This condor update is provided as a service for members of Santa Barbara Audubon Society. It is in no way to be considered the latest information or the most complete. For more information, please check the US Fish and Wildlife website.

• California condor studbook #102 (W2) was found dead on September 24th after being missing for over a week. Field biologists discovered the downed bird in a steep canyon approximately five miles northwest of the Lion Canyon release site in the Los Padres National Forest of Santa Barbara County. The bird was a six year old male that was released in February of 1995. Cause of death is unknown at this time and necropsy results are pending. Contact: Mike Barth (805)644-5185.

• Condor #105 (W5) is still missing from its July 31st disappearance and condor #125 (Y25) was captured and taken into captivity for the time being due to excessive interactions with humans. The bird will spend time with some adult condors at the Los Angeles Zoo with the possibility of being re-released later. This brings the total number of condors managed by the Refuge to thirteen and the total number flying free in California to twenty-seven. (Fourteen condors from the Ventana Wilderness Society=s Monterey County release site are flying free and are increasingly joining the southern population of condors). Contact: Mike Barth (805)644-5185.

• Another condor mortality occurred this week (10/6). Condor #181 (G81) was located on Sept. 30th by an aerial telemetry flight after having been missing for several days with intensive ground searches by refuge biologists. The bird was recovered dead in a rugged canyon in the Los Padres National Forest approximately one mile northwest of the Lion Canyon Release Site the following day. The recovery involved several hours of hiking through steep, rugged terrain. The bird was heavily scavenged upon and the remains have been sent for necropsy at the San Diego Zoo=s pathology department. The bird was a two year old female which was treated for lead toxicity back in August and re-released after treatment. Cause of death is uncertain at this time and necropsy results are pending. Necropsy results for condor #102 (W2) have not revealed a cause of death, however, further investigations are being conducted.

Website information contacts:
Chapter office address:
5679 Hollister Ave., Suite 5b
Goleta, CA 93117
805-964-1468
Chapter email: audubon@rain.org
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Updated: July 2, 2002