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Please make a donation NOW in this time of crisis to rebuild our capacity to restore California condors to the wild

Big Sur Fire Update
We will update as often as possible as the news comes in…

Ventana Wildlife Society's heroic efforts to rescue big Sur's condors

LA Times, More on the condor evacuations in Big Sur

See video of condor rescue by Coast Guard

KSBW Report on Condors in the fire zone

 
Condor Sanctuary Slideshow

Summer Youth Camp and Condor Wilderness Camp will proceed - no change on drop off location. Condor Wilderness Camp will occur at Pinnacles National Monument.

August 4, 2008 Fire Update

The Basin Complex Fire has finally burned itself out, but not before leaving a path of destruction behind it and consuming almost 163,000 acres. We regret to report that we lost two free-flying condors, #278 and #377, to the fire. Our last radio signals for these two condors were on June 25th at the condor sanctuary and we presume these two condors perished in the fire that consumed the sanctuary on June 24th and 25th. Condor #278 was a six year old male and #377 was a 3 year old female and both birds will be sorely missed by all of us. While very sad for the loss of these two condors, we still feel very fortunate. If we had not rescued the 8 condors trapped at the condor sanctuary, the number of condor lives lost would have been much higher.

We are witnessing nature rebuild itself after the fire and we're already beginning to see new plant life sprout up in the burned areas of the condor sanctuary. In the spirit of nature's rebound, we have started our own rebuilding process at the condor sancturay. In late July, we began the clean-up effort and started removing what is left of our Release pen and our Consolidated Rearing Pen. We also need to repair our solar power and water system, which are both equally critical to operating our condor field station. VWS Volunteer, Duane Titus, repaired our solar power grid and replaced all of the burnt wiring. He also installed a new solar panel to supply power to our radio repeater and thanks to his help, we have the ability to communicate with the outside world once again. We successfully cleaned up the release pen area of all burnt debris and our next big tasks will include the clean-up of the Consolidated Rearing Pen and repairing our water system. Once the clean-up effort is finished, we will begin to rebuild our condor pens and come much closer to our goal of restoring our capacity to monitor and release condors in Big Sur. We have recieved an incredible amount of support from all of you and all of us here at VWS are deeply moved by your help.

Thank you, Joe Burnett

July 3, 2008 Fire Update

The wildfires in Big Sur are slowly growing, and Highway 1 is closed north of Andrew Molera State Park, the site of our research and education center. VWS staff evacuated the site on July 2nd, grabbing all of our valuable data and equipment. Due to the unpredictable nature of this fire, we are uncertain of when we will be able to return to our facilities.
The evacuation of our rearing facilities occurred on June 22, 2008, and 8 condors were transferred to Pinnacles National Monument. The 7 chicks plus a mentor bird will remain under the care of the Pinnacles staff until their release in the fall. We were very fortunate to be able to evacuate the chicks and their mentor safely during this crisis, and the condor crew remained exceptionally focused in order to evacuate the birds in a timely manner.
During the past week, the VWS crew has continued to radio track the condors along Highway 1, however the more recent closure has reduced our ability to monitor in the Big Sur region. Prior to the closure, we were able to locate the majority of our free-flying condor population, and obtained visuals of two of our three wild chicks, appearing unaffected in their nests. The fire burnt through the area of our third nest, and the fate of this chick is yet to be determined. Due to our limited ability to place carcasses at this time, many of the birds are visiting our sister release site, Pinnacles National Monument, in search of supplemental food and camaraderie. The condor crew will continue to monitor the flock as effectively as possible, using more creative tracking spots in accessible regions. We are also anxious to visit our release site to assess the damages and begin to rebuild our facilities. The fire, however, continues to consume the Ventana Wilderness, and the intensity of this fire is predicted to last throughout July, leaving the crew with little options for monitoring in the Big Sur area. We are optimistic about the flock, but are aware that none of the birds are out of the clear during such an ever-changing dilemma. We will continue to diligently monitor the birds and provide updates on the fires and its impact on the endangered California condor.

Thanks, Joe

MONDAY – JUNE 23
Here's a quick overview of the fire evacuation:

Smoke rising over the Big Sur Valley

On Saturday, June 21 (noon'ish) lightning strikes - sparking 3 fires at Grimes Point and two other backcountry areas in Big Sur.  The Grimes fire, now called the Gallery Fire by USFS (photo #4), grew rapidly and by late afternoon had cut-off road access to the condor site.  All VWS field staff evacuated safely from the condor site in early afternoon, just before the road closure. 

On June 22nd the fire remained 0% contained and continued to move north and south along the coast.  At this stage, we still have 8 condors in our captive holding pen at the release site and we have no road access to get them out.  Our only remaining evacuation option was to use a helicopter. 

Midday on June 22nd the Coast Guard agreed to assist us in evacuating the condors.  The Coast Guard helicopter picked up Mike, Henry and myself at Monterey Airport at 4pm that afternoon and we flew off south to the condor site.  The Helicopter dropped us off at a remote heli-pad at 4:30 pm and we started our 2.5 mile trek down the canyon to our condor site. At 5:15pm we arrived at the condor holding pen and started capturing and crating up the condors.  We placed them on our Quad-ATV two at time for transport back to the helipad (photo #2).

All Terrain Vehicle Condor Rescue

At 6:30pm I dropped off the first two condors at the helipad and they were loaded into the helicopter.  It was decided by the heli crew that we should get 5 condor crates into the helicopter before they made their first trip back to Monterey. 

By 7:45 pm five condor crates were loaded and the Helicopter left for Monterey.  Due to changing weather conditions and the increasing fire smoke the heli crew needed to speed up the last pick-up.  They told me to be back with the three remaining condors and the rest of the crew by 8:45pm, no later!  I quickly returned to basecamp and one particularly stubborn condor chick was eluding our capture in the pen...but after a quick chase by all, we we're finally able to secure her into a crate.  With time running out, I went to start the ATV to make the final run...but it wouldn't start! After some coaxing along and a big push-start, Mike was off and running with the ATV...while Henry and I followed on foot.

The time was now 8:40pm!  Mike made the dash to the helipad in record time and dropped off the last two condor crates and then returned to pick up Henry and I halfway up...man, we're we glad to see him!  Henry jumped on the back and I rode on the front and off we went with Mike on the ATV.  As we approached the heli pad we spotted the Helicopter trying to descend through the thick smoke and darkness and noticed they were having trouble finding the landing pad.  We were beginning to worry if they could land it at all and whether we would be stranded there for the night.  Around 9pm, the helicopter crew braved it out and landed the helicopter safely...a truly amazing feat! We quickly loaded up the last 3 condor crates and jumped in for the ride of our lives...it was a really close call!

We landed safely in Monterey and unloaded the remaining condor crates into the NPS vehicle and off they went to the Pinnacles Release pen.  They will be held there until the fire is under control in Big Sur. I would like to send a Big Thank you to the NPS Pinnacles crew for responding so quickly to help us out.

We are sad to report that our wild nests in Big Sur are still in great danger and remain in the direct path of the Gallery Fire's south flank. We can only hope the chicks, their parents, and the rest of our wild flock make it through this alive.  We are also at serious risk to losing our entire field site to this fire...please send good thoughts our way and let's hope for the best. 

The evacuation wouldn't have been made possible without the incredible support of two dedicated VWS volunteers, Rebecca and Duane, who helped secure a helicopter from the Coast Guard and also aided us in supplying key radio communication equipment.  The Coast Guard provided critical helicopter support for the rescue operation and I can't thank the pilots and flight crew enough. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Mike and Henry for going way above and beyond the call of duty, this was a really big effort on their part. I'll keep you posted as this fire continues to unfold...

Sincerely, Joe

Please make a donation NOW in this time of crisis to rebuild our capacity to restore California condors to the wild!

WEDNESDAY – JUNE 25
The Big Sur fire apparently consumed the upper half of the Condor Sanctuary late yesterday and last night, which would mean it could have burned through our entire condor rearing and release facilities and bunkhouse cabin.  There is no way to confirm the structure loss until the fire completely passes through...it could be a week or so before they would let us in by vehicle on the ridge. We really just don't know the extent of damage at this point, but I expect the worse based on what we have seen so far.

I'm very relieved to report that we successfully evacuated our captive flock of 8 condors from our Big Sur site...but we still aren't out of the clear with our wild flock and nestlings. The 8 captive condors rescued Sunday night are safe and sound at the Pinnacles Release pen and they all appear to have recovered well from their journey, according to the Pinnacles condor crew.

I was able to get down the coast into the fire zone yesterday and take much needed signals for the wild flock and check in on the two coastal nest sites.  The fire is burning well above the two coastal nests, but they still could be threatened if the fire drops down the canyons toward the coast.  I noticed the downward canyon fires we're not burning as intensely and we might have a chance there.  As for now, both chicks have been undisturbed for the most part and both fathers (204 and 194) were close by their chick's side in the nest area when I checked in on them today. 

Between Big Sur and Pinnacles we only have one wild condor unaccounted for, Condor 222, the mother of the north nest chick.  We hope to locate her today and the rest of the flock.  The most dangerous time
for the flock was last night and we can only hope they didn't pick a bad place to roost and get burned over.

Sal Lucido went up in Helicopter yesterday afternoon in hopes of getting in one last visit to his Cabin to help secure it for the fire.  The pilot was unable to land and they had to call it off.  Sal did get some amazing
views of the fire and confirmed that our third condor nest on the south fork of the Big Sur River did get burned over.  He did state that the redwood nest tree and grove were still standing, but everything else
around the redwood grove was burnt to the ground.  We can only hope the chick was able to hang on during the intense heat and smoke in the top of that big redwood, it would be a miracle if that chick survived it.

Again, we won't be able to confirm any of this until we are allowed back into the area...thank you for your patience and let's hope all of the wild flock make it through this one…

Sincerely, Joe

Satellite map of fire hot spots. June 26, 2008, 9:00 AM

THURSDAY – JUNE 26
Today the fire is still burning at the Condor Sanctuary. Joe Burnett, Senior Wildlife Biologist, wrote this morning, "I got a great look at one of the chicks today and he appears to be hanging tough with Dad....Mom was no where to be found.  The same scenario for the their coastal nest, Dad was around with the chick and Mom was gone.  Pinnacles National Monument staff signaled 171 yesterday, but we haven't seen 222 since we left basecamp on Sunday when we had a visual of her in a snag next to the Consolidated Rearing Pen...Pinnacles hasn't seen her either.  This might be our first documented bird loss from the fire. Still a bit early to say for sure, but she was a very predictable nesting female and this is the biggest absence we've seen by 222 at the nest in four months! You can see why I'm so concerned..." Sincerely, Kelly Sorenson

See video of condor rescue by Coast Guard

Links to videos featuring California Condors in Big Sur:

Redwood tree nesting Condors are Condors Male 167 and Female 190


California Condor in a Redwood tree nest


California Condor in a Redwood tree nest, part two


California Condor in a Redwood tree next, part three

Cliff nesting Condors are Condors Male 168 and Female 208


California Condor nest in cliff

California Condor nest in cliff, part two