Learn more about how lead can affect condors and other wildlife. Efforts to reduce lead exposure in all wildlife have increased due to this understanding. A definitive cause of death was determined on 76 out of 100 condors recovered and the leading cause of death was lead poisoning, representing 30% of known condor mortalities. In 2012 researchers published a paper (Rideout et al., 2012) examining condor deaths in the wild from 1992-2009. Gaining an understanding of threats to the species assists the recovery program in addressing these hazards. Through tracking efforts, biologists are able to recover deceased condors from the field and submit them for necropsy and analysis in an attempt to determine the cause of death. NPS/Rose Fielding Mortality Monitoring and RecoveryĪ crucial part of any endangered species recovery program is documenting and addressing threats. Park biologists continue to closely monitor the juveniles’ behavior as they take their first flights in the wild, ensuring they find appropriate roost and feeding sites.īiologist removes the transmitters from a dead condor that was recovered in the wild. Before release, the juveniles are outfitted with radio transmitters and vinyl ID tags. The young birds are also able to meet the rest of the flock though the flight pen mesh, when the curious wild condors come to check out the "rookies". During this time, park biologists regularly observe the juveniles to ensure they are displaying normal behavior. They are then placed into a flight pen in a remote area of the park and allowed to acclimate to their new environment for at least 2 months. Juvenile condors are transferred to Pinnacles from captive breeding facilities ( Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Oregon Zoo, and World Center for Birds of Prey) when they are approximately 1.5 years old. Pinnacles National Park is the only NPS unit that manages a release site for captive bred California condors. NPS/Gavin Emmons Releasing Captive Condors
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