The California Condor

The California condor, Gymnogyps californianus, is the largest North American land bird, one of the largest flying birds in the world, and extremely rare. These vultures are classified as critically endangered with a total world population of just over 500 individuals as of March 2020.

Their decline became evident as early as 1890. Although 500 individuals is small, it is much larger than the 27 that were around in the 80s. Not long afterwards, all of the wild condors were caught for captive breeding.

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. For a number of reasons, by the 1900s the remaining individuals were limited to southern California.

These reasons, the causes of their decline, include the following:

• Hunting
• Traps and poisons put out to kill other large predators 
• Collisions with wires and structures 
• Egg collection 
• Reduction in their food supply 
• Lead poisoning from ammunition (this is the number one cause of death of the species) 
• Eating pieces of glass and metal left behind my humans
  

It is also important to note that California condors lay just ONE egg a year.

 

Many conservation efforts are in place to build up their numbers and reintroduce them into the wild. A few of these efforts include the following:

• The capture of all wild condors since the mid-1980s and placement into zoos for captive breeding.
• Wild eggs were/are collected and hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park for security purposes.
• Many reintroduction programs across the Pacific are in place for the species.
• Radio transmitters were placed on the wings of the captured condors to track medical and behavioral patterns.
• California passed a law in 2008 which requires the use of non-lead ammunition statewide for the taking of all wildlife, including game mammals, game birds, non-game birds, and non-game mammals.
  

 

These efforts have been around for many years and the progress is remarkable. However, there is still much to do to keep the species population rising to a healthy, stable number. The further use of geospatial tools is a potential solution that can aid in the conservation of the species and their habitats as well. Now that many of the California condors are chipped with radio transmitters, more research can be conducted to save the species. For example, their movements can be monitored, and not only can their behavioral patterns be recorded, but trash can be removed from nesting areas to limit any ingestion of human byproducts and health assessments can be conducted to treat for lead poisoning in individuals.

 

The term “vulture” has negative connotations with it so some of you might be wondering why we should save the species. Well, there are many reasons why you should care and why they should be around. They play a very special role in their ecosystem and they provide many benefits to humans as well. 

 

First, we know that since they are vultures, they are scavengers and they feed on carrion (dead animals they find). They have extremely strong stomach acids that allows them to feed on rotting meat even those from diseased animals and their stomachs will kill the disease. In other words, they play a valuable role in the safe disposal of dead, decomposing and diseased animals thus protecting human and animal co-habitants from ill effects all the while cleaning up the environment! They eat up to 3 pounds of meat a day which is a lot of meat they are "cleaning up" so to speak. 

 

Additionally, the species plays a significant role in many indigenous tribes. Condors are seen as a scared animal to many and play a significant role in ceremonies and other cultural practices. As well as being spiritually imperative, the species is also biologically crucial as they increase the biodiversity in nature and help many other species survive and thrive.

 

Today, they can be found primarily in California, Arizona, southern Utah and Baja California, Mexico. California condors live in rocky, forested regions including canyons, gorges and mountains. 

 

You can help save the California condors in a number of ways.

• Educate yourself with programs such as the CondorKids YouTube channel. There are many resources out there that serve as an education and outreach effort that connects people with California condor conservation and recovery efforts.  
• Now that you are educated, you can educate others!  
• Encourage hunters to use lead free, non-toxic ammunition. 
• If you ever find yourself visiting a California condor range, adopt “Leave No Trace” ethics, and even participate in clean-up activities in their habitats.
• Donate and support organizations involved with conservation efforts. Some of the main ones include: San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Oregon Zoo, and The Peregrine Fund.

Sources

“California Condor.” Audubon, 20 Nov. 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/california-condor. 

“California Condor.” CDFW Prod, wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Birds/California-Condor. 

“California Condor.” Defenders of Wildlife, defenders.org/wildlife/california-condor. 

“California Condor.” Oregon Zoo, www.oregonzoo.org/discover/animals/california-condor. 

Hay, Anne. “How Old and New World Vultures Differ.” Buffalo Bill Center of the West, 11 May 2020, centerofthewest.org/2017/02/20/old-new-world-vultures-differ/. 

Myatt, J. “Our Programs: Pacific Southwest Region.” National USFWS Website, www.fws.gov/cno/es/CalCondor/Condor-population.html. 

San Diego Zoo Global Library staff. “California Condor (Gymnogyps Californianus) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status.” LibGuides, ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/californiacondor/population. 

Simon, Scott, and Josh Axelrod. “Once Nearly Dead As The Dodo, California Condor Comeback Reaches 1,000 Chicks.” NPR, NPR, 21 July 2019, www.npr.org/2019/07/21/743901094/once-nearly-dead-as-the-dodo-california-condor-comeback-reaches-1-000-chicks.