You are here

Endangered Condors Get Boost With Plan For Release In Redwood National Park

Share

California condors nearly went extinct in the 1980s, but recovery efforts may bring the birds back to Redwood National Park/NPS, Chris West

The largest birds in North America may once again soar above the tallest trees in the world.

More than a century since the last California condor flew over what is now Redwood National and State Parks, the wheels are in motion to restore the endangered bird to its historic range in northern California and strengthen the overall population of the species, which fell to 23 in the 1980s but has rebounded to 435.

Last week, the National Park Foundation announced plans to build a facility and design a monitoring program that will allow condors to be released from the Bald Hills area into ancestral territory of the Yurok Tribe within Redwood National Park. An “experimental population” of the scavengers, which have a wingspan of 9 feet and weigh up to 25 pounds, could be seen in the park as early as 2019.

“The park staff at Redwood National and State Parks is excited to work alongside the Yurok Tribe and our park neighbors to eventually return the iconic California condor to its historic range along the north coast,” Redwood National Park superintendent Steven Prokop said in a release. “This cooperative effort is required to restore the ecological and cultural vitality of the coast redwood forests and expand the range of California condors, key factors in the long-term survival of the species.”

Due to a number of factors, including lead poisoning and habitat loss, the California condor was close to extinction in the 1980s. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, only 23 condors survived worldwide in 1982, and five years later, all remaining wild condors were placed into a captive breeding program. Over the past several decades, conservationists and scientists have committed themselves to saving the condor from extinction. The birds have slowly been reintroduced to the wild since 1992 – condors in the wild surpassed those in captivity in 2008 – and the total population was at 435 last December.

The reestablishment of a condor population in northern California is especially important to members of the Yurok Tribe, the largest federally recognized tribe in California, which started the region’s first condor reintroduction effort.

“The condor has played a major part in Yurok ceremonies and culture since time immemorial,” Thomas P. O’Rourke Sr., chairman of the Yurok Tribe, said in a release. “It is through collaborative projects like this that we will bring balance back to our natural world.”

The multiyear project includes construction of a condor release facility in Redwood National Park, development of a GIS database for the surrounding region, and design of a remote tracking and monitoring system to better understand flight and habitat patterns.

A similar experimental condor population was successfully established in Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs. In California, condors have been established at Pinnacles National Park, Big Sur, and Hopper Mountain and Bitter Creek national wildlife refuges. Earlier this year, a condor chick that hatched in the wild flew from her nest at Pinnacles for the first time since the 1890s.

At Redwood, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, a longtime partner of the National Park Foundation, will provide funding and support for the project. The energy company previously invested more than $4 million in its infrastructure in the Big Sur area to ensure that condor flight paths aren’t obstructed by power lines.

“In our role as energy provider to millions of Californians, we’re committed to working in ways that protect the habitat for the majestic condors and all of our state’s wonderful diversity of species,” Tony Earley, PG&E chairman and CEO, said in a release.

Public meetings for the proposed restoration will be held in January, followed by a public comment period.

Public meetings

  • Sacramento, California: 6-8 p.m. January 23, Federal Building, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento
  • Eureka, California: 6-8 pm January 24, Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, Eureka
  • Klamath, California: 10 a.m.-noon January 25
  • Central Point, Oregon: 6-8 p.m. January 25, Jackson County Auditorium
  • Portland, Oregon: 6-8 p.m. January 26, Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road

Comments

I have wanted to visit the Redwood Forest since I was a little girl . I hope to in about two years when my husband retires. I also love my birds here in Michigan and wherever I travel .  I so look forward to seeing more of the good ole' USA!


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.