FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Fw: [MBB] For the second time in 2002, a CALIFORNIA CONDOR CHICK has hatched in the wild

["bennetts" <bennetts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From the Monterey Bay List serve, a California Condor update.

Mark Bennett
Russellville, KY
Logan County
bennetts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dr. Elizabeth Van Dyke 
To: MBB 
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 11:01 PM
Subject: [MBB] For the second time in 2002, a CALIFORNIA CONDOR CHICK has 
hatched in the wild


Hi all,

It's been a while since I posted an update on the CALIFORNIA CONDORS, and there 
is great news.  The following is based on information received from Sal Lucido, 
president of the Ventana Wilderness Society.




For the second time in 2002, a CALIFORNIA CONDOR CHICK has hatched in the wild. 
The egg hatched on Saturday, May 11th in a cave "nest" in the Sespe Condor 
Sanctuary in Southern California. The parents, male condor # 98, is 
8-years-old, and the female #55 has just turned five, making her one of the 
youngest known condors 
to produce a chick!  On April 11th of 2002 the first chick to hatch in the wild 
since 1984 took place at a nearby nest also in Southern California. This 
6-week-old chick is doing very well. 


A third nest nearby has everyone in this recovery effort spellbound with 
excitement. 
This third nest is situated in such a manner that no human can see into it, but 
an adult condor pair continues to occupy this nest site. Only time will tell. 
Two 
additional nesting attempts have occurred this year in Arizona, but it appears 
that 
their first attempts (which is not uncommon) has failed to produce any chicks. 
Considering that condor parents typically raise their young (one at a time) for 
18 months in the wild, the successful parents this year will not produce 
another chick for at least 2 years. 


Condor population size as of May 15, 2002:  199 total in the world.  Of these, 
70 are free in the wild (this includes the two wild chicks), 16 are in field 
rearing-and-release facilities awaiting release, and 113 are in captivity. This 
is a tremendous success considering that the total world population of 
California Condors was only 22 in 1982. 
Note: There are still 13 eggs (known) to be in incubation... so keep your 
fingers 
crossed for more nestlings. 


Distribution of wild population: 70 total. Of these, 22 are in Southern 
California. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), 18 are on the California Central 
Coast (Ventana Wilderness Society), and 30 are in Arizona (Peregrine Fund). 


The Ventana Wilderness Society is currently managing 25 condors. Eighteen have 
been released in the wild.  Seven are currently in the Ventana Wilderness 
Sanctuary rearing-and-release facility in Big Sur. This includes one adult 
mentor condor which will not be released. The goal this year is to hold these 6 
young condors for release at the Pinnacles National Monument, hopefully in 
November of 2002.  Pinnacles will be a new release site for the California 
Condors.

 

Of the 18 free-flying condors that the Ventana Wilderness Society is managing, 
6 condors are currently 5-years-old (4 male & 2 female) and 3 of them are 
4-years-old   (1 male & 2 female). The year 2003 could really be a banner year 
for the California Condor recovery efforts as a whole. 



- Elizabeth Van Dyke, Ph.D.

  Ventana Wilderness Society, Board of Advisors

  Santa Cruz Bird Club, Conservation Director

 


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