I have visited Big Sur many times, and what keeps me coming back is the most magnificent bird in the world—the great California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus.)
Big Sur is a gorgeous length of coastline along California Highway 1, about 3 hours drive south of San Francisco. Take a look at the Big Sur gallery here on the website.
The California Condor was nearly extinct, the world population dropping to just 20 birds by 1987. Just imagine a species that close to extinction. The remaining 20 birds were kept in captivity under very watchful eyes. A breeding program at the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos began, and by 1991, some birds were reintroduced into the wild at Big Sur and in locations in Arizona and Utah. What caused the once large population of condors to drop so dramatically? Habitat loss and lead poisoning were the primary reasons. Habitat loss is by far the single largest risk facing most bird species. Condors need large, open tracts of land and undisturbed sites for nesting. Condors feed on dead animal carcasses. Animals killed with lead shot pose a significant threat to the condors, who ingest the lead shot and suffer from subsequent lead poisoning.
As with most environmental issues, education is key. Many ranchers saw the condor as a threat to their cattle, mistakenly thinking the birds killed their calves. Condors are not predatory—they only feed on carrion. Hunters can be educated about the threat lead shot poses to condors. The Ventana Wildlife Society is actively working on transitioning local hunters over to non-lead shot ammunition. From the work of the Ventana Wildlife Society, the Big Sur condor population is making a comeback. The central California population is now at 70 birds, with a worldwide population of wild birds close to 240. The reintroduced birds carry a GPS tracker and are tagged with a unique identifier tag. The VWS website lists all the birds and their tag numbers, along with their life histories. It's a lot of fun to ID a bird and then check out its breeding history, pedigree and other interesting facts.
How can you help save this incredible species? There are many ways. First, if you are able to travel to Big Sur, go there and get your first look of a wild bird on the wing. These are massive birds, and seeing one in flight is truly amazing. As you drive along Highway 1, just keep looking up. Once you have seen a condor, you will want to check out the specific bird’s history. Look it up on the Condor Spotter site and learn all about the condor you saw. While the efforts of the VWS are helping the California Condor population to grow, the situation is still tenuous. Help if you can. Don’t allow this magnificent species to disappear forever.
