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Condor 652 is named "Ferdinand", after the bull in the children's book The Story of Ferdinand. This is a very appropriate name for him because he is a particularly large condor with a sweet and mellow disposition. His release to the wild flock went very smoothly. Instead of flying off, as many birds do, he turned and started hiking straight up the release slope to a feeding area where other birds were waiting, seemingly stopping to smell the flowers along the way. Condors are very social animals, and after Ferdinand (652) was released, Condor 547 hiked half way down the hill to greet the newcomer and escort him to where the others were feeding! He accepted the kind gesture and they both went together to feed.
Ferdinand (652) was fathered at the Los Angeles Zoo by an especially unique Condor 1, known as "Topa Topa". Topa Topa is one of the largest condors in existence, weighing in at 25 pounds! He was the first condor to be taken into captivity back in 1967 and was the foundation of a successful captive breeding program that helped save the species from extinction. Ferdinand (652) clearly inherited his father's genes as he has a very large frame and weighs a whopping 23 pounds, more than any of the other juveniles in his cohort! Since Topa Topa has proven to be one of the most successful captive breeders, Ferdinand (652) has joined quite a few half-siblings in the coastal flock. In 2020, Ferdinand (652) paired with female Pinnacles National Park Condor 550, the two nested together in a redwood cavity in Big Sur and hatched their first chick, 1030.
Since 2021 Ferdinand has nested again with Pinnacles National Park Condor 550, who recently laid an egg in a redwood cavity in Big Sur.
Ferdinand (652) was fathered at the Los Angeles Zoo by an especially unique Condor 1, known as "Topa Topa". Topa Topa is one of the largest condors in existence, weighing in at 25 pounds! He was the first condor to be taken into captivity back in 1967 and was the foundation of a successful captive breeding program that helped save the species from extinction. Ferdinand (652) clearly inherited his father's genes as he has a very large frame and weighs a whopping 23 pounds, more than any of the other juveniles in his cohort! Since Topa Topa has proven to be one of the most successful captive breeders, Ferdinand (652) has joined quite a few half-siblings in the coastal flock. In 2020, Ferdinand (652) paired with female Pinnacles National Park Condor 550, the two nested together in a redwood cavity in Big Sur and hatched their first chick, 1030.
Since 2021 Ferdinand has nested again with Pinnacles National Park Condor 550, who recently laid an egg in a redwood cavity in Big Sur.
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