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Hi -

I though you all would be interested in this.

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Date: Thur, 15 May 1997 9:08:00 -0600 (MDT)
From: Mitch Snow <mitch_snow at mail.fws.gov>
To: fws-news at dataadmin.irm.r9.fws.gov
Subject: FOUR MORE CALIFORNIA CONDORS RELEASED
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Jeff Cilek or Bill Heinrich, The Peregrine Fund 208/362-3716
Jeff Humphrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 602/640-2720
Tom Bauer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 505/248-6911
Rory Aikens, Arizona Game and Fish Department 602/789-3214
Mike Small, Bureau of Land Management 801/628-4491

May 14, 1997

FOUR MORE CALIFORNIA CONDORS RELEASED
-JOIN SPECIES' RECOVERY EFFORT OVER SOUTHWEST CANYONS-

Four of the nine California condors being held atop the 1000-foot Vermilion
Cliffs north of the Grand Canyon were released this morning. At 7:00 a.m.,
Peregrine Fund biologists lifted the door of the condor pen and the birds
cautiously hopped from their shelter and onto the lip of the cliff. As the last
bird emerged, all four unfolded their 9-foot wings to initiate their maiden
flights. Peregrine Fund biologists, Mark Vekasy and Shawn Farry, reported that
the "the four made a number of short flights and are now perched on the talus
slope near the base of the cliff."

The nine condors have been held in a netted adjustment pen since shortly
after they were transported from the Los Angeles Zoo to the Bureau of Land
Management administered cliff site on April 29, 1997. The four most subordinate
condors were selected for release today with the hope that they will socialize
more easily with the existing birds. The remaining captive birds will be
released after biologists evaluate their behavior, weather conditions and the
results of today's release.

The two-year old condors are the oldest to be released in the wild. Since
older, more mature birds could immediately soar greater distances than their
younger counterparts did when released last December, biologists chose to
release them in small batches. "By releasing these birds a few at a time, it
will give them the opportunity to gradually assimilate with the existing
population. The younger condors have performed well since their release last
December; these older birds could learn much from the existing birds as the two
groups begin to socialize" said Bill Heinrich, Species Restoration Manager of
The Peregrine Fund. The Peregrine Fund is a non-profit conservation
organization conducting the release in northern Arizona.

Since December, the five original condors have greatly extended their
range. They have soared below the north rim of the Grand Canyon and been
spotted over Lake Powell and Page, Arizona. Each of the five condors regularly
returns to the Vermilion Cliffs and has inspected the new arrivals. Researchers
will continue to monitor the condors' movements and study how the groups
interact and assimilate.

###


(EDITORS: An uncertain release schedule prevents program biologists from
offering media coverage of this release. File photographs are available from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or by accessing The Peregrine Fund's website
at www.peregrinefund.org.)


Condors Released May 14, 1997 at Vermilion Cliffs

Tag NumberSexHatch DateHatch Location
#16Male4/13/95San Diego Wild Animal Park
#19Female4/17/95San Diego Wild Animal Park
#27Female2/2/95San Diego Wild Animal Park
#28Female2/21/95The Los Angeles Zoo*

*All birds were held at the Los Angeles Zoo facility prior to being transported
to the Vermilion Cliffs


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