Fuego stealth no more!

Fuego displays his vibrant head-neck colors

VWS Biologists attach new transmitters

The VWS Condor team successfully trapped Fuego (#470) this past week and replaced his non-functioning radio transmitters. As part of a collaborative effort with the Pinnacles Condor Team, Fuego and other condors are being rounded up right now for routine transmitter replacements and blood lead checks.  Fortunately, Fuego and others tested low in blood lead and were released back to the wild. But that wasn't the case for all, seven condors were sent to captivity to be treated for lead poisoning. Thanks to the support of our partners at LA and Oakland Zoos, the lead-sick condors are given first class care and treatment by dedicated veterinarians and keeper staff.  All seven condors appear to be recovering well and we anticipate their return to the wild in the coming weeks.

Fuego is cleared for take off!

Fuego flies free once again

Shadow (#209) takes flight after testing low in lead

Photos courtesy of www.webnectar.com

Girl Power!

Photo of Chick #787 shortly after hatch

We documented yet another fascinating display of condor survival this nest season. Condor females 317 and 171 have been working together to raise a chick in the wild in a nest cave in an extremely remote location in Big Sur. Ca.  VWS Biologists were only able to access the nest twice due to its remoteness.  On the final nest check, they left a trail camera behind to capture the wild hatching process, an event never captured on film.  Biologists hoped this camera would capture a time lapse sequence of the chick hatching and eventual fledging from the nest cave.  

Females #171 and #317 join forces

Biologists are also curious to see how two females will raise a wild chick without a male present. They believe that the two females joined forces after the suspected male mate, #242,to one of the females died shortly after nesting began. Condors parents do most of the rearing, but they also get help from other condors in the flock.  This could be the case with this pair, one female lost her mate and another came in to assist for the greater good of the flock.  

This time lapse video captures nest activity from 4/10/2015-5/27/2015. The chick eventually grew big enough to knock over the camera.  VWS biologists believe the chick, #787 (sex unknown), has fledged and will eventually emerge to join the rest of the flock in the coming months.