Condor nest found on San Benito County ranch — first in 70 years

[depakid]

The first condor nest in 70 years has been discovered on a San Benito County ranch and verified by U.S. National Park Service biologists. The nest is located on a high rocky cliff on a private ranch outside of Pinnacles National Monument, where condors were reintroduced into the wild in 2003, said Carl Brenner, chief of interpretation and education at the Pinnacles.

The National Park Service, he said, is working with the ranchers on a plan to monitor the nest, adding that normal ranching operations will continue. Condors raised in captivity and released into the wild are fitted with radio telemetry devices that enable wildlife biologists to track their movements and monitor their activity. The devices indicated two condors engaging in nesting activity in the ranch area in March, and biologists have seen the male condor turning the egg. Condor parents share egg incubation duties.

The two nesting condors have been identified as Condor 313, a 6 1/2 -year-old male released at the Pinnacles in 2004, and Condor 303, a 6-year-old female released on the Big Sur Coast by the Ventana Wildlife Society. Condor eggs take an average of 57 days to hatch, Brenner said, and the nestlings take their first flights about six months after hatching, which means the condor chick could fly in October.

Two community forums on the California condor recovery program are scheduled this week, Brenner said: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pinnacles.

More: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12190644
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Related story:

Season's first condor born at Ore. zoo
April 18, 2009



Oregon Zoo Hatches a California Condor - Will Help Replenish Wild Populations

Portland, OR - The Oregon Zoo's festive eggs are filled with something much more than Cadbury Creme this year - they're filled with fledgling California condors!

The first condor chick of 2009 pecked through its shell the morning of April 14, signaling the start of another remarkable hatching season at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation. The chick is the offspring of Ojai and Atishwin and was hatched under the care of its foster parents, the male condor No. 189 and the female Squapuni.

"Each new hatch brings us one step closer to species recovery," said Shawn St. Michael, condor curator. "Our program is relatively new, but growing in strength each year."

Seven condor pairs produced eggs this year, and six of the eggs have proved fertile. The zoo's condor facility is currently home to 31 condors, not counting the new arrival, and has produced 19 fertile eggs since it was established in 2001. Of the 16 eggs already hatched, 15 chicks have survived.

Condors are the largest land birds in North America with wingspans of up to 10 feet and weight of 18 to 30 pounds. They are highly intelligent and inquisitive - and highly endangered. The birds depend on their intelligence for survival and require a tremendous amount of parental investment in the wild. This is one of the reasons they have such a low productivity rate.

More: http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1277-Oregon_Zoo_Hatches_a_California_Condor_-_Will_Help_Replenish_Wild_Populations

[peacebird]

1. Fantastic! Thank you for posting some good news!

:hi:

[depakid]

2. It really is great news- just 22 years ago, on Easter Sunday, the last free flying condor was taken

from the wild.

And now- thanks to a lot of hard work... they're back!

Here's a cool fact sheet on them from the USFWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7934406.stm

[peacebird]

3. wow! That is amazing!