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CONTACT: Kelly Sorenson Executive Director Ventana Wildlife Society Office 831-455-9514  |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 18, 2011
First-ever recorded sighting of California condors feeding on Risso's dolphin.
Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS) biologists were enthusiastic to learn that condors were feeding on the carcass of a Risso's dolphin that washed ashore on the Big Sur coast last week. The event was reported to VWS Biologists by a Big Sur resident, and is the first documentation of California condors feeding on this species, ever.
 Two condor eating a gray whale |
Three young condors were also observed feeding on a gray whale carcass that stranded on a separate remote beach several weeks ago. Though this is not the first documented sighting of this feeding behavior, it is an infrequent opportunity to observe something unique to this coastal range flock. The condors, identifiable by their wing tag numbers 444, 470, and 501, were all born in wild nests between 2007-2009 to condor parents reared in captivity and later released in Big Sur by VWS. Condor 444, also known as Ventana, was the first condor chick to hatch and fledge in the wild in Big Sur. This success, followed by 6 further wild-raised chicks in Big Sur brought new hope to the future of the California condor program and the species recovery efforts.
"Wild-born condors are the future." Said Ventana Wildlife Society Senior Wildlife Biologist, Joe Burnett. " They continue to show us how well they can survive and adapt to the environment. This newest feeding event is a great example of their survival instincts."
Ventana Wildlife Society Executive Director, Kelly Sorenson, commented: "My favorite part of restoring a species like this to the wild is watching young birds learn how to survive and thrive on their own."
In 1987 the last free-flying California condor was captured from the wild and an extensive recovery effort was initiated to save this species from extinction. Ventana Wildlife Society's Species Recovery Program started releasing condors in Big Sur in 1997. There are currently 61 condors thriving in the wild in central California.
Despite ongoing recovery efforts, the biggest threat to condor recovery is foraging on carcasses containing spent lead ammunition. Legislation was passed in 2008 that banned the use of lead ammunition in the condor range in California, but despite this, biannual blood testing of the flock continues to show lead persisting in their food supply, often at levels that are dangerous or lethal to these endangered birds.
Ventana Wildlife Society is the only non-profit having released condors in California and works in collaboration with US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and the National Parks Service as well captive breeding programs such as the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and others.
Kelly Sorenson
Executive Director
Ventana Wildlife Society
19045 Portola Drive, Ste F1
Salinas, CA 93908
831-455-9514
www.ventanaws.org and www.mycondor.org