California Condor

Description:

After the removal of all surviving birds into captivity in 1987, an intensive conservation programme involving reintroduction and release of captive-bred birds has led to a tiny but increasing population of this species in the wild. The species consequently qualifies as Critically Endangered. A major threat remains lead poisoning due to hunters shooting animals with lead bullets and the birds subsequently feeding on the carcasses. Scavengers like condors help to keep diseases that impact humans out of ecosystems, and many individuals and organizations are working to save the species. There are currently 104 adults in the wild that are old enough to breed, and 44 have produced viable offspring (J. Grantham in litt. 2010). As mature individuals as defined by IUCN only includes individuals in the wild that are currently capable of reproduction, and re-introduced individuals must have produced viable offspring before they are counted as mature individuals, the current global population sensu IUCN is 44 mature individuals. The wild population currently numbers 213 individuals in total (C. N. Parish in litt. 2012

Habitat:

Its range includes rocky, open-country scrubland, coniferous forest and oak savanna. Cliffs, rocky outcrops or large trees are used as nest sites (USFWS 1996). It scavenges on the carcasses of large mammals and also feeds on the carcasses of small mammals, but perhaps only where there are sufficient numbers at one site (L. Kiff in litt. 2009). Released birds have become increasingly independent in finding food and may range more than 400 km from release sites (Anon. 1998).

Notes:

Juvenile California Condor. One of 4 of these beautiful birds at the Santa Barbara Zoo.