HI ALL:
I thought someone might be interested in this?

Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen
Bainbridge Is., WA, USA
ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
"Rallidae all the way"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 19 May 2001 13:51:29 +0100
From: Gruff Dodd <gruff at doddg.freeserve.co.uk>
To: Ukbirdnet <ukbirdnet at dcs.bbk.ac.uk>
Subject: [UKBN] FW: [EBN] RELEASED CONDORS IN CALIFORNIA LAY EGGS

Great news from California!

GRUFF DODD
2 Clos Tawe, Barri, Cymru / Wales
Gruff at doddg.freeserve.co.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: EuroBirdnet - the list for Western Palearctic birds and
birdwatching [mailto:EUROBIRDNET at listserv.funet.fi] On Behalf Of Cyril
Sch=F6nb=E4chler
Sent: 19 May 2001 09:55
To: EUROBIRDNET at listserv.funet.fi
Subject: [EBN] RELEASED CONDORS IN CALIFORNIA LAY EGGS


News Releases Home Page

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Home
>
RELEASED CONDORS IN CALIFORNIA LAY EGGS
>
Today, biologists confirmed the discovery of a California condor nest
site containing two condor eggs in the Santa Barbara back country of
southern California. This is the first confirmed egg-laying by
captive-born condors released into the wild in California.
>
The nest site was discovered May 16 by Greg Austin, a U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service biologist at the Hopper Mt. National Wildlife Refuge
near Ventura, California. Austin and other biologists have observed
two female condors visiting the nest site. It appears that both female
birds laid eggs, he said.
>
The condors seen at the nest site were raised in captivity but
released to the wild six years ago. The successful mating and
egg-laying mark a milestone in the 20-year-old condor recovery
program.
>
"This is truly exciting news," said Secretary of the Interior Gale
Norton. "It raises our hope that there will soon be wild-born condors
in California after so many years without them. It also demonstrates
the effectiveness of government and private organizations working
together for a common goal."
>
The California Condor Recovery Program is overseen by the Fish and
Wildlife Service but much of the work is done by four private
organizations striving to restore a wild population of birds that were
on the brink of extinction. The four organizations are the Los Angeles
Zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Ventana Wilderness Society,
and The Peregrine Fund.
>
Biologist Austin said he was thrilled that the condors had
successfully laid eggs. Some of the condors released to the wild just
reached sexual maturity this year and mating activities have been
observed. But this is the first discovery of eggs at a nest site in
the wild in California.
>
"This is very cool," Austin said. "Everybody involved in this program
has waited a long time for this day to come."
>
Condors are scavenger birds that soared over the Southern California
mountains and other areas since prehistoric times but their numbers
plummeted in the 20th century. The causes of their decline are not
completely known but lead poisoning is believed to be among the
factors. Condors were listed as an endangered species in 1967, under a
law that predated the existing Endangered Species Act. In 1982, the
condor population reached its lowest level of 22, prompting Service
biologists to start collecting condor chicks and eggs for a captive
breeding program. By late 1984, only 15 condors remained in the wild
and six of them died within a short period, several from lead
poisoning. Lead poisoning occurs after scavenging birds such as
condors, turkey vultures, golden eagles and bald eagles eat the meat
of dead animals that contain lead fragments from bullets.
>
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.
>
There are 28 captive-bred condors now living in the wild. Six more
captive-bred juveniles are scheduled to be released in the Sespe
Wildlerness Area on May 22.
>
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife
and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National
Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national
wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special
management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64
fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations.
The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered
Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as
wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting
equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
>
- FWS -
>
This news release and others can be viewed at
www.pacific.fws.gov
>

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