November
8, 2004
The younger birds that were released
in october are doing very well outside the flight pen. They
are roosting on snags at night and practicing their flight
skills by day. It's still not possible to see the younger
birds from the trail system, but within the next month or
so, it may be possible to see them as their flight skills
improve and they take longer flights.
Three more birds will be released this week:
condors 306, 312, and 317. They are all female birds, and
all have been fitted with GPS transceivers.
Condor 278 was trapped so that he could
participate in power pole aversion training. Condor 313 was
staying close to 278, and entered the double-door trap right
along with him. Biologists didn't want to pass up the opportunity
to catch 278, so they decided to close the trap on both birds.
313 will be rereleased Wednesday with the rest of the younger
birds.
286 was also slated for retrapping and power
pole training, but he has shown no signs of perching on poles
and generally stays within the park, so biologists decided
to let him remain free.
November 1, 2004
Condors 310 and 313 have joined 307
outside the flight pen. They were released Friday morning,
and spent the weekend working on their flying skills near
the condor facility. Condor 286 has remained in the area and
associates closely with the birds, showing his dominance during
feeding times.
278 and 286 are the only two of the previously
released condors that are still flying free, and they will
be recaptured for a short period for power pole aversion training
to avoid the chance that they will pass on the poel perching
behavior to newly released birds.
Three more females will be released in the
next week or two. Although the viewing area is now closed
to the public, the birds will soon be seen from the trail
system at Pinnacles. About a month after the last release,
condors were seen in the High Peaks area.
This winter, we are expecting the arrival
of six more juvenile birds. This third group will likely be
released in 2005.
October 28, 2004
About 150 people came to Pinnacles
on October 28th to see the release of a second group of California
condors. Only one of the three condors that was scheduled
to be released decided to enter the double door trap.
As people at the viewing
area looked on through spotting scopes and binoculars, condor
307 stepped out of the flight pen and onto a snag just outside,
joining condor 286, who had
been perched on the same snag for much of the day. 286 is
one of the first group of birds that was released at Pinnacles
in January of this year.
After a few minutes, 307 made
a graceful flight around the flight pen and surrounding ridge,
landing on a higher snag. During a later flight, 307 landed
near the ground, but managed to make it up to a higher snag.
307 was not originally slated
for release this month because she had injured her beak inside
the flight pen in September. She didn't feed well for a few
days, but then the rough edges of her beak smoothed down and
she was judged to be well enough for release.
Condors 310 and 313 could also
have been released, but they did not choose to enter the double-door
trap. We chose to do a "soft release" using a cage
with two doors that allows condors to leave the pen without
being physically trapped by humans. They enter a cage from
the flight pen, and then the inner door is closed and the
outer door is opened. Ideally, all of the birds scheduled
for release will decide to enter the trap on the first day,
but it can take up to a few days for all of them to leave
the pen.
October 28th is the only day
that the viewing area will be open to visitors.
October 13, 2004
Free-flying Birds
In September, a local landowner noticed
a condor roosting on a power pole and contacted Pinnacles.
Biologists located Condor 266 and began monitoring him more
closely, and found that he roosted twice more on power poles.
Condors 270 and 278 were also found to be roosting on power
or telephone poles. The birds will be recaptured, and the
next release has been delayed until October 28th so that condor
staff can begin to address the issue.
In the flight pen, there is a mock power
pole that delivers a slight electric shock when a bird lands
on it. The pole was put into place to teach the condors to
avoid perching on power and telephone poles. The mock pole
in the flight pen is being modified to look more like the
poles that the condors have been perching on. Also, two posts
just outside the pen will be converted into mock poles and
electrified.
Condor 278 was recaptured once before because
it appeared he was not feeding well. He was re-released about
a month ago, and was doing great. He had no problems reintegrating
with the other condors, but was recently observed perching
on a telephone pole.
Condor 270 has also been recaptured once
already this summer. Biologists were holding him because blood
tests showed slightly increased levels of lead, but no problems
developed and the levels decreased. After his release, he
was healthy and doing well until he was observed perched on
a power pole.
One other condor has been recapture because
of a problem with his tracking equipment. Condor 287 is the
only condor at Pinnacles fitted with a GPS transceiver that
allows biologists to closely monitor his
movements, but it has recently stopped working and needs
to be replaced.
Condors in the Flight Pen
Biologists noticed that condor 307
had chipped the end of her beak, and was not active or feeding.
After a few days, the rough edges of the beak had been smoothed
away and she resumed her normal behavior. If we had released
condors on October 15th as we had planned, she would not have
been a candidate for release, but biologists feel that she
may be ready because of the additional time.
Improvements to the Release
Facility
At one of the feeding sites, a small,
mobile electric fence that had been installed to protect condors
and carcasses that they eat was not large enough to keep predators
away. The Pinnacles Trail Crew replaced the small fence with
a larger and higher fence that should do a better job of keeping
animals out. Within a day or two, a coyote was found inside
the fence, and it’s thought that it may have gotten
inside before the fence was complete. Biologists will flush
the coyote out of the area and then continue to monitor the
boundary for predator activity.
August 18, 2004
On Sunday, August 15, Biologists noticed
an adult condor outside the condor facility, and became concerned
that the mentor bird had escaped the flight pen. The bird
turned out to be Condor 199, an adult from Big Sur who made
the journey over to Pinnacles to check out the new birds in
the neighborhood. Condor 199 has remained in the area ever
since, and some of the Pinnacles juvenile birds have joined
him on trips outside the monument.
Biologists are working to rerelease condors 270 and 278. 270
was recaptured for lead testing and was kept in the facility
because of an obstruction in his throat. Condor 278 was recaptured when biologists noticed that he was missing
three tail feathers. Two of the feathers have since grown back.
July 28, 2004
The condors that are living in the
wild are continuing to expand their range. They often stay
away from the monument for as long as six days, though they
can also travel long distances and return in a single day.
They have been seen as far south as Hwy 198, and north near
the town of Hollister.
Last month, biologists became concerned
about the possibility of lead poisoning when the condors were
seen eating carcasses along Hwy 25. Four birds were captured
and tested for lead. Results from lab tests showed that two
of the condors probably ingested lead, but their blood lead
levels were not high enough to require chelation (a therapy
that removes lead from blood). One of the affected birds,
condor 270, had an obstruction in his throat, so he was held
in the flight pen for observations. A second blood test was
run for 270 to ensure that his lead level was decreasing.
An increasing lead level would be a sign indicating the possibility
of serious lead poisoning, which requires treatment. The second
test showed lower levels, and 270 will be released soon.
Other than condor 270, there are currently nine other birds
in the flight pen. Six of them are new to Pinnacles; two are
from the San Diego Zoo and four are from the Los Angeles Zoo.
Hoi, the adult mentor bird, is teaching these birds the skills
they will need to survive in the wild. Their tentative release
date is in mid-October.
Condor 278 was recaptured this spring because he was missing
three tail feathers. Biologists wanted to make sure that the
feathers would molt and then grow back naturally. Two of the
feathers have molted, and 278 will be released soon.
Condor 265 was recaptured this spring because of behavioral
problems, and is currently living in the flight pen. He had
been approaching hikers and climbers, a dangerous behavior
for wild condors. Biologists considered sending him to the
Oregon Zoo for a while, but for logistical reasons this will
not be possible.
July 16, 2004
The condors have been steadily increasing
their range, and are making longer flights throughout San
Benito and Monterey counties. They have been returning to
feed on carcasses in the monument, but lead poisoning is always
a concern now that they are spending more time away.
During the last month,
all four free-flying condors were trapped so that they could
be tested for lead poisoning. Initial
field tests show that their lead levels are acceptably low,
but we are awaiting more accurate lab test results.
April 14, 2004
Much has happened since the last update.
Number 287 continues to roam ever farther from the park, with
the most recent wanderings being documented by his GPS transmitters
and verifying that his movements over the last 2 months have
encompassed almost 300 square miles in and adjacent to the
Monument. Meanwhile, both #265 and #278 have been recaptured
using the double-door trap feature of the flight pen, which
allows biologists to let condors come and go from the pen
without physically capturing them. The concerns that led to
the captures were different for each bird. Number 265 has
been approaching hikers and climbers to within very close
range (2 feet) on at least 5 occasions, and had shown no tendency
towards ceasing this behavior. The hope is that by holding
him for a while, he will have be taken out of the social interactions
of the other free-ranging birds, and lose his high ranking
status in the overall condor pecking order. When released,
he will have to spend more time and work harder to maintain
his place in the dominance hierarchy and have less time and/or
inclination to approach humans. The concern with #278 was
that he was not competing well with the other birds for food
and his physical condition was deteriorating to the point
where he was taking unacceptable chances with predators. This
was suggested by an observation where he had narrowly missed
being grabbed by a coyote near a feeding site where #278 had
approached food when the predator was nearby. The other birds
were avoiding the site at that point because they had seen
the coyote, but #278 went down to the food, perhaps because
he thought that he would be able to feed better without the
other birds there. He has regained weight since capture and
is doing well. The other 4 remaining free-flying birds are
feeding well, roaming widely, and not approaching people or
buildings.
March 12, 2004
Since the last update, we have transferred
2 new birds from the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge,
north of Ventura, to the Pinnacles flight pen. They have settled
in without incident, and the adult mentor bird, Hoi, has accepted
the birds without excessive negative interaction. Immediately
following the release of the new captive birds from their
transfer carriers, the 6 released birds exhibited heightened
curiosity in the form of spending the next several days in
close proximity of the captive birds. In fact, 5 of the birds
roosted right on the flight pen during one night!
On a worrisome note, several of the birds have begun to approach
visitors in the High Peaks area along trail areas and roosting
in perches that are too accessible to approach. On 2 known
occasions, #65 approached climbers on Machete Ridge, coming
to within 2 feet of the nervous visitors. While condors do
not attack people, just the presence of a 25 pound bird with
a 9-1/2 foot wingspan, razor-sharp bill and imposing claws
can be a frightening proposition to an unsuspecting climber
just summiting a rock. In addition, several birds landed at
a rest stop at a popular trail junction, and were subsequently
surrounded by a curious throng of visitors. As mentioned in
the last update, every time a bird is closely approached by
people, it’s chances at continued freedom in the wild
decrease. Everyone can do their part by remembering to not
approach or feed condors, and in the event that condors approach
you, move back at least 100 feet from them.
Whenever birds are discovered too close to people, they are
being “hazed” with super-soaker squirt guns in
an attempt to teach the birds to maintain greater distance
between themselves and hikers/climbers. It will be very important
to teach the impressionable birds this lesson so that they
don’t put themselves in situations that threaten their
survive once they roam outside the park in coming months.
In other locations where condors have approached people too
closely they have been shot, died of drinking antifreeze left
on the ground by a leaky radiator, and narrowly missed being
hit by cars while feeding on roadkill alongside a busy highway.
February 19, 2001
Quite a bit has happened in the last
week. A pair of golden eagles were seen copulating near Drywall
Slide and appear to be establishing a nest in Grassy Canyon.
We have not observed any aggressive behavior toward the condors
from either bird in this pair, but there is at least one juvenile
golden eagle in the release area that chases and stoops condors
in flight. The condors have done a fine job of out-maneuvering
and evading this eagle.
Since the condors are spending a significant amount of their
time in the High Peaks, including roosting, we are beginning
to observe some human/condor interactions. We received two
reports over the weekend of condors approaching climbers on
top of rocks and observed visitors approaching condors perched
on rocks both near and well away from the trail. Please remember
that it is essential for the condors to keep from associating
with humans. Each condor has one chance at life in the wild.
Every time a person approaches a condor for a better look
or a photo that bird’s chances of success will decrease.
If you see condors approaching people, please contact a ranger
at the visitor center or ranger station.
Condor #278 made his first flight to the High Peaks on Tuesday
the 17th. With the rain and poor flight conditions he is still
there as are all the other birds except one. Condor # 266
was somewhere in the Frog Canyon area this morning. As 278’s
trip to the High Peaks indicates he is improving daily and
though his development has been a little slower than the other
condors he is doing a great job in the wild.
February 11, 2004
The last several days of clear, warm
weather have provided ideal conditions for the condors to
practice their flying skills. Many visitors witnessed a group
of four condors flying over the High Peaks area over the weekend,
along with the much smaller turkey vultures, giving folks
a great opportunity to compare the two species. All six birds
caught thermals this afternoon, spirally 1,500 feet above
the release facility, before aiming their sights again towards
the High Peaks. All but #278 then charted a glide path towards
the Peaks and soon became tiny spots in the distance as they
soared away. While #278 didn’t join them this time around,
he has been integrating with the rest of the group much better,
as evidenced by feeding at the carcass in close proximity
to the rest of the group, approaching #266 to preen, and roosting
together with the other 5 birds in their favorite night roost
pine. The birds continue to feed well, with 2 birds registering
weights in excess of 23 pounds, as measured by the birds’
perching on a scale set up next to the release facility.
February 5, 2004
The last few days have brought some
rainy weather, more interactions of condors and other birds
such as raven, golden eagles and red-tailed hawks, and continued
improvement in flight skills and exploring more country. During
the rains of 2/2 and 2/3, the birds spent much of the time
hunkered down, but nonetheless also made some brief forays
into the heavy rain and high winds. A golden eagle was observed
diving at a few of the condors, which caused evasive manuevers
by some individuals, and in one case the eagle perched briefly
on the same branch with a condor. Ravens also took turns harassing
the much larger condors. On February 3rd, 5 of the birds took
off as a group in a different direction than they have flown
before, returning 45 mins later. The birds appear to be approaching
the carcass feeding site much more cautiously, sometimes taking
30 mins to examine the carcass before approaching it to feed.
This is a positive behavior, since it is in their best interest
to not approach food until they are sure no other predators
are near that could make the condors become “lunch.”
January 30, 2004
Condors #265, 266, 270, and 286 are developing their flight
skills as they fly over the campground - often for more than
20 minutes – making this the best location to view the
birds. These four are now able to gain significant altitude,
and at times disappear into low-lying clouds. Condor #287
is still the only bird that visits the High Peaks regularly.
These five birds usually roost in a conspicuous gray pine
on the ridge just behind the campground. The flight pen is
still comforting to #278 who spends most of his time in that
area. He roosts on the posts of the flight pen but often flies
over the ridge with the other condors.
As you may already know, we will be getting six more condors
from the L.A. Zoo. The condors at the zoo were moved from the
pen with their parents to a pen with other juvenile condors
two weeks ago. The zoo usually socializes the birds for a
month or two before they are transferred to a release site,
so the new condors may not arrive until March. We have not
established a date for the transfer yet but will pass that
along once it is determined.
January 28, 2004
The last week has brought significant
changes, as all six birds are now free from the release facility.
The birds have really improved their flying skills demonstrably,
with two birds embarking on impressive 2-3 hour long afternoon
flights over the High Peaks.
Bird #287 has proven himself
to be the most adept flyer, with #270 second strongest, and
#265, 266, and 286 close behind. Bird #278 was the last bird
to be released from the flight pen and is still working on
his flying techniques.
Project crew members breathed
a collective sigh of relief when the birds started to roost
in trees at night, instead of sleeping on the ground, thus
reducing the likelihood of being eaten by nocturnal predators.
And finally, the birds wasted no time in finding the calf
carcass that had been placed at the newly established feeding
site. This new location was chosen to be quite close to the
flight pen, yet far enough away that the birds were faced
with approaching a novel feeding arrangement. These skills
are important for scavenging birds to develop so that they
can hone in on new food sources as they soar over the countryside.
January 26, 2004
The last juvenile condor, 286, was
released on Saturday evening, and has been doing well out
of the pen. He has been roosting in trees each night, and
staying near the release facility.
January 23, 2004
Another condor was released
Wednesday afternoon. Condor 278 entered the double-door trap
at about 12:30, and after leaving the flight pen, spent the
rest of the afternoon making short practice flights around
the facility. Later that evening, 278 slowly made his way
up the outside of the release pen and roosted on top of it
for the night.
All of the other released birds are doing well in the wild.
287 has been making long practice flights to the High Peaks
each afternoon, which is excellent news for the condor biologists.
270 is also doing well, and has been seen at least once in
the High Peaks. 266 and 265 are making longer flights, but
are staying closer to the release facility. All of the birds
have been roosting in trees and off the ground at night.
If you'd like to try to see a condor while you're visiting
Pinnacles, the best place would be the High Peaks or Condor
Gulch Trails in the afternoon. Check in at the Bear Gulch
Visitor Center for more information.
During the next few days, condor biologists will keep trying
to release 286, the last juvenile bird to remain in the pen.
A new group of six condors will be arriving in the park sometime
in February. This group will be males and females.
January 12, 2004
Earlier this week, biologists
were concerned about condor 286 because it had been roosting
on the ground, instead of in a tree or on a cliff where it
would be safe from predators. The biologists decided to recapture
the bird and return it to the flight pen. 286 was lured back
into the double-door trap with food, and is now living in
the pen.
The other condors are doing well in the wild. 287, the first
bird to be released, has been venturing away from the release
area and returning every few days to eat. This is the behavior
that biologists were hoping for.
The three other birds (265, 266, and 270) have been roosting
on the release facility each night and are staying close to
the area during the day. They are seldom apart for more than
a few minutes. After they are in the wild a little longer,
biologists are hoping that they will follow 287's lead and
venture farther from the release area.
January 5, 2004
On Monday, January 5th, four
birds were released from the flight pen, which makes a total
of five condors soaring the skies of Pinnacles. All of the
juveniles except 278 are now living outside the release pen.
On Monday afternoon, the birds were all staying close to the
release area, and were being closely monitored by park biologists.
Last month, two birds were released
around 2:30 pm on Saturday, December 20th. Biologists were
within an hour of calling off the release for the second day
in a row when numbers 287 and 278 ventured into the double-door
trap. The two condors emerged from the facility only minutes
after being faced with freedom.
Both
278 and 287 decided to not venture far in their first flight.
Both stayed in the general area of the holding facility. The
birds flew for about two hours before settling down to roost
for the evening. Both birds' roosting sites were closely monitored
by biologists and volunteers to ensure the birds were in a
safe location. Monitoring continued into the early evening.
The viewing site is closed to the public, however,
there are opportunities to view the birds from the trail system.
In the future, we're planning to continue to provide access
to the public for condor releases. Another group of birds
will be arriving in the park next year.
Breeding pairs of California condors were common at Pinnacles
National Monument through the 1930's, and solitary birds were
seen into the 1980's. For more information about the California
condor recovery program and the efforts of Pinnacles and the
Ventana Wilderness Society to restore populations of this
bird, visit the Ventana
Wilderness Society.
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