Condor Nestling Rescued

This month while doing the nest entry to check on 167/190’s chick, 646, our nest team discovered the 94 day old chick had a broken wrist. We check on the chicks approximately every 30 days to make sure that they do not have any symptoms of lead poisoning, any palpable trash in their crops and to do an overall health check (see image, right).

646 was evacuated from the nest and brought to the LA Zoo for an x-ray and treatment, but unfortunately since she will be away from her nest and parents for the duration of her treatment, she will not be able to be returned to the nest to fledge from the wild. However, 646 will be able to rejoin the flock once she has completely healed: the caretakers at the LA Zoo will be able to hand-rear the chick and she will then be raised by Condor mentors in a temporary captive setting, eventually rejoining other Condors in the wilds of Big Sur.