PowerPoint Presentation

California CondorsReintroductionBy: Kaitlyn Kuncehttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/california-condor/

http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/condors.html-Largest flying bird in North America-Wing Span: Nearly 10ft tip to tip-Use air currents to soar-Weight: 18-31 lbsOpportunistic scavengers: feast on carcasses of large mammalsCalifornia CondorGymnogyps californianus

When a big meal is available, they gorge themselves so much that they must rest for several hours before flying again. Use their eyesight instead of smell to find other scavengers feeding for meals.2

California Condor egg in nest cave. Photo by Brandthttp://www.ventanaws.org/species_condors/-Long-lived species -Breeding age is between 6-8 years old-Mate for life-Female only lays one egg every two years-Egg is about 5 inches long, and 10 ounces-56 days of incubation-Young fledge at 5-6 months of age-Cavity-nesting birds: do not build nests

Live up to 60 years in the wild. Mature slowly and reproduce slowly. If an egg is removed, she will lay a second or a third. They just end up laying the egg on a tree limb, cliff, or the cave floor.3

California Condors adult -photo by Joe Burnett-Mostly black feathers

-Heads and neck are mostly bare

-Their necks and heads turn pink when theyre excited

-Also can be shades of red, orange, yellow, and light blue

Condors do not have vocal cords, so they force air through their body to make grunts and hissing noises. It is impossible to distinguish the males and females just by looking at them. Red eyes.41967: Placed on the Federal Endangered Species Act1980: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began a captive breeding program with the Los Angeles Zoo, and the San Diego Wild Animal Park1982: 21-23 birds in California1987: Decision was made to bring all the remaining condors into captivity

1992: January, began releasing condors into the wild in California1996: December, began releasing condors into the wild in ArizonaSince then, program personnel soft-released roughly 6-10 birds per year.2011: Total Population 369 with 192 in the wild and 177 in captivity

The captive breeding programs used techniques such as removing eggs as they were laid, causing the condors to lay a second/third egg. The extra eggs were incubated and then raised by caretakers using a hand puppet.

5California Condor lead poisoning. Photo by Noel Snyder

-Loss of habitat-Power lines-Shootings-Lead poisoningIngest lead from spent ammunition found in animal carcasses and gut piles.

But what was causing the condors population to diminish? 6

The Recovery Goals of the California Condor Program: -Maintenance of at least 2 wild population -Maintenance of at one captive population -Each population must =contain 150 individuals and 15 breeding pairs =be reproductively self sustaining =have a positive population growth rate -Wild populations must =be separated and non-interacting =contain descendants from each of the 14 foundersFuture Status of the Arizona Program:1. Continue daily monitoring of condors.2. Addition of more satellite and GPS transmitters.3. Expansion of the 10(j) area.4. Establish a medical treatment facility near the release site.5. Continued education programs on condor reintroduction.

http://www.ventanaws.org/species_condors/adopt_a_condor.htm

85 cents of every dollar donated goes towards conservation. The mission of the Ventana Wildlife Society is to focus on the present, rather than dwell on past mistakes.8

References:National Geographic. 1996-2012. California Condors. Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/california-condor/National Parks Conservation Association. California Condor. Retrieved from http://www.npca.org/protecting-our-parks/wildlife_facts/condor.htmlSullivan, Kathy. 2009. California Condor Recovery. Retrieved from http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/california_condor.shtmlVentana Wildlife Society. 2009. California Condor Reintroduction. Retrieved from http://www.ventanaws.org/species_condors/9