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Rob Roy Ramey
Trad climber
Colorado
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Jan 18, 2014 - 11:02pm PT
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bhilden,
Our strategy was to maximize the reproductive output, so we would "double clutch" or "triple clutch" each breeding pair of condors. This was done by taking the first egg for the captive population to induce "recycling" in the breeding pair (the laying of another egg). Sometimes, we could take the second egg, and if early enough in the season, the condors would lay a third egg (which we would then take). So, whereas the birds would typically lay one egg with a 50% chance of hatching and survival to one year (and if a the young survived, no egg would be laid in the second year), we could obtain up to six eggs in two years, each with a high probability of survival in captivity. It was a clever strategy, devised by Noel and Helen Snyder, that ultimately yielded the number of condors we have today.
On the first egg pick up, we substituted a swan's egg fitted with two thermocouples, a transmitter, and filled with wax. This was used to transmit data on incubation temperature and the frequency that they rolled the egg, both key variables to hatching success. We buried the receiver antenna in the nest substrate with wires running to the bottom of the cliff where a data logger printed the time and temperature on a roll of paper. Those data were collected each day and relayed to the San Diego Zoo so they could adjust their incubation protocols.
So, to answer your question, artificial eggs are sometimes used to keep birds at a nest site. This was a strategy that we used with peregrine falcons to keep them incubating until captive-reared nestlings could be substituted for the eggs that we took earlier for captive incubation. I suspect that to be the case you describe at the Pinnacles, although it is worthwhile asking the NPS about their strategy and rationale.
While the condor recovery is moving ahead, it is not without future peril from ravens. Once, while watching the condor incubate the fake egg, I observed a raven landing at the cave entrance. The condor stood up to defend the egg but the raven quickly dashed in and pecked a hole in it. Fortunately, it was the wax-filled fake. This same pair of ravens would raid swallow nests on the cliffs by pecking out the bottoms of the nests by clinging to the cliff while flapping. Subsequently, we found that in 7 out of 10 condor nest territories with known cases of egg breakage, we also found condor eggshells in nearby raven nests (those within 1/4 mile). We expect that it was a learned behavior, which was why ravens that displayed egg-eating tendencies near condor nests were dispatched. The peril now is that if ravens start eating eggs elsewhere and that behavior spreads through a population, that will be the end of successful condor nesting in the area. With raven populations far above natural levels in the West, this is not only a threat to condors but other species as well (i.e. sage grouse).
We published some of our research on nest sites in the journal "Condor": http://www.wildlifescienceintl.com/WSI,_Inc/Published_Works_files/CondorNestSites.pdf A bit more history for the birders: our co-author, Fred Sibley is the father of David Sibley, the famous ornithologist. Fred was also a climber and rappelled into quite a few condor nests in the backcountry, alone, in the 1960s and 70s. We used his original field notes to relocate many of the nests we studied.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jan 19, 2014 - 02:27am PT
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fascinating, thx!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jan 19, 2014 - 02:29am PT
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oh, and here's the crag buddies this morning...
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jan 19, 2014 - 06:47am PT
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Rob Roy, my hat is off to you for helping to keep the species alive. Best Wishes.
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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Jan 19, 2014 - 11:58pm PT
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The California Condor Recovery Program has a volunteer internship program. This is 6 month commitment during which time volunteer interns will receive a living allowance of $39 per day of work while working on and around one of two wildlife refuges central to condor activity in Southern CA.
This volunteer opportunity focuses on the management of the free flying population of California Condors in Southern California. Selected applicants will track this population throughout its range using radio telemetry and by ground-truthing GPS transmitter data. Volunteers will observe condor behavior at feeding sites, roosts and nests. Field work requires: the ability to work independently and as a team; work and sometimes camp in remote areas during inclement weather or harsh environmental conditions; travel via ATV, 4WD vehicle, or by foot in steep mountainous terrain; carry 50lb carcasses to feeding sites; keep detailed field notes; follow data collection protocols for the collection and entry of accurate and consistent data; and assist in routine office work.
Check the Texas A & M wildlife job board for the latest position availibility.
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Jan 20, 2014 - 06:50pm PT
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Rob Roy thank you for your help in preserving this curious species. I frequently see them in my treks and climbs in the Vermilion Cliffs.
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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Jun 14, 2014 - 02:40pm PT
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http://ventanaws.org/pressroom/
First California Condor Observed in San Mateo County Since 1904
Condor #597, also known as "Lupine" took a trip from Pinnacles National Park on May 30, 2014 and returned just two days later. In the process, she discovered new territory. Similar to the pioneers, Condor #597 explored the landscape and expanded the current range of her kind. Fortunately, this recent excursion was recorded by a motion-activated camera on private property near the town of Pescadero, in San Mateo County, just 35 miles away from San Francisco and 6 miles from Ano Nuevo State Park, where up to 10,000 elephant seals come to breed and give birth. The property owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent the photo to Ventana Wildlife Society on June 10 after discovering it on his camera.
The last verified sighting of the California condor in San Mateo County was in 1904 near Stanford University.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
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Jun 14, 2014 - 02:59pm PT
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Thanks for a fascinating thread!
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 14, 2014 - 05:01pm PT
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Well, it's worth a try:
Here's a link, "The Master" to a web site filled with tons of "proof whatsoever" that lead shot is a serious harm to humans and to wildlife:
http://huntingwithnonlead.org/
Now, as I said, it's worth a try. But I won't hold out much hope. See, the web site is filled with scientific articles and studies; what normal people often call "proof." But I'm sure you'll enlighten us as to how it's a fake site, or how it's a liberal/commie/pinko front. Or how your God doesn't agree, and therefore it must be wrong.
Ho-hum.
Do us all a favor by either:
1. Going to a different thread (maybe a political one) to rant there, or
2. Carefully read the "proof whatsoever," and admit that it's pretty solid (in which case I will then publicly apologize to you for my sarcasm).
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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Jun 16, 2014 - 07:12pm PT
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Well researched article on current research into lead poisoning.
It may be that poachers, not licensed hunters, are the real problem in terms of who is continuing to use lead ammo. And the worst poaching may occur on public lands at illegal pot growing sites, which sadly are widespread in condor country.
http://blog.condorwatch.org/2014/06/16/california-condor-feathers-tell-harrowing-tale-of-struggle-and-survival-guest-post-by-alex-tamura/
California Condor Feathers Tell Harrowing Tale of Struggle and Survival
The Wiyot Tribe of Humboldt Bay describes the origins of mankind through a tale of survival and rebirth. The creator of all things, Gouriqhdat Gaqilh, had become weary of the wicked ways of man and summoned a deluge to drown the Earth and destroy all living things. The sole survivor was the great Wiyot hero Shadash, or Condor, who started a new civilization cleansed of evil.
In 1860, about 100 Wiyot people were massacred while celebrating a ceremony honoring that tale of rebirth and survival. Like Condor, the tribe’s survivors endured. Today, the Wiyot still see condors—and condor feathers—as symbols of renewal. Recently, they performed their first World Renewal Ceremony in more than 150 years, with a gift of 48 condor feathers from the Sía Essential Species Repository. However, the jet-black plumage provides a glimpse into another story of survival—this time for the birds themselves.
These condor feathers reveal the chemical traces of lead poisoning, a serious continuing threat to the population in California. UC Santa Cruz toxicologist Myra Finkelstein is one of the researchers using feathers to tell this story. “Analyzing their feathers has really become a powerful way to understand what’s going on with these birds when they’re out there in the wild,” Finkelstein says.
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crankster
Trad climber
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Jun 16, 2014 - 07:18pm PT
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Very cool
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Jun 16, 2014 - 07:25pm PT
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Very cool thread that I missed before. Thanks to everyone involved with the Condor program!
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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http://www.thecondorsshadow.com/friends/Condors_Event_Poster_Ojai.pdf
Southern CA condor friends: Meet and greet the US Fish and Wildlife Service condor recovery program biologists, see a 3 year old condor live appearance, and settle in under the stars at a lovely outdoor amphitheater for a free screening of a new documentary film on the condor recovery effort.
Only 20 minutes from the beach in lovely Ojai Canyon, the evening of Friday July 18. Save the date for an event full of magnificent, highly endangered birds and many friends. Famiilies, citizen scientists, outdoors enthusiasts all welcome. We are also welcoming hunters wanting to share beta on alternatives to lead ammunition.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Lead free bullets are good enough for the US Army.
http://www.army.mil/article/56157/
the M855A1 is the new "green" bullet
The performance of the EPR against soft targets is the same as that of the M855 -- but it is more consistent. The new round is also "superior to 7.62mm M80 against soft targets," Woods said. But at the same time the new "green round" is more Earth-friendly than both the M855 and the M80 -- it is also more effective than either of them against hard targets.
A test fire an Aberdeen Proving Ground range pitted the M855A1 round against the M855 and the M80 in multiple weapons -- the two 5.56mm rounds were fired in both the M4 and the M16, and the 7.62 M80 round was fired in an M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle. All three rounds are use today.
In all test firings against a sheet of 3/8-inch mild steel plate at 300 meters, the M855A1 came out on top.
I expect a gun aficionado to chime in with something like "but they're not the same bullet. the M855A1 is longer and more tapered" or some such diversion.
That's a non-sequiter
They point is the Army is completely satisfied with the new round.
So hunters, please clean up your ammunition.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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That's what happens when condor sees you rap bolting
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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They point is the Army is completely satisfied with the new round.
So hunters, please clean up your ammunition.
The army isn't interested in and is constricted by international law from using a round that produces a reliable and humane kill.
Not to mention that a human being is about half the size of even a medium size deer and quite a bit more fragile.
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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That's what happens when condor sees you rap bolting
They were fixing a bad bolt and would slit their own wrists rather than rap-bolt at the Pinns, Troublemaker.
How is that manufractured crack on the Captain's West face coming?
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couchmaster
climber
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Rob Roy Ramey said: "Once, while watching the condor incubate the fake egg, I observed a raven landing at the cave entrance. The condor stood up to defend the egg but the raven quickly dashed in and pecked a hole in it. Fortunately, it was the wax-filled fake. This same pair of ravens would raid swallow nests on the cliffs by pecking out the bottoms of the nests by clinging to the cliff while flapping. Subsequently, we found that in 7 out of 10 condor nest territories with known cases of egg breakage, we also found condor eggshells in nearby raven nests (those within 1/4 mile). We expect that it was a learned behavior, which was why ravens that displayed egg-eating tendencies near condor nests were dispatched. The peril now is that if ravens start eating eggs elsewhere and that behavior spreads through a population, that will be the end of successful condor nesting in the area. With raven populations far above natural levels in the West, this is not only a threat to condors but other species as well (i.e. sage grouse). "
Ravens are widely known to commonly raid many other birds nests and eat the eggs. Rob Roy, I'm curious, did you or the biologists consider bait eggs of DRC-1339 to kill the Ravens that preyed on the nests (Delaney and Coates studies of Raven predation on Sage Grouse eggs). Also, it's interesting that you make this out to be a possible extinction issue for the Condors, but the regular news doesn't mention egg predation of Condor eggs by Ravens at all. Any idea why?
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting public comments about the implementation of AB711 banning most uses of lead ammunition on or before July 1, 2019 throughout the state of California.
Comments should be sent to wildlifemgmt@wildlife.ca.gov before July 28.
The Wildlife Resources Committee, a Committee of the California Fish and Game Commission meets July 28th. The California Condor and AB711 implementation is part of the meeting agenda.
As lead from ammunition is the number one cause of California Condor death and illness it is in the best interest of the Condor (and anyone else, human or wild, eating game taken with ammunition) for this legislation to be implemented sooner rather than later. The law was written to provide for phase-in implementation to start in 2015 with full implementation on or before July 1, 2019.
A PowerPoint presentation re some of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s concerns in developing the implementation plan for AB 711 is available at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashxDocumentID=77723&inline=1 The location of this document on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has changed in the past, so the link may not work and you’ll need to search the website at wildlife.ca.gov.
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Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
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knowing that condors are protected....
If one decided to buzz me while I'm climbing I usually get out...
I suppose that could be one of the reasons for the bird swooping in the first place, right?
But then again, climbers gotta climb, and that's more important, isn't it? Our climbing?
then I read how condors are dying.. and then I read how condor only mate once about every 2 years... then I read that piece above..
Once, while watching the condor incubate the fake egg, I observed a raven landing at the cave entrance. The condor stood up to defend the egg but the raven quickly dashed in and pecked a hole in it. Fortunately, it was the wax-filled fake. This same pair of ravens would raid swallow nests on the cliffs by pecking out the bottoms of the nests by clinging to the cliff while flapping. Subsequently, we found that in 7 out of 10 condor nest territories with known cases of egg breakage, we also found condor eggshells in nearby raven nests (those within 1/4 mile). and I thought to myself is it really that important that I continue my climbing in the face of this dying bird species swiping at me like it does?
It's always good to know that we humans are way better than all other animals on this planet....
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