Condor Memorial

307

During the October 2004 release event, 307 delighted the crowd with her graceful flight away from the release pen. She was hatched at the LA Zoo on 5/5/03. Equipped with a GPS transceiver, she continued to be one of the most adventurous condors in the flock and was always expanding her range which included San Benito, Monterey, Merced, Fresno, Kings and San Luis Obispo Counties. She underwent multiple rounds of chelation and was released back into the wild. Unfortunately, she was found dead of unknown causes in May of 2007.

 

Copyright Gavin Emmons 2008

336

On 4/28/04, condor 336 hatched at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Condor 336 was the only female of its cohort and had the smallest range of all the Pinnacles birds. Unfortunately, Condor 336 died in early September, 2008. It was found shaking and weak, and extremely underweight in Big Sur, California. Blood tests showed Condor 336 had high levels of lead (Pb) in it's system and was rushed to the LA Zoo for emergency treatment. Nevertheless, the condor's health continued to degrade and it finally succumbed to lead poisoning less than two days later.

 

422

422 was raised at the LA Zoo, and was the least aggressive of the juvenile condors in the 2008 cohort. 422 was a female and hatched on May 14, 2006. She was released from Pinnacles' flight pen on January 4, 2009. After only six months in the wild, 422 was found dead of unknown causes.

 

NPS Photo By Jess Auer

478

Hatched on April 23, 2008 at the World Center for Birds of Prey, 478 was released at Pinnacles on October 3, 2009. 478 was parent-reared and is the younger sibling 448. This male juvenile stayed close to H'oi (our male adult mentor bird) while acclimating in our flight pen. The mentor helps instill appropriate behavior in the juveniles. 478 seems to be the least dominant of the 2009 cohort and got pushed from the "best" perches in our flight pen if he strayed from H'oi's side. 478 ventured outside of the park soon after his release. In April of 2012, he was found outside of the park partially paralyzed, emaciated, and suffering from severe lead poisoning. We were able to capture him and take him to the LA Zoo for treatment, but he was too ill to recover.

 

NPS Photo by Paul Johnson

588

Another male hatched May 27, 2010 in Boise, ID at the World Center for Birds of Prey. They grow them big in Boise, 588 was the largest bird in the 2011 release group. That follows in the footsteps of older sibling 451 who was the largest bird in the 2008 release group. After making quite the debut by being released during the public Condor Comeback release event in September 2011, 588 has taken to spending most of his time outside of the park exploring the rolling hills of San Benito County. Unfortunately 588 was found dead in July 2012, only ten months after being released. Necropsy results are pending.

 

598

313 and his new mate 375 (originally released by Ventana Wildlife Society) successfully fledged a young condor in 2011. 598 hatch on April 5, 2011 in a wild nest in San Benito County. After much nurturing from both of her foster parents, she fledged from the nest in October 2011. Since then she has regularly been seen visiting Pinnacles and the nearby hills. 598 continues to stay close to her foster parents and 313's fledgling from 2009, 514.