“As biologists, we are excited to see condors continue to expand back into their historic range. And also for the opportunity to engage with the local communities to share what they can do to contribute to the recovery of California condors, and also inform them about threats to these birds.” — Laura McMahon, wildlife biologist, USFWS California Condor Recovery Program
Some of the endangered condors, which are reclaiming their historic habitat, were spotted atop the 6,725-foot granite dome of Moro Rock in late May, the National Park Service said Tuesday.
“Condors were consistently seen throughout the parks until the late 1970s. Observations became increasingly rare throughout the latter portion of the century as the population declined,” said Tyler Coleman, a wildlife biologist with Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. “Four condors were spotted flying near the Giant Forest and at least two near Moro rock.”
In addition, condors were tracked flying around Giant Forest, according to Dave Meyer, a California condor biologist with the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Condors Can Fly Hundreds of Miles Daily
“We use GPS transmitters to track the birds’ movement, which can be over hundreds of miles on a single day,” Meyer said. “On this particular day, we documented the birds’ signals around Giant Forest, and we are excited that park employees observed the birds and confirmed their use of this important historic habitat.”
The birds are scavengers and they almost died out in large part due to ingesting lead in the carcasses of animals shot by hunters.
“Condors were consistently seen throughout the parks until the late 1970s. Observations became increasingly rare throughout the latter portion of the century as the population declined,” Coleman said.
Only 22 California Condors Were in the Wild in the 1980s
In the early 1980s, all 22 birds remaining in the wild were trapped and brought into a captive-breeding program that began releasing condors into Southern California’s Los Padres National Forest in 1992.
That flock has expanded its range while other condors now occupy parts of California’s Central Coast, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California. The total wild population now numbers about 340.
“As biologists, we are excited to see condors continue to expand back into their historic range. And also for the opportunity to engage with the local communities to share what they can do to contribute to the recovery of California condors, and also inform them about threats to these birds,” said Laura McMahon, a wildlife biologist with the USFWS California Condor Recovery Program.
(Associated Press contributed to this article.)
