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Junipero (663) is the second chick to have been laid and raised in the wild by Shadow (209) and Tiny (236), having been preceded by Miracle (538). Both chicks are a testament to spectacular parenting skills and represent the return of wild-raised condors. Not surprisingly, #663 is one of our wildest birds. He took his first flight in the shadow of Junipero Serra Peak, the tallest mountain in the Big Sur coast range, hence his nickname "Junipero". He eluded capture for over a year and we were only able to keep tabs on him if we saw him hanging out with other condors. Since he had not been handled before fledging, he did not have a radio transmitter or identification tag. We didn't even know if he was male or female since the sexes are visually indistinguishable. We were extremely excited when the Pinnacles National Park condor team trapped him for the first time in the summer of 2013. Junipero was fitted with a radio transmitter and tag and we used blood samples to determine his sex. Now we can track him and get a better idea of where he hangs out. He spends most of his time along the Big Sur coastline, but he has begun venturing from his natal territory to explore inland areas near Pinnacles National Park. He has even made a trip down to the Southern CA flock and back!
In 2021 Junipero paired with Pinnacles National Park Condor #438. The two birds raised a chick together in a redwood tree in Big Sur. Unfortunately #438 later died of undetermined causes leaving Junipero to care for the pre-fledged chick on his own. Since #438's death Junipero has battled his own health issues, having lost a leg to unknown causes.
In 2021 Junipero paired with Pinnacles National Park Condor #438. The two birds raised a chick together in a redwood tree in Big Sur. Unfortunately #438 later died of undetermined causes leaving Junipero to care for the pre-fledged chick on his own. Since #438's death Junipero has battled his own health issues, having lost a leg to unknown causes.
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