In April 2016 187 nested on the Battleship rock formation with his mate 280 They had used the nesting site before Scientists monitor the pair’s behavior The birds are two of just 78 California condors in Arizona There are only 230 wild condors today The hopes of conservationists rest on the breeding success of these wild birds One day people hope to see thousands of condors soaring the skies of the US Southwest Soaring Toward Extinction In 1982 that day seemed unreachable Only 22 wild California condors existed in the world The birds were at risk of extinction 6 Condors in Native American Traditions California condors have an honored place in many Californian Native American traditions Ancient peoples made condor bone whistles These artifacts are up to 10,000 years old Later California tribes used condor skin and feathers in their mourning ceremonies The Chumash fletched arrows with feathers They threaded feathers into jewelry and clothing
California Condor Range Today Study this map of the condor’s range today What do you notice about the areas it lives in What does it tell you about the condor’s status today compared to its status in the past Condors are scavengers They eat the remains of dead animals Hunters and ranchers shot some of these animals The lead from bullets poisoned condors Many died 7
Meanwhile humans moved in on condor habitat Towns replaced wilderness Roads and power lines crisscrossed the condor’s range The condor’s numbers dwindled Groups such as the National Audubon Society NAS asked the government to step in to protect the condors The condor became one of the first species the Endangered Species Act protected in 1973 In 1987 the last wild condor was brought to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Conservationists wanted to protect all remaining condors The birds were now extinct in the wild 8 Chick Ackaw On April 1 2016 the San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcomed its newest condor Ackaw weighed just 6 ounces 170 g when he pecked through his shell He did not hatch with his parents sleek black feathers Instead Ackaw was covered in fluffy white down He spent most of his first months sleeping and growing Visitors and bird enthusiasts watched Ackaw’s progress on the zoo’s 24-hour Condor Cam
Conservationists Take Action Since the early 1900s conservationists have worked to bring the condor back from the brink Today federal and state agencies partner with zoos and nonprofit organizations in conservation efforts Some laws protect condors from being hunted Others ban lead ammunition in condor habitats Zoos and the Peregrine Fund raise condors in captivity Some birds continue to live and breed in captivity Others are released into the wild Thanks to these breeding programs condors again live in the wild FURTHER EVIDENCE Chapter One introduced you to the threats California condors face What was one of the chapter’s main points What key evidence supports this point Visit the website about lead poisoning below Does it present more evidence to support the main point Lead Bullet Risks for Wildlife Humans mycorelibrary com california-condor 9
