The

California Condor
In what ways have us humans influenced
other organisms/species?
So, What is the California Condor?
1. A big bird
Wings over 3 meters in length
Can weigh 17-30 pounds!
1. Scavenger
Eats already dead animals
Deer, cattle, sea lions/whales, pigs, small rodents/rabbits.
3. Looks
Big black and white feathers
Funny pink bald head

VERY ENDANGERED!
How it Functions
No sense of smell to help scavenge
Recycles carrion into nutrients
No Simple Birds...
New World Vulture
Same as Andean condor and
Sympatric Turkey Vulture
Evolved in biodiverse
California for millions of
years.
Largest bird in North
America.

A Loooong Time Ago...
Ice Age
40,000 years ago
Ate big mammals
Population declined upon others extinction
Holocene
11,700 years ago
Evolved smaller - used to be even bigger!
Last of Gymnogyps species
Used to be everywhere across Americas!
Fun Facts
Condors do not have vocal chords.
Self-defecate to cool body temperature.
Show emotion/mate by changing skin color.
Throws up when scared.
Looking into the Future
Very low population drop in 1980s
Multiple captive-breeding program
o Peregrine Fund
o San Diego Zoo
o Los Angeles Zoo
Endangered to threatened in 2020
o Population: 450
o 3 locations
o 15 breeding pairs per location.

Condors and Their Environment
Connection
3 examples
o Bodily
o Bird for habitat
o Habitat for bird
Condors and Their Environment
Lead in Condors
Condors
feeding
Condor and
chick in cliff
cave
Human Impacts and Behaviour
Lead poisoning from hunted carcasses.

Some people continue to illegally shoot condors.

Pesticide DDT prevented condor eggs from hatching.

Collisions with wires and structures.


Threats

Resilience and Adaptability
Now ~400 alive ~200 in the wild
Being taught by human
Bald head
Straight talons
for walking
Survival Plan: Problems
Subsidy programs don't work
What is Subsidy?
Don't lay eggs that often
Humans impact Condors Massively
Survival Plan: Resolutions
Create Reserves to protect condors
Natures cleanup crew. Needed scavengers.
Lead Bullet Ban. For real.
Condors receive treatment for poisoning


What Can YOU Do?
1. Tell others! Educate the public!

1. Dont litter!

1. Join us in getting companies all over the
USA to stop producing lead bullets!
Dolly, a young male California Condor, celebrating his
third birthday in the Los Angeles Zoo breeding program
for California Condors
Sources
https://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/document/d/1m
ZtVM7Zu3HvzqxpGsZu1okbaFpyXOCtaxrcMRkScX0g/edit