California's Condors Flying Again

Nearly 25 years after going extinct in the wild, and from a nadir of just 27 birds in captivity, the California Condor population is on the verge of a new milestone. The population is about to exceed 400 birds total.

LOS ANGELES, CA. (Catholic Online) - Curators are reporting successful breeding and hatchings at various institutions throughout California and elsewhere. "At the end of the breeding season, we should be at 400 if all goes to projection," said Michael Mace, curator of birds at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. At the end of this year, we could have 200 birds in the wild. Both would be significant milestones." The population of California Condors has not been at 400 since the 1920's or 1930's.

The California Condors began their decline into extinction with the arrival of humans in California, but it wasn't until DDT entered widespread use and began to concentrate in the carcasses of animals they were eating. The chemicals caused the condor's eggshells to become thin, and too fragile to survive until hatching. The result was that very few condors were hatched.

Wild condors now live win the wild throughout coastal California and Baja, and in Arizona.   The graceful birds weigh up to 30 pounds, and have a wingspan of almost 10 feet. They feed on carrion which makes them susceptible to the dangers of environmental pollution. The condors also face other threats. Hunters' buckshot, which contains lead, can poison the birds and diseases such as the West Nile virus can also kill them. Presently, conservationists are trying to vaccinate as many birds as possible against the virus and other diseases.

This year's breeding season has been excellent with warm temperatures and the birds breeding early. The future remains hopeful for the species as number of successful hatchings will bring the population above 400 and continue the trend towards recovery.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'