Park officials will release three additional California condors
into the wild at Pinnacles National Monument tomorrow after
postponing the release originally scheduled for Oct. 15.
Park officials will release three additional California condors into the wild at Pinnacles National Monument tomorrow after postponing the release originally scheduled for Oct. 15.
This is only the second release of the endangered birds at the park. Project biologists anticipate releasing up to 30 condors at Pinnacles, a historic breeding ground for the massive birds, over the next several years. The reintroduction of California condors to Pinnacles National Monument is a cooperative effort between the Ventana Wilderness Society and the National Park Service in partnership with the California Condor Recovery Team.
“We are terrifically encouraged by the success of this first year,” said Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “The birds are thriving, the visitors are thrilled with routine condor sightings in the park, and we are proud to be a part of the recovery of this magnificent species.”
The release was delayed after two of the wild condors were observed perching on local power poles in the last two weeks. Electrocution and collisions with power lines historically have been significant threats to wild condors. Since the juvenile condors to be released are likely to mimic the behavior of the wild birds, biologists will recapture the two errant wild birds prior to releasing the new cohort of juvenile birds.
In addition, project staff will modify two of the flight pen support poles to more closely resemble local power poles, and to deliver a mild shock to condors that attempt to perch on them. This technique has proved successful in other release sites.
Six juvenile condors – five female and one male – will be set free in Pinnacles National Monument this fall, joining the park’s five wild resident condors. Three birds will be released on October 28, and the other three will remain in captivity for another one to two weeks to help ensure that the free-flying birds remain nearby for biologists to monitor. The six juvenile condors are 16- 18 months old and were hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. They have been acclimating to their new home in a 20 foot by 40 foot flight pen at Pinnacles since their arrival at the site in spring, 2004. Sometime this winter, six more juvenile condors are expected to arrive at the Pinnacles. Those birds likely will be released in 2005.
“It is finally a reality – California condors are once again free-flying in the Gabilan and Diablo mountains, where this species was absent for over 30 years. We are successful because of a great deal of hard work and dedication from all of the Recovery Program collaborators,” said Ventana Wilderness Society Executive Director Kelly Sorenson.
The public is invited to attend the event and witness the release of the condors from a viewing area located approximately a mile from the facility at 11am Thursday, Oct. 28. The release will take place on the east side of the park off of Highway 25. Shuttle services from designated parking areas will transport guests to within a mile and a quarter of viewing area. Guests unable to walk the remaining mile can request special assistance. Spotting scopes, binoculars, water, layered clothing and good hiking shoes are highly recommended. Parking is limited, and is on a first come, first served basis. Park officials recommend arriving by 9am. Rain will cancel the event. Further details of the release event are available on the Pinnacles National Monument Web site at www.nps.gov/pinn or by calling Pinnacles National Monument at 831- 389- 4485 x 224.
