Future of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) By: James Nafsey

Overview  History of Condor  Captivity  Reintroduction  Problems Facing Survival  The Future

History of Condors  Could be seen from along West Coast –British Columbia to Baja California  Few sitings in Arizona  In the 1950’s numbers reduces to under 200 wild (some reports as low as 23)

Captivity Late 1950’s – took birds into captivityLate 1950’s – took birds into captivity 1980’s - captive breeding began for reintroduction1980’s - captive breeding began for reintroduction

Reintroduction in Arizona  Started in California  1992 – First birds released in Arizona –Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs  – 45 birds released –7 fatalities –11 required recapture

Problems Facing Survival  Habitat  Food resources  Fixing Proximate cause but not Ultimate cause  Low nestling survival

The Future  Is there a future?  Arizona’s approach – wait and see  In my opinion……

QUESTIONS?

Sources  Cohn, Jeffery P. "The Flight of the California Condor." Bioscience 43 (1993): JSTOR. University of Arizona, Tucson. 12 Mar  Meretsky, Vicky J., Noel F. Snyder, Steven R. Beissinger, David A. Clendenen, and James W. Wiley. "Demography of the California Condor: Implication for Reestablishment." Conservation Biology 14 (2000): JSTOR. University of Arizona, Tucson. 12 Mar  Mertz, David B. "The Mathematical Demography of the California Condor Population." The American Naturalist 105 (1971): JSTOR. University of Arizona, Tucson. 12 Mar  Olson, Chad. "Grand Start in Grand Canyon." Birder\\\'s World 17 (2003): 18. EBSCOhost. EBSCO. University of Arizona, Tucson. 29 Mar  Ralls, Katherine, and Jonathan D. Ballou. "Genetic Status and Management of California Condor." The Condor 106 (2004): JSTOR. University of Arizona, Tucson. 12 Mar  Stauble, Ann M. "California Condors Released in Arizona." Animals 130 (1997): 15. EBSCOhost. EBSCO. University of Arizona, Tucson. 29 Mar  Stoms, David M., Frank W. Davis, Chritopher B. Cogan, Marco O. Painho, Brean W. Duncan, Joseph Scepan, and Michael Scott. "Graphic Analysis of California Condor Sighting Data." Conservation Biology 7 (1993): JSTOR. University of Arizona, Tucson. 12 Mar  Wheelwright, Jeff, and Glenn Oakley. "Condors: Back From the Brink." Smithsonian 28 (1997): EBSCOhost. EBSCO. University of Arizona, Tucson. 29 Mar