Hi, Tweets

Gene Kridler kindly gave me the following article regarding the upcoming
release of the last female California condor that was captured in 1986 . .
.. an interesting story even for those not interested in vultures!

Cheers, Diann

"The last female California Condor taken into captivity will be released
back into the wild-media opportunity planned

On March 14, after more than a decade in captivity, a wild-born female
California condor will once again soar over her home territory in the Sespe
Condor Sanctuary near the town of Fillmore in Ventura County, CA. This
bird, known as Adult Condor #8, was the last female wild-bird captured and
will be the first of the original wild birds to be released. She will be
joined by three Los Angeles Zoo-raised juvenile condors who will be
experiencing life as wild birds for the first time.

In 1986, Adult Condor (AC) # 8, one of only six California condors
remaining in the wild, was brought into captivity as part of the efforts to
save the condors from extinction. For the past 14 years, AC-8 has lived at
the San Diego Wild Animal Park as a breeding female in the captive-breeding
program. She has been a very successful breeder and is now believed to be
past breeding age. She is being released with the three young birds to
serve as a mentor for them to learn the necessary skills for survival in
the wild. Biologists will monitor their well being daily as the birds adapt
to their new surroundings.

The three juvenile condors are approximately ten months old and have spent
the last several months in a flight pen at Los Angeles Zoo with AC-8 and
other adult birds. The young condors were placed into the flight pen with
the adult birds in order to gain experience competing for food and to form
social bonds with AC-8 prior to release. While in the flight pen, the birds
have been undergoing power pole aversion training to help them avoid
deathly encounters with power poles once released. AC-8 and the younger
birds will be transported to a holding facility at the Sespe Condor
Sanctuary approximately one week before the release to give them time to
acclimate themselves to their new surroundings.

The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two
geographically separate populations, one in California and the other in
Arizona, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs. Eleven of the
sixteen California condors currently in the wild in Southern California
should be capable of breeding this year. Biologists in the field have
observed some courtship behavior between these maturing birds and are
watching closely for any indications of breeding."