officially listed as endangered. Recent attempts to rescue the Andean condor and the rare California condor, through captive breeding and habitat research programs, have met with moderate success. PROFILE Andean Condor The Andean condor’s huge wing area allows it to soar on air currents, and its dense plumage keeps it warm at high altitudes. CREATURE COMPARISONS DNA studies show that the Andean condor isn’t related to Old World (African and Eurasian) vultures, but shows closer affinities to storks.

The African marabou stork, for example, has striking similarities to the condor. Like the condor, this stork is a bald-headed carrion eater and locates its prey by soaring at great altitude on huge, deeply slotted wings. vital statistics California Condor - California Department of Fish and Wildlife California Condor Photo by Neil Johnson, Los Angeles Zoo. Click on the picture to view a larger image of the condor. The California condor, Gymnogyps californianus, is the one of the largest flying birds in the world. When it soars, the wings spread more than nine feet from tip to tip. Condors may weigh more than 20 pounds. The male Andean condor of South America is even larger than our California condor. Both are endangered species. "Gymnogyps is not as heavy as a big turkey and its wings are not as long as those of the wandering albatross. Its only claim to uniqueness in size is that it has the largest wingspread of any North American land bird." Carl B. Koford, THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR (1953) Condors can soar and glide for hours without beating their wings.

After rising thousands of feet overhead on air currents, California condors will glide long distances, sometimes at more than 55 miles per hour. From the air, they search for dead animals, like deer or cattle. They feed only on carrion (dead animals that they find). Condor nest sites are in cliff caves in the mountains. Some condors have nested in large cavities in the trunks of giant sequoia redwood trees. Nesting condors raise only one chick at a time. The four-inch long egg is laid in late winter or spring, and it takes two months to hatch. It takes more than a year from the time the egg is laid until the young bird has learned to live on its own. Thousands of years ago, California condors lived in many parts of North America, from California and other Pacific states to Texas, Florida, and New York. In recent centuries, this large vulture was found by early explorers and settlers from British Columbia in Canada to Baja California in Mexico. As people settled the west, they often shot, poisoned, captured, and disturbed the condors, collected their eggs, and reduced their food supply of antelope, elk, and other large wild animals.

Eventually, condors could no longer survive in most places. By the late 1900s the remaining individuals were limited to the mountainous parts of southern California, where they fed on dead cattle, sheep, and deer. San Diego Wild Animal Park condor breeding facility Most causes of death in the past two centuries have been from human activities. For nearly 100 years it has been illegal for anyone to kill California condors. But illegal killing was not the only problem that these birds faced. A major problem has been contamination from lead fragments in carcasses, poison bait, and environmental pollutants. Contamination from past use of the pesticide DDT may have prevented the hatching of some condor eggs in the recent past, and human activity in the condor nesting range has been followed by growing numbers of ravens, which threaten condor eggs and nestlings. Accidental collision with wires and structures is a risk to condors, as well. There have been so many problems facing the condor for so long that the species was not going to survive in the wild without help from people. 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 ) 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 (see ). For more information on nonlead see the section below, Condors and Lead. The California condor has been protected as an endangered species by federal law since 1967 and by California state law since 1971. In the 1970s, biologists found that only a few dozen condors remained in the wild. In 1980, a major conservation project was started to try to keep the birds from becoming extinct. Many special studies were made.

Radio transmitters were placed on the wings of some of the condors. Wild eggs were collected and hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park, and this helped to increase the population. A few birds were taken to the zoos for captive breeding. But this help came too late to stop the decline in the wild bird population, so in the mid-1980s all of the remaining condors in the wild were captured and taken to zoos. In April 1987, the last wild condor was captured. The entire world population of the species was 27 birds, and all were housed in two captive breeding facilities in southern California. These individuals were Topatopa, captured in 1967; nine once-free-flying adult and immature birds trapped from 1982 to 1987; four young birds removed as nestlings from nests from 1982 to 1984, and 13 captive-reared condors hatched from eggs removed from nests in 1983 through 1986. Some are very closely related , but others possibly represent distant relatives.

Genetics studies of this remaining gene pool indicate that among the14 birds considered to be "founders," there are three genetic groups, or "clans." Captive breeding must be carefully managed for a number of reasons, such as minimizing loss of genetic diversity. 12-hour old captive-hatched Condor Chick It was hoped that by raising young condors and releasing them to the wild, the species would be given another chance. But, nobody knew for sure whether captive breeding would be successful. It didn't take long to find out. The first condor chick hatched out in 1988. Within a few years, it was clear that captive breeding was working. The captive condors had produced more than 100 eggs by 1994. Nearly 20 chicks hatch each year at the three captive breeding centers. The total population grew from 27 birds in 1987 to 161 birds by mid 1999. Captive-bred condors have been released to the wild in southern California since 1992, and more condors are being released each year. Another wild condor populations is being started in the same way in Arizona.

Condors don't reach adulthood until they are six or seven years old. They can live for 40 years or more--much longer than most other kinds of birds. This effort is directed toward developing two distinct reproducing populations in the wild and one in captivity, with at least 150 individuals in each. Until then, the condor population would still be in danger of extinction. It will take many years before we will know whether the condor population will be able to survive. In 1979, when there were 25 to 35 condors in the wild and one in captivity, a Cooperative California Condor Conservation Program was formed. From 1980 to 1987, field investigations and management programs were undertaken, including radio telemetry studies of birds and captive incubation of wild-collected eggs. In 1987, the last wild condor was removed from the wild, and all 27 condors left in the world were being kept in breeding facilities at the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. In 1988, the first baby California condor hatched in captivity.

From 1989 to 1991, female Andean condors were released and studied to assess reintroduction techniques. In 1992, two of the captive-bred California condors were released in Ventura County, California, five years after the last wild birds had been captured. In 1993, a third condor breeding center was established at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. By 1994, the captive condors had laid more than 100 eggs. Improved release strategies were undertaken in Santa Barbara County, CA, beginning in late 1993; in San Luis Obispo County, CA, in early 1996; in northern Arizona beginning in late 1996, and in Monterey County, CA, beginning in 1997. Additional release site were added; along the Big Sur coastline in 1997; in Pinnacles National Monument in 2003; in Arizona near Grand Canyon National Park in 1996; and in Baja California, Mexico in Sierra San Pedro de Martir National Park in 2002.

The first nesting in northern California by free flying condors in over a 100 years was documented in 2006. A Big Sur condor pair was found nesting in the burned-out cavity of a Coast Redwood tree. The condor population (wild and captive) has steadily increased, reaching over 400 in 2015 (with over 125 wild condors in California). For the most current update check out the Condor Population Status Summary . Condor Cams and Images 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 . Reporting Condor Sightings Wondering how to report a condor sighting? Check out Pinnacles National Monument website , for tips on condor identification and contact information for reporting a potential sighting. Citizen Science Want to get involved? You can help scientists learn about condor behavior by getting involved in a citizen science program called Condor Watch .

Condors and Lead Links California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Fact Sheet Gymnogyps californianus SDZG Condor Publications / ZOONOOZ Articles TAXONOMY, NOMENCLATURE and PHYLOGENY (Emslie 1988) (Ericson et al. 2006) (Geyer et al. 1993)( Hackett et al. 2008 ) ( Houston 1994 ) (Miller 1995) ( Sibley & Ahlquist 1990 ) (Tree of Life Web Project 2009) Describer (Date): Shaw (1797) Vultur californianus in Shaw and Nodder's Naturalist's Miscellany, vol 9, pl. 301 and text. Amadon (1977) retained Gymnogyps.

[Vultur] Kingdom: Animal Order: Accipitriformes (proposed order for hawks, eagles, vultures, osprey, secretary bird) Family: Cathartidae (New World vultures) Genus: Gymnogyps Family: Accipitiridae (Hawks, Eagles, Old World vultures) Family: Pandionidae (Osprey) Order: Falconiformes (proposed only for falcons) Family: Falconidae Taxonomy New World vultures' position in a taxonomy of birds has been unclear; a recent nuclear DNA study by 18 authors favors grouping condors and other New World vultures together in their own order along with other birds traditionally placed in the order Falconiformes; only falcons would remain in the order Falconiformes. (Hackett et al 2008; Ericson et al 2006;Tree of Life Web Project 2009) Cathartidae, traditionally placed within Falconiformes were recently thought to be related to storks (Ciconiidae).

First suggestion of a relationship between New World vultures and storks was in 1967 (Ligon) Konig, Rea, and Jacobs supported this suggestion with anatomical and behavioral studies (1982/1983). Hackett et al's phylogenetic study (2008) has found no affinity to the storks and strongly supports placement of Cathartidae within the land birds (Usually the Accipitridae) California Condor is 1 of 7 species of New World vultures (group also includes turkey vulture and Andean condor) Historical classifications were based on bills and feet placing all birds with talons and hooked bills together in the order Falconiformes Closest living relative determined by DNA studies is the larger Andean Condor, (Vultur gryphus), which is in the same family, but a separate genus. DNA studies of the 14 founder individuals of the current condor population indicates that they belonged to three distinct sub populations. (Geyer et al 1993).

Common Names: Originally called "California Vulture" Phylogeny Cathartid (New World) vultures have a long evolutionary history; 2 fossil species date from the early Oligocene (about 35 million years ago). During the Pliocene and Pleistocene (beginning 2 million years ago) there was a great radiation of Cathartid vulture species. Old World vultures share a common ancestry with eagles and hawks; similarities between New World and Old World vultures are the result of convergent evolution (similar adaptations because of similar life styles). New and Old World groups have not always been geographically separate. Fossils of Old World vultures are found in La Brea Tar Pits. New World vultures existed in the Old World approximately 20 million years ago. A possible ancestral California Condor fossil is a 1 to 1.5 million year-old fossil found in Florida, Gymnogyps kofordi. The California Condor dates from Late Pleistocene (around 40,000 years ago) to modern times.

(Emslie 1988) DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT Click here or on map for detailed distribution (IUCN). Distribution Widespread in western U.S. Late Pleistocene age deposits from British Columbia south to Baja, California. New York is the northeastern-most record of the prehistoric range. Sites also in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Florida and Nuevo León, Mexico. Fossil bones are found in the La Brea tar pits, Los Angeles, California; a few records date to around 35,000 years ago from the Channel Islands of coastal California. (Guthrie 1993, 1998) Later restricted to Los Padres National Forest in southern California.

1950s: 150+ birds (California Department of Fish and Game) 1968: 50-60 birds 1985: 9 birds after extremely harsh winter and death of 6 birds Last bird removed from the wild 4/19/87 Reintroduced to Southern California (Los Padres National Forest) in 1992, to the Grand Canyon area in Arizona in 1996, to Monterey County, California in 1997, and in Baja, Mexico in 2003. Habitat Roosting sites in isolated rocky cliffs, rugged chaparral, pine covered mountains 2000-6000 ft above sea level Foraging area removed from nesting/roosting site (includes rangeland and coastal area - up to 30 km commute one way) Nest sites in cliffs, crevices, potholes PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Weight: 17-29 lbs (8-13 kg).

(Andean condor is approximately 30 lbs.) Wingspan: 8'2"-9'7" (2.75 m) (Andean condor wingspan is 12 feet) Footprints: 5"-7" in length Adults: Black with white triangular underwing linings and edges (acquired by 6th year) At hatching down is short and white; birds have 4 stages of plumages (predefinitive) before the final plumages. Head color change from dark gray to orange between 4-6 years Head and neck naked - color varies: gray, yellow, red. More intense coloration when excited.

Purplish-red patch on ventral side of neck Ruff at lower neck can be elevated to conceal most of neck Tail wedge shaped - central feathers longest Beak silvery gray or white Legs pink Iris brownish red surrounded by bright red sclera Males and females indistinguishable (Currently sexed using genetic techniques) Molt Prolonged annual molt Feb/Mar - Nov/Dec Heaviest molting mid-summer Wing and tail require 2 periods for complete renewal BEHAVIOR & ECOLOGY Nonbreeding birds spend most of each day perched at roost sites or foraging over rangelands Majority of time is spent perching (15 hrs) Most common activity while perched is preening. Sunning is a 2-4 minute full extension of the wings. Tail is expanded, body and neck are nearly erect (longer periods if bird is wet). This behavior pattern is shared with storks. Sleep sitting or standing. Head is tucked under back feathers in inclement weather Leave roost 3-5 hours after sunrise (wait for thermals to develop); return 2-5 hours before sunset Normally get to foraging grounds from nest sites in flights of less than an hour.

Remain on foraging grounds for periods of 1 to 3 days before returning to nests Social Group General Mated condors fly as pairs except when sharing incubation and brooding of young When several condors are perched in the same tree or a small area, there is a great deal of shifting between perches Adults more tolerant (have fewer squabbles) than immature birds Fighting, chasing and other evidences of social dominance are more common near carcasses than near roosts or water. Territorial Behavior Exhibit strong loyalty to mates and nesting territories. Death of mate can precipitate territory change. General absence of territorial defense. (Tolerance may be related to kinship) Communication Displays Pair formation usually occurs in late fall, winter and early spring: includes coordinated pair flights, mutual grooming and display. Studies in the wild reported only one member (probably male) displaying during courtship ritual. Wings are extended with primaries hanging vertically. Neck is bent forward and downward so that the top of the head and back of neck are presented to the partner. Ritual strutting occurs, sometimes circling mate. Display leads to copulation approximately 50% of the time. Zoo researchers now believe that both males and females display to each other.

Display is a sign of dominance rather than sex (Cohn)and occurs throughout the year in captive birds Vocalization Rudimentary vocal abilities. Produces a variety of hissing / grunting vocalizations Adults may hiss when disturbed at breeding sites Chicks hiss-growl when threat is perceived Locomotion Gait is somewhat slouching. Ascent of steep slopes accompanied by flapping Can jump vertically upward or downward 4-8ft Crouches, then leaps into flight from roost or cliffs Spirals upward on heated air (thermals) Flight Capable of sustained flight speeds of 45-60 mph (70-95 kilometers/hr) May fly up to 140 miles/day (225 kilometers). 50 miles per day would be normal Normal soaring speed 30 mph (50 kilometers/hr) Extreme stability while soaring Koford (1953) speculates 1 hour without flapping; turkey vulture is extremely wobbly by comparison Even when there is very little breeze, thermal updrafts (from high temperature and light colored ground) are sufficient to enable soaring In summer there may be 6 hours/day with suitable atmospheric conditions for soaring.

In winter there are rarely more than 4 hours Birds have difficulty foraging in stormy winter weather because of poor soaring conditions Soaring produces a whistle due to notched primary feathers on Fly within 1,000-2,000 feet of the ground; one confirmed report 2,500 ft above ground Flapping rate 2-3 wingbeats/sec May turn more than 15 consecutive circles in gaining altitude; average time for completion of each circle 15 seconds Thermoregulation Enjoy bathing followed by sunning with outstretched wings Panting and inflating air sacs of head region Urohidrosis (excretion of chalky residue onto legs as an evaporative cooling mechanism like other cathartids and storks) Move to areas of favorable temperature (midsummer use of high-elevation roosts) Interspecies Interaction Extremely curious: Circle low over groups of people. Attracted to herds of cattle. May scan for weak individuals. Some overlap in nest site use with turkey vultures Feed on the same carcasses as ravens, turkey vultures, golden eagles and coyotes. These competitors usually begin feeding earlier and finish later in the day than condors.

DIET & FEEDING (Collins et al. 1999) (Fox-Dobbs et al. 2006) ( Koford 1953 ) ( Palmer 1988 ) Diet California Condors are obligate scavengers, almost exclusively feeding on dead mammals. Daily food requirement of full grown captive condor is 570 gm - 1 kg (approximately 1-2 lbs). Indigestible material, principally hair is disgorged as pellets or castings; minimal amount as condors avoid ingesting hide - food mainly soft tissue. Vision is principle foraging tool. Use other species (raven, eagle) as visual guides / olfactory sense limited Cattle carcasses (of calves) preferred food source. Although carrion eaters, prefer fresh meat - includes deer, elk, pronghorn, smaller mammals. One study of 40 condor nest sites (both recent and formerly active) found bones of immature cattle most often represented along with a wide variety of medium-sized mammals such as rabbits, ground squirrels, pocket gophers, coyotes, foxes, and weasels.

(Collins et al 1999) A need for calcium sources for growing chicks may prompt condors to eat small mammals whose bones are more easily consumed than the large bones of cattle; nest sites studied contained many mollusc shells, perhaps as a source for calcium; metal, plastic, and glass items in nests perhaps mistaken for bone fragments. (Collins et al 1999) Eat rapidly - 20-45 minutes/feeding Dominance hierarchy common at feeding site: condors generally displace common ravens and turkey vultures. They are displaced by golden eagles and coyotes Young condor is fed by regurgitation The coastal condor population may have survived the widespread extinctions at the end of the Pleistocene because they ate marine mammals (that did not become extinct) rather than terrestrial food sources; by contrast, isotope studies reveal that a black vulture that did become extinct fed only on large animals living on land (many of which became extinct). (Fox-Dobbs et al 2006), Water Prefer clean water but when necessary will drink from stagnant pools Schedule of drinking irregular.

A female getting ready to lay egg increases water uptake, but incubating adults observed to go without water for two days REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT Nesting All cathartids are cavity dwellers. No conventional nest Egg laid in caves in cliffs, potholes, crevices among boulders, 2 known nests in burned out giant sequoias Prefer coarse gravel as substrate for egg May bank egg with rock, debris, otherwise no nesting materials Pairs change sites in successive breeding attempts whether successful or not; sites generally several kilometers apart Egg Laying Female usually lays one egg every other year because of prolonged care of young into its second year Egg is laid from a standing position approximately 1 month after copulation. Early Mid January - Mid March. As late as mid April (replacement clutching).

Will routinely lay replacements (as many as 3) for eggs lost early during the breeding season (normal recycling: 1 month after egg loss) Clutch 1 whitish or pale green / pale blue egg Oval in shape, shell finely granulated Approximately 267 grams, 109 mm long, 66 mm wide Incubation Egg is maneuvered into position on top of inner toes (frequently kicked by mistake) Parents share incubation turns (from 2-5 days each). Range is 1-9 days Egg may be left untended for very brief periods Incubating bird spends most of its time sleeping Brooding Chick is fed several times a day by both parents for first few weeks of life. Later fed only once a day Chick may walk from nest site about 5 months after hatching. First flights only about 1/4 mile. Can fly well enough to search for food at 10-12 months but continues to rely on parents into second year. Life Stages Nestlings Endangered Species Act (ESA): Endangered History of Conservation Efforts 1905 California Fish & Game law prohibiting taking of nongame birds, their nests or eggs without a permit. No enforcement.

1937 Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary (1200 acres) established by US Forest Service. 1939 Carl B Koford begins extensive studies sponsored by the National Audubon Society 1947 Sepse Condor Sanctuary (35,000 acres)established by US Forest Service. Enlarged to 53,000 acres in 1951 (oil, gas and mineral leasing continued until 1970. Firearms not prohibited until 1972) 1952 SD Zoo Director Belle Benchley and K.C. Lint propose a captive breeding program for Condors based on Lint's success at breeding Andean Condors. A permit was issued to capture a pair of juvenile condors but the plan was thwarted by the National Audubon Society 1953 First legal protection specifically directed to the condor. California Fish & Game Code. 1965 Condor Advisory Committee formalized. Endangered Wildlife Research Program initiated at Patuxent wildlife Research Center, US Fish and Wildlife; Fred Sibley assigned to full-time research on condor 1966 Passage of Endangered Species Preservation Act.

Directed Secretary of Interior to develop a register of endangered species. Condor included on first official list of endangered species in 1967 Authorized expenditure of monies for endangered species habitat acquisition 1970 State of California Endangered Species Act passes. Condor listed as endangered in 1971 1971 Forest Service prepares "habitat management plan" for condors 1973 Passage of Endangered Species Act of 1973 makes taking of any endangered species a violation of federal law. Strengthened authority and responsibility of all federal agencies 1975 Approval of Condor Recovery Plan and formal recognition of Condor Recovery Team. 1979 Four major players: American Ornithologists Union, National Audubon Society, Fish and Wildlife Service of California and US Department of Fish & Game agree on a more aggressive research and captive breeding program. Arguments over the use of radiotelemetry and "hands-on-research" delay implementation 1982 First comprehensive photo census finds 21 birds. Building of a captive breeding population begun through the collection of wild-laid eggs.

Major players are: US Fish & Wildlife, California Department of Fish & Game, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park and the LA Zoo 1985 Approval given for capturing all remaining condors in the wild for captive breeding purposes 1987 Last California Condor is brought in from the wild on Easter Sunday. This young adult male joins 26 captive birds at the San Diego and Los Angeles Zoos. 1992 Captive population of 52 birds. 2 California condors and 2 Andean condors are released in the Los Padres National Forest 1/14. 10/6 - 1 California condor dies from ingestion of ethylene glycol (a component of antifreeze) 6 more California condors released 12/1 Captive Population: 52, Wild Population 7 1993 SDWAP and LAZ at capacity with 71 birds. Flock of 12 Condors sent to Idaho's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise to begin a third breeding colony. A more remote release site is constructed in Lion Canyon, in the Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara County).

4 birds from the Sespe area are recaptured and moved here along with additional captive-bred birds. Captive Population 66, Wild Population 9 1994 Due to loss of several birds, L.A. Zoo begins power-line and human aversion programs for all condor release candidates. Captive Population 85, Wild Population 3 1995 14 aversion-trained condors released at Lion Canyon/Castle Crags (2/8 and 8/29). Captive Population 90, Wild Population 13 1996 6 parent-reared, aversion-trained condors are released at Vermillion cliffs (30 miles north of the Grand Canyon near the Utah-Arizona border) 12/12/96 Captive Population 92, Wild Population 28. Goal is to put 150 birds back in the wild in California and 150 in Arizona 1997 4 birds released in the Ventana Wilderness Area of Big Sur - 1/19.

2 birds die at Vermillion Cliffs (one from an encounter with a golden eagle and one from a power line accident) 4 nestlings are released at Vermillion cliffs. That same year, 20 birds are sent to Boise 11/25/97 from breeding centers. Total Population = 134 1998: 2 birds die from drowning in Lion's Canyon (Santa Barbara County). 19 chicks hatched. Total population=151. Captive population=116, wild population=35. Also in 1998, a second Arizona release aviary is established on Hurricane Cliffs (north of Grand Canyon) so that young chicks can develop survival skills without competition from older birds. 1999: 18 chicks hatched at 3 facilities: 5 at LA, 9 at San Diego, 4 at Boise. Further releases at Ventana and Hurricane Cliffs. Total population=161.

Captive population=113, wild population=48 2000:Condor Ridge opens at the Wild Animal Park, May 27, 2000 2001: March 25, first egg laid by a wild, re-introduced California Condor in the Grand Canyon National Park. The egg was found broken, a common occurrence. Later this year 2 eggs are laid in the same nest. Scientists retrieve one because of probable incubation difficulties. Chick is hatched June 17, and is raised by a pair of captive birds 2002: April 11, First condor chick hatches in the wild (Ventura County) The chick’s parents were captive-reared at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park, then released into the wild at the age of one by the USFWS in 1995. Two more chicks later hatch but none survive. 2003: November 5, 1:30 p.m. First condor chick (#305) fledges at the Grand Canyon 2004: Three chicks hatch in California's Ventura county back country.

There are now 97 condors living in the wild in California, Arizona and Baja. There are 124 Birds in captivity at the Wild Animal Park, L.A. Zoo and The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey; the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation established in Oregon by the Oregon Zoo for condor recovery efforts. 2009: More than 169 condors successfully released in California, Arizona and Mexico through 2009. 2013: Total population: 410, including 230 in wild and 180 in captivity, as of 30 Sep 2012 ( Global Raptor Information Network 2013) Population statistics are maintained by Arizona Game and Fish. California Condor, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Larger than a Bald Eagle; this is the largest bird in North America. Other Names Condor californiano, Buitre (Spanish) Cool Facts What’s in a name? The name “condor” comes from cuntur, which originated from the Inca name for the Andean Condor.

Their scientific name, Gymnogyps californianus, comes from the Greek words gymnos, meaning naked, and refers to the head, and gyps meaning vulture; californianus is Latin and refers to the birds’ range. In the late Pleistocene, about 40,000 years ago, California Condors were found throughout North America. At this time, giant mammals roamed the continent, offering condors a reliable food supply. When Lewis and Clark explored the Pacific Northwest in 1805 they found condors there. Until the 1930s, they occurred in the mountains of Baja California. One reason California Condor recovery has been slow is their extremely slow reproduction rate. Female condors lay only one egg per nesting attempt, and they don’t always nest every year. The young depend on their parents for more than 12 months, and take 6-8 years to reach maturity. Condors soar slowly and stably. They average about 30 mph in flight and can get up to over 40 mph. They take about 16 seconds to complete a circle in soaring flight.

By comparison, Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles normally circle in 12–14 seconds, and Red-tailed Hawks circle in about 8–10 seconds. At carcasses, California Condors dominate other scavengers. The exception is when a Golden Eagle is present. Although the condor weighs about twice as much as an eagle, the superior talons of the eagle command respect. Condors can survive 1–2 weeks without eating. When they find a carcass they eat their fill, storing up to 3 pounds of meat in their crop (a part of the esophagus) before they leave. California Condors once foraged on offshore islands, visiting mammal and seabird colonies to eat carrion, eggs and possibly live prey such as nestlings. In cold weather, condors raise their neck feathers to keep warm. In hot weather, condors (and other vultures) urinate onto a leg. As the waste evaporates, it cools off blood circulating in the leg, lowering the whole body temperature. Condors bathe frequently and this helps avoid buildup of wastes on the legs.

Adult condors sometimes temporarily restrain an overenthusiastic nestling by placing a foot on its neck and clamping it to the floor. This forceful approach is also a common way for an adult to remove a nestling’s bill from its throat at the end of a feeding. Young may take months to perfect flight and landings. “Crash” landings have been observed in young four months after their first flight. California Condors can probably live to be 60 or more years old—although none of the condors now alive are older than 40 yet. Habitat Mountains California Condors have been reintroduced to mountains of southern and central California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California. Nesting habitats range from scrubby chaparral to forested mountain regions up to about 6,000 feet elevation. Foraging areas are in open grasslands and can be far from primary nesting sites, requiring substantial daily commutes. Condors glide and soar when foraging, so they depend on reliable air movements and terrain that enables extended soaring flight.

They are so heavy that they can have trouble taking off, so they often use open, windy areas where they can run downhill or launch themselves from a cliff edge or exposed branch to get airborne. Before captive breeding programs began in the 1980s all remaining condors foraged in an area encompassing about 2,700 square miles; this range is now expanding as the wild population grows. Young condors learn the full extent of their range partly from other more experienced birds. Food Carrion California Condors eat carrion of land and marine mammals such as deer, cattle, pigs, rabbits, sea lions, and whales. They swallow bone chips and marine shells to meet their calcium needs. They favor small to medium-sized carcasses, probably because smaller bones are easily consumed and digested. Condors locate carcasses with their keen eyesight (not by smell) by observing other scavengers assembled at a carcass. Once they land they take over the carcass from smaller species, but they are tolerant of each other and usually feed in groups. Condors are wary of humans while feeding, which is probably why they do not use roadkill as a food source.

In captivity, condors consume 5–7 percent of their body mass per day to maintain their weight, but because their crop (an enlarged part of the esophagus) can hold 3 pounds of food, they may only have to eat every 2–3 days. Young are fed by regurgitation. Behavior Soaring California Condors can cover hundreds of miles in one flight as they soar for hours at a time, looking for carrion. These long-distance travelers pair off during the breeding season but are highly social at roosting, bathing, and feeding sites; individuals recognize one another. Generally, condors are not aggressive towards each other, though dominant birds will threaten opponents by standing erect, inflating air sacs in the head and neck, opening the bill and eventually lunging toward the opponent. Pairs are monogamous. They share nesting duties nearly equally, stay together throughout the year, and usually endure until one member dies. Courtship involves coordinated pair flights, mutual preening, and displays. Young are dependent on their parents for at least 6 months after fledging; consequently most condors do not nest in successive years. Condors bathe frequently; mates and chicks help groom each other’s feathers and skin.

They clean up after feeding by rubbing the head and neck on a nearby rock or other surface. Condors sun themselves, which helps dry feathers prior to flight and helps the bird warm up. Condors roost together on horizontal limbs of tall trees, on ledges, or in cliff potholes. Sleeping condors sometimes lie prone on their perch with their heads tucked behind their shoulder blades. Given their size, condors are not normally hunted by other animals, except humans and occasionally Golden Eagles; however, nestlings and eggs are at risk of predation from Common Ravens, Golden Eagles, and black bears. Young condors play, especially as late-stage nestlings, mock-capturing all sorts of objects and vegetation, and leaping about in seeming exuberance. status via IUCN Critically Endangered California Condors are critically endangered; the species is on the 2016 State of North America's Birds' Watch List , which includes bird species that are most at risk of extinction without significant conservation actions to reverse declines and reduce threats. It rates a 20 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, and is a Tri-National Concern Species, and a U.S.-Canada Stewardship species.

All of the more than 400 condors now alive are descended from 27 birds that were brought into captivity in 1987, in a controversial but successful captive breeding program. As of 2013, there were more than 230 individuals in the wild in California, Arizona, and Baja California. According to Partners in Flight, about 95% live in the U.S., and 5% in Mexico. The number has been rising steadily each year, as captive-bred birds are released and wild pairs fledge young from their own nests. More than 160 additional condors live in captivity at breeding programs at The Peregrine Fund, Los Angeles Zoo, and San Diego Zoo. Condors have benefited greatly from the Endangered Species Act and from aggressive efforts to breed them in captivity and re-release them into the wild, but the survival of the species is still dependent on human intervention. The major threat is lead poisoning, caused by ammunition fragments in carcasses they eat. Historically, reasons for their decline also included accidental poisoning from lead and from strychnine-laced carcasses left out for coyote control programs. Hunting by humans also had a substantial effect on condor populations.

Condor recovery has been slow because of their slow reproductive rate: they produce only 1 egg every 1–2 years and do not achieve sexual maturity until age 6-8 years. Wild birds are still supplied with clean (lead-free) carcasses, but they also feed on their own, sometimes on lead-contaminated carcasses that can result in their deaths. To alleviate the lead-poisoning problem, workers catch each condor twice per year to test their blood lead levels; birds that test high are treated to remove the lead through a technique called chelation. In 2010 the Peregrine Fund reported that 72 percent of condors tested in the Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona, showed lead in the blood, and 34 condors had to be treated. The only route to self-sustaining wild populations will be by solving the lead-poisoning problem. Promising first steps have been taken, including a 2008 ban on lead ammunition used for hunting in the condor’s California range, and an innovative voluntary program in Arizona. Back to Top Credits Snyder, N. F. R., and N. J. Schmitt. 2002.

California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) . In The Birds of North America Online, No. 610 (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. View dynamic map of eBird sightings Migration Nonmigratory. Find This Bird California Condors nest in remote locations that are hard to access, but they travel widely in search of food. If you’re within range of condors in central California (the Big Sur coast or Pinnacles National Monument), southern California (inland from Ventura in the Sespe wilderness), or around the Grand Canyon, keep your eyes peeled for large, dark soaring birds. Study them closely to make sure they don’t teeter like a vulture, and check their proportions to help rule out buteos, eagles, and small planes. You Might Also Like

Question: Which species of bird has Andean and Californian varieties?
Answer: Condor