In 1983, the San Diego Zoo became the first facility in the world to hatch a California Condor in managed care.San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and its partners have worked since the 1940s to prevent California Condors from going extinct.Has pioneered numerous novel approaches related to California Condor husbandry, captive breeding, reintroduction programs, and management of wild populations.Historically, was of great spiritual-ceremonial significance to some native peoples of North America.Collect and eat bones and shells to help meet the high calcium needs of their diet.While foraging, often watch the behavior of other scavengers to locate food.Chicks playful and very curious when exploring their nest site.During courtship, males spread wings and circle females in "wing out display".Choosy about nest sites breeding pairs spend many hours visiting potential nesting locations.Nests in cliff caves or in tops of broken trees.Long-lived bird species unknown life span, but possibly to 60-70 years.Wild populations still require intensive management lead poisoning and ingestion of trash are most serious threats.Major conservation success story species has recovered from 22 birds in 1982 to 435 birds in 2015.Nearly went extinct in the 1980s and 1990s.Fledglings may remain in natal area for two years. Fledglings dependent on parents another 5-6 months. Nestlings and Fledglings: Use nest site 5-6 months, then fledge. Nestlings: Common Ravens, Golden Eagles, black bears occasionally coyotes and mountain lionsĪdults: mainly humans infrequently Golden EaglesĬlutch Size: 1 egg a replacement egg is laid if first is removed or damaged early in the breeding seasonĬolor: pale bluish-green that fades to white Deer, livestock, rodents, stranded marine mammals. Primarily use visual and tactile displays to communicate.ĭiet: Carrion. Mainly scavenge on medium- and large-bodied mammal carcasses. Stable pair bonds over many years may mate for life.Ĭommunication: Keen eyesight, poor sense of smell. Social Groups: Often gregarious at roosts, bathing sites, and foraging sites. Some seasonal changes in movements, but no long distance migration. Home range influenced by daylength (fly farther to forage when days are longer). Movements: Make long flights to foraging grounds. Roost and sleep during early morning, evening, and night. Also spend much of the day perched-preening, with mate or other condors, incubating egg, bathing. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon spent foraging. Agile on the ground: walk, run, hop.Īctivity Cycle: Diurnal forager. Locomotion: Use thermals for soaring flight flapping flight typical of takeoff and landing only. Population Estimates: 435 (268 wild, 167 in managed care) (as of December 2015) Critically Endangered (2018 assessment).In coastal regions of central California: seashores. In mountainous regions: grasslands, woodlands, scrublands, coniferous and deciduous forests, oak savanas. Habitat: Broad habitat and climate tolerances. Range: Primarily southern and central California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico some other western U.S. Color in adults: orange-red sometimes with various shades of yellow and pink. Immatures: Dark brown, with mottled, triangular patches underneath wings. Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. California Condor ( Gymnogyps californianus)
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