You can’t hunt a California Condor, but the results of hunting can still kill them. Necropsies recently performed at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research confirmed the presence of lead fragments in the digestive tracts of three birds, a young male, a female and her one year old wild-hatched chick.
Courtship displayWhen the state of Arizona agreed to release captive bred condors in 1996 from the Vermilion Cliffs just north of Grand Canyon National Park no laws were passed to change the ammunition used by hunters. Arizona Game & Fish did implement an education program in 2003 for hunters and offers a coupon for free copper ammunition to be used in the condor’s core range. Voluntary compliance reached 85% in 2009. After all, who really wants to bring wild meat home laden with lead fragments for family and friends to ingest. California banned the use of lead ammunition in condor areas almost two years ago.
Condor’s feed on carrion, dead animals, and often the gut piles left behind by hunters. Lead shuts down the condors’ digestive system, which leads to starvation, weakness and death. Released birds are fitted with tracking equipment and monitored. About twice a year the condors are captured and tested for lead exposure. Birds with high blood lead concentrations are treated with chelation therapy to reduce the lead in their systems.
Arizona’s 75, less 3, condors now forage beyond state borders, which is a good thing, if they can be protected. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources plans to implement a program similar to Arizona’s for hunters on the Zion unit in southwestern Utah.
Condor recovery program officials state this is the first loss to lead poisoning in three years.
Condor conservation partners include The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Wildlife in Need, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.To learn more about California condors check out this post.
There's so much work to be done, isn't there? This isn't something I've even thought about – lead shot killing carrion feeders. But there ya go. One more thing to worry about. Great programs, though. This is interesting news, Gaelyn. Sad for the condors.
I'm so glad that CA banned that shot but what gives AZ? Thanks for this update. Sad news but we need to spread the word.
Gaelyn: Certainly a wonderful bird in flight but on the ground they are ugly creatures.
I've seen one in the wild when I was in highschool, and again with my grandfather at the canyon before his passing. A face only a mother could love… but all God's creatures!
I heard tonight on NPR that some in the California legislature are trying to extend the ban on lead ammunition to more areas.
I read that…and so many animals die of some kind of toxins that we have put into the environment. Makes me so ticked off….Michelle
This is mind boggling! It seems there is always something to harm wildlife…these guys are so precious…
How sad Gaelyn. If only there was a way to stop them hunting outside the borders of the park. Here, many people have opened "Vulture Restuarants" to help prevent this.
It is a pity that more isn't done to protect this magnificent bird. We have the same kind of scenarios playing off with people poisoning rodents on farms which get eaten by protected birds and kills them.
Oh I do hope those laws are passed quickly. So sad how man will be the downfall of nature and eventually the environment.
I don't believe in hunters, at least those who do it for 'sport' or 'recreation' or some other misleading term…..
Another case where Man has messed up Nature.
Interesting article and good info.
I believe lead shot is banned in Washington although it is still being used. the Trumpter Swan are victims of the lead. They feed in harvested corn fields and of course many birds (pheasant etc) are hunted in the fields before harvest or in corn fields reserved for hunting. Whatever it is not a good thing. MB
Thanks for sharing the plight of the condors. Such magnificent wings -great pics, Gaelyn!
I was so hoping this would stop happening with some of the new laws…but this just reinforces that we haven't gone far enough with our wildlife protection.
Thanks for the update, Gaelyn.
Unhappy, but very useful information. I didn't know anything about condors in the area.