ventana wildlife society
this camera is made possible by ventana wildlife society, oakland zoo and hdontap .
join ventana wildlife society or renew your membership today. ventana wildlife society is recognized by the internal revenue service as a 501 (c) 3 non - profit organization .
please note: the ventana wildlife society website has several recent photographs of the condors .
ventana wildlife society launches first ever condor cam in the wilds of big sur, california .
to mail payment: ventana wildlife society 9699 blue larkspur lane, ste. 105 monterey, ca 93940
to learn more about monarch butterflies and and the research ventana wildlife society is doing visit our monarch butterflies page .
8. submitted artwork becomes the sole property of ventana wildlife society and may be edited and / or used for advertising .
ventana wildlife society researchers began releasing condors in big sur five years later; releases at the pinnacles kicked off in 2003 .
ventana wildlife society executive director kelly sorenson, right, and wildlife biologist amy list monitor california condors on june 21. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
the condor cave - some great news from ventana wildlife... | facebook
we' re proud to display the logos of collaborators that help ventana wildlife society accomplish its mission, programs and services. we also thank our
this short video (3: 22) tells how it all started for ventana wildlife society in the words of our co - founder, sal lucido .
ventana wildlife society (founded in 1977): in california alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction. ventana wildlife society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats. ventana wildlife society released 66 bald eagles to central california in the 1980' s and 90' s and began reintroducing california condors in 1997. rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink, we focus on the present. we recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective. focusing on youth education, we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife. our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet, particularly in california. online at urltoken photo credit: joe burnett / ventana wildlife society
pinnacles national park joined the california condor recovery program as a release and management site in 2003. the park currently co - manages 86 wild condors in central california with ventana wildlife society. for more information on individual condors, visit our condor profiles page and ventana wildlife society' s profiles page. biologists use a variety of techniques to manage and monitor the population .
“if we don’t know what they’re doing, we don’t know what’s going wrong, ” said list, who works for the ventana wildlife society, which manages the condor sanctuary in big sur .
, which is a non - profit, 501 (c) 3, organization. the society is dedicated to the preservation of native plants and animals through research, education, and restoration. by the efforts of the ventana wildlife society, condors are now seen throughout the mountains, coastal canyons and valleys of big sur. you can help in these efforts by donating time or money. please contact the ventana wildlife society directly if you would like to help .
copyright © 2012 ventana wildlife society, 19045 portola dr. ste. f - 1, salinas, ca 93908, phone: 831 - 455 - 9514, fax: 831 - 455 - 2846
ventana wildlife society’s condor recovery program is seeking qualified students to assist with condor observations via internet - based, live - streaming video monitoring of a remote condor release site starting in january of 2015 .
copyright © 2007 ventana wildlife society, 19045 portola dr. ste. f - 1, salinas, ca 93908, phone: 831 - 455 - 9514, fax: 831 - 455 - 2846
become a member; get involved with the american ornithological society (aos) .
in california alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction. ventana wildlife society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats. rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink, we focus on the present .
we conduct a variety of research projects to further our mission to conserve native wildlife and their habitats. some of our research projects are conducted as ecological services, and designed specifically to meet the objectives of our clients. others are original ventana wildlife society research projects that we have designed to meet our own conservation objectives. we regularly publish our results in major peer - reviewed wildlife journals .
a california condor takes flight in the ventana wilderness. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
wolstenholme’s crew at the pinnacles co - manages the monterey county flock with the ventana wildlife society, a nonprofit conservation group based in salinas and big sur. the organization led efforts to restore california’s bald eagle population in the 1980s and 1990s, before turning its attention to condors .
big sur condor tours by the ventana wildlife society are on hold while crews rebuild the pfeiffer canyon bridge on highway 1. construction is scheduled to end in september; tours will resume after the road reopens. visit urltoken or call (831) 455 - 9514 for updates. sfchronicle article
in california alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction. ventana wildlife society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats. rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink, we focus on the present. we recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective. focusing on youth education, we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife. our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet, particularly in california .
phase 1 – effective july 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition required when taking nelson bighorn sheep and all wildlife on state wildlife areas and ecological reserves .
once lead treatment has been completed, zoo veterinarians plan to extract the pellets to determine the type of ammunition .
we are extremely grateful the bird is still alive, but dismayed this innocent condor was both lead poisoned and gunshot ,
said kelly sorenson, executive director of the ventana wildlife society .
view images of condors and other wildlife from trail cameras in pinnacles national park .
also known as the
condor sanctuary ,
this 80 - acre parcel of land is located in a coastal canyon in remote big sur, california surrounded by the ventana wilderness. this is the site where our bald eagle reintroduction program took place and is the current home of the california condor recovery program being led by ventana wildlife society. the property was purchased from sal and ada lucido at a bargain sale as they donated the majority of the value. the cash portion of the purchase was provided by the hind foundation and william r. hearst, iii as well as linda stevens, paula norwood, robert stephens, joyce harris and julian and helga sands. the story of how ventana wildlife society got its start narrated by co - founder sal lucido .
this site is for the american ornithological society (aos) and information on advancing the scientific knowledge and conservation of birds .
as of january 1, 2017 currently there are over 250 + condors free - flying in the world, of which over 160 + are in california. ventana wildlife society is the only non - profit organization releasing and monitoring california condors in california. ventana wildlife society began condor releases in big sur in 1997 and then initiated a second release site in 2003 at pinnacles national monument in collaboration with the national parks service. currently, ventana wildlife society and the national parks service combined monitor a flock of over 86 wild condors in central california and at least ten breeding pairs. in order for california condors to become self - sustaining, they must be able to survive without intervention. the threats they face, such as lead poisoning from spent ammunition must be adequately addressed. to ensure the long - term survival of the species we have expanded our collaboration and non - lead outreach to include more hunters, ranchers and land managers that can provide safe, clean food supplies for the condors .
for more information contact: ventana wildlife society p. o. box 894 carmel valley, ca 93924 telephone: (831) 455 - 9514 urltoken notes from the field supplied by the ventana wildlife society. condor facts range: in 1800, from baja california to british columbia; reintroduced populations in central and southern california and in northern arizonafood: carcasses of large animals such as deer, cattle and sea mammals. wingspan: up to 11 feet weight: 20 to 25 pounds life span: 60 to 80 years; they mate for life. reproduction: one egg every two years in the wild. flying ability: over 150 miles in a day .
directions: andrew molera state park is located 26 miles south of carmel, ca. the entrance to the park is on the west side of highway one. veer left when you see the signs for molera horseback tours and ventana wildlife society. go approximately 1 / 8th of a mile and the discovery center is on your left .
working to reduce the effects of contaminants and other stressful impacts on fish wildlife and their habitats and to plan, implement and monitor restoration projects so that fish and wildlife resources can be recovered .
protecting, enhancing and restoring important fish and wildlife habitats on public and private lands through partnerships .
the california condor recovery program (recovery program) is a multi - entity effort, led by the u. s. fish and wildlife service, to recover the endangered california condor. partners in condor recovery include the u. s. forest service, national park service, bureau of land management, arizona game and fish department, california department of fish and wildlife, utah department of fish and wildlife, the federal government of mexico, the yurok tribe, san diego zoo, los angeles zoo, oregon zoo, santa barbara zoo, chapultepec zoo, the peregrine fund, ventana wildlife society, and a host of other governmental and non - governmental organizations .
for the condor biologists at ventana wildlife society’s base camp, deep in big sur at the end of a steep 17 - mile dirt road, this was and is a normal activity. (they set out the food – mostly stillborn calves donated from ranches, free of toxic lead bullets – after dark to help ensure that condors don’t start to associate humans with food. )
we recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective. focusing on youth education, we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife. our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet, particularly in california .
since 1977 ventana wildlife society has been involved with conservation ecology and species recovery. having successfully restored the peregrine falcon and bald eagle in our earlier days, we continue to restore the california condor through our reintroduction efforts in central california. we currently assist in managing california condors in the wild locally, with a goal of seeing 150 free - flying birds including 15 breeding pairs in central california .
three newcomers arrived to the release site this month. condor chicks r36, r51, and r54 were transported from los angeles zoo and san diego wild animal park to ventana wildlife society' s big sur release site on january 24, 2002. these three chicks are 8 - 9 months in age and have joined r42, r56, r60, and mentor condor r63 in the release pen .
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u. s. fish and wildlife service' s july 1999 proposed (pdf) rule to remove the bald eagle in the lower 48 states from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife (. pdf )
in this wednesday, june 21, 2017 photo, ventana wildlife society executive director kelly sorenson poses for a portrait inside a cabin used by researchers to study california condors in the ventana wilderness east of big sur, calif. three decades after being pushed to the brink of extinction, the california condor is staging an impressive comeback, thanks to captive - breeding programs and reduced use of lead ammunition near their feeding grounds. “we’re seeing very encouraging results that the condors can become self - sustaining again, ” said sorenson. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
given the success of bald eagle reintroduction, ventana wildlife society was requested by the us fish and wildlife service to join the california condor recovery program in a ten - year first phase effort to bring the condor back from the brink of extinction. vws is the first private non - profit in california to release condors. these majestic birds can be seen flying over the mountains and valleys of california' s central coast. the goal of vws is to restore condors to california. the latest information about the released condors is summarized in the condor reintroduction notes from the field. (field notes supplied by the ventana wildlife society) click here to download an indexed copy of notes from the field from november 1998 to february 2001 (pdf 128k) click here to download our local tourist guide, big sur guide, in adobe pdf. (800k) click here to download a birder' s checklist of all the birds known to exist in big sur .
report condor sightings you can help with our research by reporting condor sightings. please include tag numbers if possible and if you get a photograph of the condor, please include that as well. if you have a condor sightings outside of the normal range of big sur & pinnacles national monument, these are of particular interest to us. learn more about condor cam. frequently asked questions about condor cam. watch video about the oakland zoo and ventana wildlife society' s collaboration
pinnacles national monument is approximately 20 miles due east of the big sur and was a nesting site for a pair of condors back in the late 1890' s / early 1900' s. we hope the range expansion into a known historical nesting area will aid the condors as they approach breeding age and begin
house hunting
for new nest sites. check out our new webcam and view updated images of the mentor and six chicks within ventana wildlife society' s release pen .
that’s exactly the goal of ventana wildlife society in bringing teens out to the field for these short programs (night one is at andrew molera state park, night two at the base camp): they’re aiming to inspire a new generation of scientists, like gaya, but also to get people to care about the weird, ugly birds the nonprofit is devoted to protecting. the large scavengers, which help complete the food web, are endangered due to ddt and lead poisoning from spent ammunition .
a sudden shift in behavior by 286 was an indication the bird may have health problems .
we had been trying to capture him since late january because of signs of weakness and poor health ,
said ventana wildlife society biologist joe burnett. upon capture on march 4, biologists noted the condor was wobbly on his feet. testing revealed a high lead level in his blood, indicating potentially fatal lead exposure. condor biologists immediately transferred the bird to the los angeles zoo for lead poisoning treatment .
we thank the following collaborators: u. s. fish and wildlife service, national park service, national fish and wildlife foundation, kinnoull foundation, sylvanus charitable trust, ruth smart foundation, biodiversity first! , marisla foundation, and condor survival fund .
“it was actually going out and working with the wildlife and the ecosystem, while being in the ecosystem, ” she says .
phase 3 – effective july 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition will be required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in california .
conserving the nature of america by conserving fish, wildlife and plants and serving the people of california, nevada and the klamath basin .
since 1980, dozens of birds were translocated to santa catalina island as chicks or eggs from wild nests on the mainland or from captive breeding (institute for wildlife studies). in a second reintroduction effort, 66 eaglets were translocated and released from 1987 to 1995 in the central coast mountains south of monterey bay (ventana wildlife society). the first nesting pair from those releases formed in 1993, and many more pairs have established territories in the central coast range counties since then. from 1985 to 2007 the san francisco zoo, at its avian conservation center operated captive breeding efforts for bald eagles, hatching and releasing 103 eagle chicks on the channel islands of california .
notes from the field, september 2002 the national park service provided helicopter service to assist the ventana wildlife society in transporting condor pen materials to the new release site at pinnacles national monument. the successful operation took a full day and was a great collaborative effort between the national park service and ventana wildlife society. construction at the new site will begin after all the permits are finally in place, which will be sometime in early october of 2002. the big sur wild condor population is holding strong at 17 birds with 7 captive condors still awaiting release this winter. all the condors in the big sur flock, with exception of w31, continue their large - scale movements to the southernmost extent of their range near hopper mountain wildlife refuge. five condors from the big sur flock have been stopping over in the atascadero / paso robles area, almost halfway between the big sur and hopper mountain release sites, to feed on wild carcasses. local residents in atascadero and paso robles observed condors b70, or9, y90, y92, and y94 feeding on two separate deer carcasses. both deer were shot and killed illegally by poachers, greatly increasing the risk of lead poisoning to the condors which fed on those deer .
in 2003, a fourth condor breeding center was established at the oregon zoo' s jonsson center for wildlife conservation in clackamas county oregon .
park biologists, working closely with ventana wildlife society biologists, are specially trained and permitted to participate in biannual trapping of california condors in the spring and fall. during these trapping seasons, malfunctioning transmitters are replaced, measurements and samples are taken for research, and each condor’s blood is tested for lead levels. blood lead levels are monitored because lead poisoning remains the number one factor in condor mortality. condors with elevated lead levels are treated at pinnacles, los angeles zoo, or oakland zoo. you can find more information on our condors and lead information page .
we' re proud to keep these two properties protected as wildlife sanctuaries in perpetuity and are honored by the incredible generosity of our donors that made it possible. if you are interested in going to either of these wildlife sanctuaries, we do offer a california condor sanctuary tour which you can view
timeline of condor recovery 1890 - estimated population at 600 birds. 1967 - listed endangered under the federal endangered species act. 1975 - california condor recovery program established. 1982 - first captive bred condor is born and population reached all - time low of 22 individuals. 1987 - last wild - born condor, ac9, brought into captivity, 27 condors left. 1992 - first releases of captive - reared condors in to the wild in southern california by usfws. 1997; first release of condors to big sur by ventana wildlife society. 2000; ac8 becomes first wild - born condor to be released back to the wild. 2002; ac9 released back to the wild. 2002; april: first chick born in the wild in 18 years in southern california. 2003; national park service and ventana wildlife society start joint effort to release condors at pinnacles national monument. 2007 - first chick hatches in the wild in central california in over a 100 years. 2008 - nonlead ammunition required in condor range in california. 2012 - vws initiates free non - lead ammunition program. 2017 - total wild population (ca, az, baja) reaches 290 + birds .
as the fate of the species hung in the balance, ventana wildlife society began releasing captive - bred condors in 1997 to restore a population along the central california coast. since then, we have monitored their population growth, their prolific scavenging on marine and land mammals, and their success nesting in the wild. these magnificent birds are self - sufficient in most respects, but full recovery of the population is still threatened by lead poisoning. we continue to manage the central california flock with the national park service, moving ever closer to our goal of a self - sustaining population .
in 1987, wildlife officials captured the last remaining 22 condors and took them to the san diego and los angeles zoos to be protected and bred in captivity .
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wildlife biologist amy list shows some lead bullets like the ones that kill california condors after the bird eats a contaminated carcass. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
educating the public about the plight of endangered species is a critical element to any recovery program. current threats to condor survival are human induced and can be addressed through education and partnerships. lead poisoning, from ingesting ammunition fragments in carcasses, continues to be the number one threat to condor survival and the recovery program as a whole. since 2007, pinnacles has partnered with the institute for wildlife studies and surrounding communities to promote the use of non - lead ammunition for hunting and ranching operations. in addition, ventana wildlife society has a non - lead ammunition program to assist hunters in accessing alternatives to lead. for more information about non - lead ammunition, visit urltoken and for more information on wildlife and lead visit our lead information page. in addition to these focused lead reduction efforts, biologists collaborate with the park’s interpretive branch to provide accurate and current educational programs to park visitors and school groups. park biologists can often be seen tracking on trails, and are happy to answer questions about the condor program .
carl young weather station at anderson peak, big sur, ca this weather station is dedicated to the memory of meteorologist carl young, son of vws co - founders' sal and ada lucido. carl dedicated his life to weather research and died tragically in 2013 in pursuit of an ef - 3 tornado in oklahoma. the new weather station will help the vws condor crew avoid dangerous weather conditions in the mountains of big sur, just as carl' s work helped warn people of dangerous tornados. carl was incredibly supportive of ventana wildlife society' s work and spent many days of his youth and adult life in the field assisting his parents with vws' s mission .
all ammunition in a hunter’s possession may be inspected by wildlife officers. in some cases, if a wildlife officer suspects a hunter is in possession of lead ammunition and cannot prove otherwise in the field, he or she may seize a cartridge or bullet for further analysis. hunters are encouraged to assist in confirming compliance by retaining ammunition boxes or other packaging .
visit our recent cam photos page to see a few screen grabs of other wildlife captured in the area. so far includes a buck, golden eagle, a raven ...
each week of discovery camp, two spaces are available for teens interested in staying involved with ventana wildlife society. participants earn community or service learning hours and develop their skills as an outdoor leader. as an outdoor leader in training, teens will assist staff with organizing younger campers, help with camp set up, take down and meal preparation on thursday night, earning a letter documenting their time with this program. there is an opportunity to assist with or lead a group activity depending on comfort level as well. whether your camper has a strong interest in working with youth outdoors, or they are simply interested in one more summer with our camp - this is an exciting opportunity. same price as for ages 8 - 12 .
each pinnacles condor is outfitted with a visual id tag, at least one radio transmitter and some are also given a gps transmitter. these allow park biologists to track the movements and behaviors of the flock. condor staff and volunteers can often be seen tracking along the trails within the park or along the roads in the surrounding areas. pinnacles biologists regularly communicate with biologists from ventana wildlife society, who track in the big sur area, and us fish and wildlife biologists, who track in southern california, to monitor the entire california flock. additional sightings from the public help biologists track this far - ranging species. should i report a condor sighting? any condor sightings can help pinnacles staff better understand our flock’s movements and behavior. especially if you see a condor engaging in potentially dangerous behaviors such as feeding along a road, approaching humans, or perching on manmade structures, please report the sighting as soon as possible .
federal officials said in august that for the first time in nearly 40 years, condors were roosting in the blue ridge national wildlife refuge, expanding to their historical range in the southern sierra nevada .
clean water. clean air. abundant wildlife. the national wildlife refuge system provides and protects 150 million acres of land and water in the united states, plus more than 418 million acres of national marine monuments. the national fish hatchery sysytem protects imperiled species and game fishes, including pacific salmon and native western trout. plants, salamanders and freshwater mussels are also beneficiaries to the work conducted by our scientists .
many breeding territories are being maintained and protected under local management plans. key winter habitats are monitored annually. public land agencies - such as the u. s. forest service and county and state parks - provide site protection and public viewing and education opportunities. california department of fish and wildlife protects bald eagle nesting, foraging and wintering habitats in various parts of the state on its ecological reserves and wildlife areas .
new condor country application, created by the santa barbara zoo and u. s. fish & wildlife service, is based on real practices, real locations, and real challenges facing condors in the wild .
the big news this month came from los angeles zoo. condor y79, a 4 - year old male, was first released at our big sur site on january 30, 1999. he was recaptured shortly after his release on march 19, 1999, due to human - oriented behavior. his affinity with humans presented dangers to his own well - being as well as influencing the rest of the flock. the last 3 years he has been residing at the los angeles zoo' s captive breeding facility and during that time has shown an improvement in behavior and flees at the site of people. based on these behavioral changes, ventana wildlife society decided that y79 deserved another shot at life in the wild and on august 13, 2002, he was transferred from the los angeles zoo to our big sur release pen .
in this wednesday, june 21, 2017 photo, wildlife biologist amy list observes california condors up close from inside an enclosure in the ventana wilderness east of big sur, calif. three decades after being pushed to the brink of extinction, the california condor is staging an impressive comeback, thanks to captive - breeding programs and reduced use of lead ammunition near their feeding grounds. “if we don’t know what they’re doing, we don’t know what’s going wrong, ” said list. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
the giant vultures flap their wings and circle the sky before perching on branches and observing their observers. wildlife biologist amy list uses a handheld antenna to track the birds, which wear radio transmitters and numbered tags .
rimfire firearms are not legal in california for hunting or depredation take of big game animals or wild turkeys. rimfire firearms are legal for take of nongame species and small game mammals. beginning on july 1, 2015, certified nonlead rimfire ammunition will be required to take any wildlife species (game and nongame) on cdfw properties. the statewide requirement for use of nonlead rimfire when taking wildlife will go into effect on july 1, 2019 .
since 1992, when the u. s. fish and wildlife service (usfws) began reintroducing captive - bred condors to the wild, the usfws and its public and private partners have grown the population to 410 birds .
the condorkids (youtube) program, with support from the u. s. fish & wildlife service, santa barbara zoo and cornell lab of ornithology, is a pilot education and outreach effort that connects students with california condor conservation and recovery efforts .
to ensure that eagles continue to thrive, the u. s. fish and wildlife service worked with state wildlife agencies to monitor eagles. if it appears that bald eagles again need the protection of the endangered species act, the service can propose to relist the species. the service opened a 90 - day public comment period on july 9, 2007 for the draft post - delisting monitoring plan. we evaluated comments on the plan and released the final bald eagle monitoring plan on june 3, 2010 .
in this wednesday, june 21, 2017 photo, a california condor sits perched on a tree branch in the ventana wilderness east of big sur, calif. three decades after being pushed to the brink of extinction, the california condor is staging an impressive comeback, thanks to captive - breeding programs and reduced use of lead ammunition near their feeding grounds. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez )
a list of cdfw wildlife areas and ecological reserves along with specific regulations for each can be found in the booklet, hunting regulations for waterfowl, upland game and department lands public use. maps can also be accessed using the cdfw land viewer tool or viewed at the cdfw website .
the pacific bald eagle recovery plan (pdf), adopted by u. s. fish and wildlife service in 1986, encompasses a seven - state area that includes california. california department of fish and wildlife participated on the recovery team that prepared the plan. the following recovery goals were established to guide and measure population recovery: 1) a minimum of 800 breeding pairs, 2) average annual productivity of at least 1 young per active breeding pair, 3) breeding population goals met for at least 80% of management zones, and 4) no decline in major winter concentrations .
the bald eagle was added to the federal list of endangered species in 1967, and to the california list of endangered species (pdf) in 1971. the fish and wildlife service removed the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species in august 8, 2007, but remains endangered in california. although the fish and wildlife service removed the bald eagle from endangered status, the bird will still be protected by the migratory bird treaty act and the bald and golden eagle protection act. both laws prohibit killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests, or eggs. the fish and wildlife service has recently revised a final rule on two new permit regulations that would allow for the take of eagles and eagle nests under the bald and golden eagle protection act (eagle act). also, the bald eagle is classified as a
fully protected bird (pdf )
under california law .
in summer 2007 we piloted our condor wilderness camp for teens, taking small groups students to our remote condor sanctuary and base camp in big sur. the program gives youth a unique chance to take an active role in our condor reintroduction program and experience what it is like to be a field wildlife biologist. we believe that education at all levels is the foundation of any recovery effort, and that building passion for the environment is the first step toward building strong leadership and stewardship. we have also hosted these camps at pinnacles national park and bitter creek national wildlife refuge, both partners in the california condor recovery team .
california condors huddle around a watering hole in the ventana wilderness east of big sur, calif. (ap photo / marcio jose sanchez) after up to a year at the zoo, chicks are taken to a release site such as the big sur sanctuary, where a flock has grown to about 90 condors that travel between big sur and pinnacles national park. they scavenge, breed and raise chicks on their own, under the close watch of list, the wildlife biologist, and her colleagues. “i hope that i’m out of a job soon because condors don’t need to be managed in the future, ” she said. “i hope that they’re self - sustaining and wild and free, and nobody needs to trap or tag or monitor them at all. ”
in october 2013, assembly bill 711 was signed into law requiring the use of nonlead ammunition when taking any wildlife with a firearm in california. this law requires the commission to adopt by july 1, 2015, regulations that phase - in the statute’s requirements, but it must be fully implemented by july 1, 2019 .
notes from the field, february 2002 spring was in the air this month as we observed the first breeding attempt ever by the big sur flock. ventana wildlife society biologist, jessica steffen, watched male condor b64 perform a brief courtship display, wings half open and head down, to condor b71. after the courtship display, b64 approached b71, hopping onto her back, attempting to copulate. b71 accepted his advances, although both condors at five years in age are still too young and inexperienced to successfully breed. condors typically reach breeding age between 6 - 8 years of age. at that time they will establish a breeding territory and select a nest site. based on what we have seen so far, b64 and b71 could be well on their way to a life - long pair bond in the wild. the excitement kept rolling in this month as the big sur flock discovered a dead sea lion on the coast, just five miles north of the release site. this was the fourth dead marine mammal the condors have fed upon along the big sur coast and the second time at this particular rocky beach. b64 and b71 fed on a dead sea lion at this same rocky beach site in march of 1999, the first wild feeding ever by the big sur flock .
you can see live footage of a captive california condor nest during the breeding season at san diego zoo global. you can visit the facebook page, the condor cave, to see live footage of a free - flying condor nest, or visit hopper mountain national wildlife refuge webcam. you can view images of free - flying condors at pinnacles national park .
meaningful experiences in nature are what inspires passion for stewardship - whether it be quietly journaling in the shade of a giant redwood, kayaking into elkhorn slough, or having a condor soar so close overhead that the rustle of its feathers can be heard. vws works to inspire hope for humans and wildlife to thrive together by offering meaningful educational experiences for all ages .
wildlife biologists had noted a marked change in the behavior of the condor, a male identified as # 286 (all california condors are identified by studbook numbers). the 6 - year - old bird had previously been high in the pecking order in his flock, but toward the end of january younger and less dominant birds started picking on him. the salinas californian reports :
meaningful experiences in nature are what inspires passion for stewardship - whether it be quietly journaling in the shade of a giant redwood, observing ornithologists with songbirds in hand, or having a condor soar so close overhead that the rustle of it' s feathers can be heard. vws works to inspire hope for humans and wildlife to thrive together by offering meaningful educational experiences for all ages .
phase 2 – effective july 1, 2016, nonlead shot required when taking upland game birds with a shotgun, except for dove, quail, snipe, and any game birds taken on licensed game bird clubs. in addition, nonlead shot required when using a shotgun to take resident small game mammals, furbearing mammals, nongame mammals, nongame birds, and any wildlife for depredation purposes .
monterey county weekly article about condor wilderness camp. this program is for teens interested in learning what it takes to be a wildlife field biologist working with endangered species. this is an intense field experience and is not for the faint of heart! campers will meet condor biologists, learn about the condor reintroduction program, track wild condors using radio telemetry and participate in a work project benefiting the condors .
protection of nesting areas, restrictions on use of ddt, and other special wildlife management actions have allowed the population to rebound. the number of breeding pairs in the pacific states is approaching twice the minimum goal listed in the recovery plan, and progress in meeting the other criteria has been good. the status of the species has generally improved, as well, in the rest of the lower 48 states .
fieldnotes showcases the activities, events and conservation work of the u. s. fish and wildlife service here in the pacific southwest region. the articles inside are written by our employees and reflect the efforts of the service and our partners in conserving and preserving the unique natural resources here in california, nevada and the klamath basin. after you' ve visited fieldnotes, follow us on these social media channels ...
after the excitement of the feeding, a good portion of the big sur flock flew south 200 miles to hopper mtn. wildlife refuge. only w31, or4, and or99 remained in big sur and had the whole coast to themselves. these three took some nice flights north into the backcountry around pico blanco and bixby mtn. , returning on occasion to the release site to visit the chicks in the flight pen or to feed on a carcass .
there are now 276 california condors in the wild, but sorenson says it’s too early to declare victory: if vws were to stop their releases, the lead mortality in the flock would still outpace population growth. the solution, he says, is continued releases and outreach to hunters and ranchers, who sorenson says are increasingly receptive to the message about the dangers of lead bullets to wildlife. to that end, vws has distributed 4, 500 boxes of copper ammunition since 2012 .
the question of how to save the condors has been strongly debated in the conservation community. a distinguished panel set up jointly by the national audubon society and the american ornithologists' union despaired of being able to save the species in the wild. the panel was convinced that irresponsible hunters would continue to shoot the condors, that the birds could not be protected from pesticide contamination, and that their habitat would continue to shrink and deteriorate. to learn more of their biology, the panel recommended initiation of a
hands - on
conservation program, including capturing of most remaining adults, keeping them captive long enough to determine their sex (by means of a simple surgical procedure), and placing radio transmitters on them, before releasing them .
the regulation phases - in the requirement to use certified nonlead ammunition depending on where and what you are hunting. the first phase begins july 1, 2015, and requires use of nonlead ammunition when hunting on all cdfw properties and for all 2015 bighorn sheep hunts. effective july 1, 2016, hunters using shotguns will be required to use certified nonlead ammunition to take upland game species (except for dove, quail, snipe, and any species taken on licensed game bird clubs), fur - bearing and nongame species, and any species taken under the authority of a depredation permit. shotgun ammunition containing pellets composed of materials approved as nontoxic by the u. s. fish and wildlife service, as identified in title 14 section 507. 1, is considered certified. effective july 1, 2019, the use of certified nonlead ammunition will be required statewide when taking any wildlife. the new regulation does not modify the existing requirements to use certified nonlead ammunition when taking big game and nongame within the california condor range .
the regulations do not require use of nonlead ammunition when target shooting. use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless cdfw or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer. the regulations do not prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition, provided the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife. with the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection, hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition in locations where nonlead ammunition is required .
many organizations are collaborating to recover the california condor so that this species can once again fly free. these include united states fish and wildlife service, california department of fish and game, oakland zoo, los angeles zoo, san diego wild animal park, usda forest service, national park service, arizona game and fish, peregrine fund, oregon zoo. to recover a species over such a large geographic area requires the coordinated effort by many dedicated organizations. the recovery goals for the species overall are to have 150 individuals inthe wild each in arizona and california / baja mexico. the goal is to have 15 breeding pairs in each area with a population that is self - sustaining and growing .
a crucial part of any endangered species recovery program is documenting and addressing threats. 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. gaining an understanding of threats to the species assists the recovery program in addressing these hazards. in 2012 researchers published a paper (rideout et al. , 2012) examining condor deaths in the wild from 1992 - 2009. 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. efforts to reduce lead exposure in all wildlife have increased due to this understanding. learn more about condors and lead. .
today, lead poisoning is a serious problem for the birds in the wild. in an effort to get the lead out of condor range, the governor signed assembly bill 821 (ridley - tree condor preservation act (pdf) ) in 2007 to create a
non - lead
zone relative to hunting within the range of the california condor. in 2008, the california fish and game commission adopted regulations to implement this law. in 2013, the governor signed assembly bill 711 which requires the use of nonlead ammunition statewide for the taking of all wildlife, including game mammals, game birds, nongame birds, and nongame mammals. full implementation of this law is required by july 2019. for more information on nonlead see the section below, condors and lead .
historically, bald eagles were widespread and abundant in california, but no historical information exists on population size. by the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species, fewer than 30 nesting pairs remained in california - - all in the northern third of the state. contaminants across the landscape posed a serious problem for bald eagles. shortly after world war ii, ddt pesticide was used extensively to control mosquitoes and other insects. it was later determined that ddt and its residues were poisoning bald eagles causing egg shell thinning that resulting in many failed nesting attempts. ddt also affected other species such as peregrine falcons and brown pelicans. ddt was banned in the united states in 1972 due to it' s negative effects on wildlife species. another contaminant causing bald eagles deaths is lead. lead has and is still poisoning bald eagles throughout the united states when eagles inadvertently feed on contaminated prey or carcasses .
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perilously close to extinction in the lower 48 states three decades ago, the bald eagle has made a remarkable comeback, owing to restrictions on contaminants, enforcement of protective laws, and special management programs designed to improve its reproductive success and survival .
the bald eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national symbol and one of north america' s largest birds, weighs about 8 to 14 pounds and has a wingspan of 6½ to 8 feet. females are larger than males, and birds of northern states and provinces tend to be larger than those from the southern portions of the breeding range. adults are dark brown with a pure white head and tail. younger birds are mostly brown, mottled with varying amounts of white. they acquire their adult plumage at 4 or 5 years of age .
the range of this raptor is wholly within north america, including alaska, canada, the lower 48 states, and northwest mexico. bald eagles in winter may be found throughout most of california at lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and some rangelands and coastal wetlands. the state' s breeding habitats are mainly in mountain and foothill forests and woodlands near reservoirs, lakes, and rivers. most breeding territories are in northern california, but the eagles also nest in scattered locations in the central and southern sierra nevada mountains and foothills, in several locations from the central coast range to inland southern california, and on santa catalina island.
ventana wildlife society ( vws ) is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization founded in 1977 by a group of private citizens to restore endangered species native to central california . vws has three full-time staff biologists , together with seasonal interns , monitoring , tracking and researching endangered species , songbirds and butterflies . educational science programs for school children - offered in a variety of central coast locations - bring youth in touch with nature in their own neighborhoods , or through summer science camps . 
ventana wildlife society (vws) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1977 by a group of private citizens to restore endangered species native to central california. vws has three full-time staff biologists, together with seasonal interns, monitoring, tracking and researching endangered species, songbirds and butterflies. educational science programs for school children - offered in a variety of central coast locations - bring youth in touch with nature in their own neighborhoods, or through summer science camps.
ventana wildlife society (vws) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1977 by a group of private citizens to restore endangered species native to central california. vws has three full-time staff biologists, together with seasonal interns, monitoring, tracking and researching endangered species, songbirds and butterflies. educational science programs for school children - offered in a variety of central coast locations - bring youth in touch with nature in their own neighborhoods, or through summer science camps.