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Ferdinand (652) was named 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 halfway 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 Big Sur 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.
While Ferdinand (652) may be exceptionally large, Condor 550 has a more petite build, but like Ferdinand, Condor 550 has a very docile and mellow nature, which makes them the perfect match. Their parenting styles mesh well together as both are very attentive to their chick and are always near the nest site, ready to fly into action should anything threaten their offspring. In 2021, they were so attentive with their chick 1095 that biologists affectionately nicknamed 1095 “Jabba” after the Star Wars character since its crop was always bulging out of the nest cavity, full of the meals Ferdinand (652) and Condor 550 constantly fed him/her.
Enjoy Ferdinand (652) and Condor 550's 2023 Nesting Season video below.
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 Big Sur 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.
While Ferdinand (652) may be exceptionally large, Condor 550 has a more petite build, but like Ferdinand, Condor 550 has a very docile and mellow nature, which makes them the perfect match. Their parenting styles mesh well together as both are very attentive to their chick and are always near the nest site, ready to fly into action should anything threaten their offspring. In 2021, they were so attentive with their chick 1095 that biologists affectionately nicknamed 1095 “Jabba” after the Star Wars character since its crop was always bulging out of the nest cavity, full of the meals Ferdinand (652) and Condor 550 constantly fed him/her.
Enjoy Ferdinand (652) and Condor 550's 2023 Nesting Season video below.
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