Known as ‘thunderbirds,” the California condor is the largest land bird in North America. Their wingspan can exceed 9.5 feet and they can reach speeds of up to 55 mph.
They once soared in the thousands across the western U.S and Mexico. Fossil records indicate that the birds once inhabited areas as far east as present-day New York and Florida.
But by the mid-20th century, their range was significantly reduced as more people moved west.
“There are many theories and hypotheses as to why the birds had declined,”…
Known as nature’s cleanup crew, condors get their nutrients by feasting on dead animal carcasses, snacking on everything from beached whales to field mice. A hardy and effective immune system protects the birds from any bacteria found on the carrion.
It was the use of lead ammunition by hunters that proved deadly to many of the birds.
On impact, lead ammunition losses a portion of its weight, spreading toxic fragments along the wound channel and throughout the body of the target. Fragments of lead remain in the carcass and in the discarded guts pile. When the scavenging birds come in to feed, they ingest the lead, resulting in a fatal feast.
It was the use of lead ammunition by hunters that proved deadly to many of the birds.
On impact, lead ammunition losses a portion of its weight, spreading toxic fragments along the wound channel and throughout the body of the target. Fragments of lead remain in the carcass and in the discarded guts pile. When the scavenging birds come in to feed, they ingest the lead, resulting in a fatal feast.
Further readings .
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/condor_updates.htm
https://rewilding.org/grand-canyon-condors-still-imperiled-by-lead/
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1203141109 Lead poisoning and the deceptive recovery of the critically endangered California condor. Endangered species recovery programs seek to restore populations to self-sustaining levels. Nonetheless, many recovering species require continuing management to compensate for persistent threats in their environment. Judging true recovery in the face of this management is often difficult, impeding thorough analysis of the success of conservation programs. We illustrate these challenges with a multidisciplinary study of one of the world’s rarest birds—the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). California condors were brought to the brink of extinction, in part, because of lead poisoning, and lead poisoning remains a significant threat today.
Enough with the ‘love locks’: Grand Canyon warns lovers against leaving those at the park !!
Grand Canyon National Park is urging visitors to stop using the landmark to partake in a trend where lovers at a viewpoint leave behind a padlock to represent their relationship.Padlocks left at fencings are known as “love locks,” but the practice of throwing the key away at the Grand Canyon poses a threat to the rare and endangered condor https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2023/10/13/grand-canyon-national-park-love-locks-condor-danger/71168615007/
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UNIVERSE 