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03 Dec Good news for condors [Marcelle ] 24 Nov Feathers?! [Marcelle ] 10 Nov No Subject [steve schubert ] 31 Oct Cool video of "miracle chick" [Marcelle ] 20 Oct More good news [Marcelle ] 20 Oct donations [] 20 Oct Good news [Marcelle ] 20 Oct Story [Marcelle ] 19 Oct film festival [] 4 Oct OLLI lecture [] 26 Sep wildlife lovers - ask for EIR! [Marcelle ] 24 Sep CORRECTED "Invite" & Schedule [Marcelle ] 24 Sep You are invited [Marcelle ] 14 Sep San Luis Obispo County’s website | 09/13/2008 | Saving a threatened scavenger [] 10 Sep Sad news [Marcelle ] 1 Sep A Summer at Hi Mountain with the Interns ["Pat White" ] 12 Aug This is what it will take! [Marcelle ] 07 Aug New report warns: current effort not enough [Marcelle ] 5 Aug donations [] 17 Jul good news w/ a little bad news [Marcelle ] 17 Jul Nice story [Marcelle ] 06 Jul AC8, her life and death ["Helen Snyder" ] 05 Jul URGENT: comments needed by Monday on Tejon Ranch's development plans ["Helen Snyder" ] 04 Jul and some GOOD news! [Marcelle ] 1 Jul Anthony Prieto, V.C. Star editorial ["Paul Andreano" ] 01 Jul SADNESS [Marcelle ] 24 Jun Fire [Debi Schmitt ] 24 Jun Here's the "whole story" of condor evac [Marcelle ] 24 Jun Fires [Debi Schmitt ] 24 Jun Scarey - keep fingers crossed [Marcelle ] 11 Jun Articles about the letter [] 11 Jun (unknown) [] 07 Jun good news! [Marcelle ] 06 Jun good new/bad news [Marcelle ] 6 Jun RE: the conservative pt of view ["Adam Keats" ] 06 Jun the conservative pt of view [Marcelle ] 04 Jun uh-oh...condors in trouble [Marcelle ] 1 Jun Lookout field trip [] 28 May condor good news [Marcelle ] 25 May Santa Lucia Wilderness Area [] 25 May Huff's Hole [] 23 May Condor drama [Marcelle ] 21 May Hi Mtn. Project fundraiser - Steve's book published online [] 14 May good "opinion" re Tejon [Marcelle ] 13 May well-written from Art Raya [Marcelle ] 08 May Sad news for "condor country" [Marcelle ] 02 May Condors are the "canaries"! [Marcelle ] 27 Apr Radio contest at Hi Mtn. [] 22 Apr the "help" for Hi Mtn. [Marcelle ] 22 Apr HELP! Hi Mtn. supporters & bird-lovers [Marcelle ] 20 Apr Nice article & reminder to give input [Marcelle ] 25 Mar Tom Seiler [Debi Schmitt ] Subject: Good news for condors From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:42:46 -0800 see press release re: lead agreement http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2008/lead-ammunition-12-03-2008.html -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Feathers?! From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:10:00 -0800 To those involved in wildlife medicine, aid or preservation, We received your contact information from the USFWS; we are composing a field guide to North American bird feathers and would like to ask for your help with specimen collection. To date with the help from universities, museums, and rehabilitation centers we have collected feather samples from over 200 bird species from across the United States. This 200 mark puts us roughly half way to our goal of representing 400 North American bird species in the guide. In order to collect this numerous and diverse number of birds we are going to need help from many organizations just like yours. Please visit our web site for a current list of species we are still seeking for inclusion in the guide. *WWW.FEATHERGUIDE.COM * *At this time we are accepting shipments of whole frozen specimens and loose feathers from birds on this list. * Please consider donating your deceased specimens to this important project. A guide of this type is not currently available in North America and will be a great new resource for outdoor educators, wildlife sciences, and the general public. This project is fully permitted through USFWS and the state of WA. Also, if you know of anyone else who might be willing to help please forward them this e-mail and our contact information. If you have any additional questions, comments, or would just like to discuss this project further please feel free to contact us via phone or e-mail. Thank you for the important and selfless work you do. Sincerely, Dave Scott and Casey McFarland Authors *Dave Scott* /Feather Guide Project/ /www.featherguide.com / /dscottmp AT yahoo.com / /(425) 319-3685/ -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: No Subject From: steve schubert <s_schub AT webtv.net> Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:21:29 -0800 Monday, November 17th, 7 pmEl Chorro Regional Park, at the SLO Botanical Garden Education BuildingThe California CondorTracking Programwith Dr. Francis VillablancaMorro Coast Audubon Society has provided funding to assist California Polytechnic State University in hiring summer interns to take part in the California Condor telemetry program at the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout. The three interns from summer 2008 gave a brief summary of their work at the September MCAS Community Program. Dr. Francis Villablanca, the interns’ advisor at Cal Poly, will take a more in-depth look at tracking efforts, successes and setbacks in the condor recovery program, and related matters. You will come away with a greater understanding of Central California studies and activities oriented toward protecting this species, still among the most endangered of all North American wildlife. Francis Villablanca, PhD, is a professor of Biology at Cal Poly, where he teaches courses in Ornithology and Mammalogy, among others. He has been a presenter at the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, Dune Quest, and other natural history venues in the area.As always, all ages are welcome. Refreshments will be served. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to:Hi_MountainCondor AT yahoogroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and group home page can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondorYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Cool video of "miracle chick" From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:56:59 -0700 Brief story with great video of the chick that survived the fires in Big Sur: http://cacondorconservation.org/content/blog/blogs/2008/first-look-at-miracle-condor-chick/ -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: More good news From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:41:19 -0700 From the "North County Times" (on line) Animal park releases condors into rebuilt hatchery SAN PASQUAL VALLEY ---- Some of the smallest and rarest evacuees of last year's Witch Creek wildfire settled into newly rebuilt quarters with little trouble Monday after keepers released _five condors_ into a hatchery behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. The move did include a few brief moments of anxiety. When keepers opened the gates on their plastic crates, a pair of Andean condors ---- a male named Apollo and a female known as Athena ---- jumped right out but then stopped to stare at human onlookers for several long moments began spreading their wings to catch the sun's warmth and exploring their new shared pen. Their 7-month-old, unnamed chick was far less brave. An hour after its crate gate was opened, the youngster was still inside. Released in an adjacent pen, a male California condor named Simerrye and its mate, Ojja, alternated between checking out the visitors and flying onto the roost, boulders and other features of their new quarters. The scene was far more relaxed than it was exactly a year earlier in the same location. The evening of Oct. 20, 2007, saw keepers frantically evacuating five California condors and two Andean condors as the massive, fast-moving Witch Creek wildfire advanced on the hatchery. Twelve hours after the hasty relocation, flames had reduced the birds' home to a 2-foot-pile of ash and burned 600 of the park's 1,800 acres. Part of a 16-year-old breeding program designed to increase wild condors' numbers, the lost hatchery gave condor pairs indoor and outdoor places to mate, lay eggs and tend to chicks before the youngsters were moved in preparation for possible release to the wild. Animal park bird curator Michael Mace said Monday that the building's loss forced the park to get creative about housing the two dozen or so condors they were tending at the time of the fire. "We immediately started planning (the replacement hatchery) and working with the insurance company because it was important that we be ready for the next breeding season," he said. Condors typically begin courting in fall and start producing eggs as early as December. The new hatchery was finished last week. Watching the condors released Monday adjust to their new environment, senior condor keeper Sheila Murphy described a controlled but frantic evacuation that included chasing birds until they were too tired to evade capture. "We saw the glow of the fire; it was coming," she said. "All I could think of was getting them all." Two more pairs of condors are scheduled to be moved into the new hatchery in the next few days. Murphy said she was happy with the bird behavior she was seeing so far. "There is really very minimal displacement," the keeper said, adding that the chick's reaction was no surprise because that bird has never been out of the temporary facility in which it was born. "She's scared. But this (facility) is beautiful. They did a very wonderful job with it." -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: donations From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:24:31 -0700 The following donations have been received. Thank-you! Materials and Supplies: Postscript Press/ psprint.com -- 1,000 Hi Mtn. Project business cards Marcelle Bakula, Cambria -- 4 framed condor photos and certificates of appreciation for volunteers John Schmitt, Wofford Heights -- original condor art work (this will be a future fundraiser auction item) Oct. 11th Open House raffle donations ($175 in ticket sales): Marv Daniels, Arroyo Grande -- 1 apple tree (eating apple grafted on semi-dwarf rootstock) Jan Hamber, Santa Barbara -- 1 SBMNH cap with condor logo, 1 t-shirt with J. Schmitt art work Saucelito Canyon Vineyard -- 3 bottles 2007 Hi Mountain Red Wine (4 bottles also donated for evening meal) Marcelle Bakula, Cambria -- EcoSac reusable bags, nest with glass egg, tumbled beach stones Santa Barbara Zoo -- mug, t-shirt, stuffed condor, condor book, framed condor photo Donations can be made by writing a check to 'MCAS Hi Mountain Project" and mailing to: Morro Coast Audubon Society Po Box 1507 Morro Bay, CA 93443-1507 Contributions are tax deductible under IRS Code 501(c)(3). Subject: Good news From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:29:51 -0700 By Jeanette Steele San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER 1:12 p.m. October 20, 2008 NORTH COUNTY -- The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park welcomed two endangered California condors and two Andean condors into a new home yesterday, a year after the Witch Creek wild fire destroyed the old one. EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune Keepers release one of the condors into its new enclosure. EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune One condor gets its first look at the new enclosure. Last October, the raging firestorm forced the park to evacuate its staff and lock what wild creatures they could into a veterinary hospital. Two animals died -- a light-footed clapper rail and a wild Asian horse known as a Kiang -- but one of the park's off-exhibit condor enclosures burned. Any loss related to the big bird is meaningful, as the zoo's breeding program is one of the few in the country. Wildlife officials have been fighting to fend off extinction since the 1980s. That's when they decided to remove the failing California condor from the wild and place the remaining few -- just about 20, at that point -- in breeding centers. Monday's homecoming is a bright spot in what's been an uneven year for the condor, known as the Boeing 747 of birds because of its awesome 9-foot wingspan. Advertisement An August wildfire in Northern California destroyed part of a condor sanctuary near Big Sur and killed two wild condors. The endanagered birds caught a break earlier this summer, however, when a new state law banning lead bullets took effect. Condors, which are vultures, can be get lead poisoning when they feast on carcasses containing bullet fragments. But, on the whole, California condors have been on an upswing. These days, the population stands at 327, of which 162 live in the wild. The Wild Animal Park releases many of its chicks into the wild at Mexico's Sierra San Pedro de Martir National Park, about 125 miles south of the California border. Bird-lovers got excited in April 2007 when the zoo announced that one of its reintroduced condors, which wear satellite tracking devices, flew north of the border into eastern San Diego County. The 3-year-old condor rode the thermals around Cuyamaca Rancho State Park for a while, according to zoo officials, but then crossed back into Mexico without much fanfare. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jeanette Steele: (619) 293-1030; *jen.steele AT uniontrib.com* -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Story From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:27:44 -0700 I liked this story from the Oregonian (sorry if the images didn't copy over..) you can try the website: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2008/10/condors_spread_giant_wings_ove.html Condors spread giant wings over Grand Canyon by Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian Saturday October 18, 2008, 9:00 AM *After a remarkable comeback, the magnificent birds again soar over northern Arizona * California-condor stories fly so freely around Maggie Sacher's northern Arizona restaurant/bar, you'd think the behemoth birds sip beers or shoot pool there. Some tales sound about that tall; others ring true: The one about a condor that snatched a handgun from a campsite and toted it around in its beak. The one about a sunbather resting so still along the Colorado River's bank that condors circled to see whether she was dead and, therefore, suitable scavenger food. The one that furious campers told Sacher, about a condor flock shredding their tents and rampaging through their camp like delinquent spring-breakers. "Don't be mad," she recalls telling them. "Think of it this way: You're some of the few people on Earth who can tell that story." Sacher had that right. Spotting California condors, iconic symbols of American wilderness, is exhilarating and rare, yet easier than seeing most endangered species. At least, it is if you know where in the West to look for the 18- to 20-pound birds whose wings span 9 1/2 feet or more. The ruddy-faced, bald-headed survivors from the Ice Age had nearly disappeared by the 1980s, when only 22 were known to remain worldwide. Captive breeding efforts, including the Oregon Zoo's, have boosted the species' total to around 330. About half remain in zoos and breeding facilities, while the others fly free in northern Mexico, California and Arizona, often right over Lees Ferry Lodge at Vermilion Cliffs, which Sacher has owned and operated for 21 years. The 10-room inn, a welcoming pocket of comfort in rugged wild lands near the Arizona-Utah border, surely qualifies as the world's most condor-centric hotel. For travelers intent on catching a glimpse of the birds, it's an ideal place to begin searching. *A place to perch* Sacher's link to condors began more than a dozen years ago, the day a few biologists from The Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit based in Boise, stepped onto her lodge's sun-bleached porch and pushed through the front door. They wanted to reintroduce California condors near the Grand Canyon, where the species ranged before the population plummeted. The scientists were searching, they told Sacher, for a place that would suit condors -- high cliffs, strong updrafts and isolation from human interference -- and a place that would give the crew charged with their care a home base. The Peregrine Fund crew set up shop in an old Airstream trailer behind Sacher's lodge. Atop the Vermilion Cliffs, a 3,000-foot escarpment that ranges in elevation from 3,100 to 6,500 feet, they built an open-air pen and took in six birds from breeding centers. On Dec. 12, 1996, the crew opened the pen gate for the first time. The birds stepped out, extended their wings and let the wind lift them into Grand Canyon country, where their ancestors flew. In the years since, dozens more condors have followed. They spend a few months or longer in release pens, acclimating and observing their wild counterparts' skills and social structure before the gates open for them. In March, for the first time, three Oregon Zoo-bred birds were freed at Vermilion Cliffs, growing the flock to 65. Ross William Hamilton, The OregonianA California condor soars above its home near the 294,000-acre Vermillian Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona. *High-flying travelers* Some condors stick around the cliffs throughout the year, though they're most commonly seen there from late fall into early spring. They range hundreds of miles, north into Utah and Colorado and west toward Las Vegas. They soar south over the Grand Canyon, particularly in summer, when large crowds gather at the south rim to watch. The Peregrine Fund routinely stations biologists in Grand Canyon National Park. Along with park service rangers, they talk about the reintroduction project and the challenges facing the birds -- such hazards as poisoning from feeding on game killed with lead ammunition, to electrocution by power poles. Condors wear numbered identification tags on their wings; Allyson Mathis, a science and education outreach coordinator for the National Park Service, keeps track of who's who and can tell visitors how old the birds are, what their gender is -- males and females look identical -- and which have nests nearby. "It really makes that personal connection," she says. "It takes an abstract thing, an endangered species, and turns it into a bird they feel they know." *Condor central * In the years since the first condor biologists showed up at Sacher's lodge, she has made room on her property for office space, cabins for the crew and a makeshift condor hospital, where the birds can be X-rayed and treated for injuries or lead poisoning. In a huge stone basin once used to water cattle, now dubbed the Party Pit, Sacher joins biologists and lodge guests for bonfire-fueled celebrations after condors are successfully released. Lees Ferry Lodge is busiest in March, April, May and October, when the weather is ideal for hikers, cyclists and fishermen inclined to diverge from the wildly beaten path to the Grand Canyon's south rim. Frequently, Sacher points guests down U.S. 89A about three miles from her place, to the Navajo Bridge spanning the Colorado River. The bridge is really two: The first, built in 1929, serves pedestrians, while the span constructed in 1995 carries cars and trucks. Peering down nearly 500 feet to the milky green river is enough to make the acrophobic shudder, and, often, to make a condor seeker gasp. The birds seem to like the bridges. They frequently soar past them in the afternoon, dip toward the river and climb above the craggy terra cotta cliffs the spans connect. Often, they land on the shiny steel crossbeams. As the sun falls low in the sky, painting the cliffs tangerine and ruby and rust, the birds fly off to roost for the night and guests return to Sacher's lodge. To knock back the desert dust, they order one of the 100 varieties of beer she offers, and the condor tales start to flow. Some sound tall, others, true. "It's a majestic bird," Sacher says, "with a good story to tell." -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: film festival From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:03:31 -0700 Hello all, Last night I attended the 1st annual Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival at Cal Poly's Spano Theatre, hosted by Los Padres ForestWatch. During Intermission, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard served glasses of 2007 Hi Mountain Red Wine, and from the podium the announcement was made that some of the sales proceeds of the wine (going on sale this February) will be a donation to the condor tracking project at Hi Mountain Lookout, which got an applause from the audience. Another surprise was seeing our own Kevin Cooper, Kathleen Phelps, and Tom Murhpey from USFS featured and interveiwed in the next film "Horse Creek Damolition". In 2006, a blasting crew - working in collaboration with USFS - demolished an old dam that was blocking steelhead trout migrating upstream to historic spawning areas on the Sisquoc River drainage. These series of short films were chosen among the best from more than 125 films at the annual 3-day film festival held in Nevada City in the Sierra Nevada each year, and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival will be traveling to more than 70 cities across the country this year. Steve Schubert www.condorlookout.org www.LPFW.org www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org Subject: OLLI lecture From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 19:10:04 -0700 Hello all, This morning I spoke at the Morro Bay Library for the OLLI program (OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute), hosted by Cal Poly, SLO. There were about 40 in attendance for the 2 hour slide lecture about the California Condor Recovery Program and the Hi Mountain Lookout Project. The interest and enthusiasm of the audience was appreciated, and more than 25 have signed up to carpool and attend the Oct. 11th annual open house event. Hoping to see many of you there next weekend. A full description of the open house schedule is posted at our website www.condorlookout.org Steve Schubert Subject: wildlife lovers - ask for EIR! From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:39:27 -0700 _This notice from the Center for Biological Diversity: (no word in our local papers yet) _*Send COMMENTS TO Parks & Rec. Dept. BY OCT. 1, 2008* The California Department of Parks and Recreation is proposing to allow a highly destructive, three-day motorized racing event at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on the central California coast. While this park unit is partially managed for off-road vehicle use by the public, it also contains fragile habitats for numerous imperiled species. The proposed race will include thousands of vehicles and tens of thousands of spectators resulting in habitat degradation, harassment of sensitive species, and air pollution for nearby communities. Despite the risk of multiple significant impacts to imperiled species and public health, the department proposes to allow the event to proceed without fully analyzing its impact to the environment. Please contact the Parks Department and ask the agency to deny the event and prepare a full environmental impact report. *What's at stake: * The _Oceano Dunes_ unit of the state parks system is part of one of the most extensive coastal dune ecosystems on the West Coast. This natural treasure contains great expanses of pristine, sandy beaches, productive estuaries, and coastal dune ecosystems that are home to a magnificent diversity of life. Two imperiled shorebirds, the California least tern and western snowy plover, have a large nesting area within the park, and plovers use the park throughout the fall and winter. Some of California's rarest plants are also found at Oceano Dunes, including the Nipomo Mesa lupine, marsh sandwort, Gambel's watercress, La Graciosa thistle, surf thistle, Pismo clarkia, and beach spectacle pod. The wetlands, creeks, lagoons, and estuaries are home to steelhead trout, tidewater goby, and red-legged frog. Unfortunately, the Parks Department currently mismanages the area, allowing off-road vehicles to dominate the park, inflicting harm to sensitive species, causing air pollution, and endangering the public. The latest proposal by the Parks Department to allow yet another _massive racing event _in the dunes ignores the reality that off-road vehicles cause significant harm. The race is being permitted without a full environmental review by the department. This failure to abide by the law puts endangered species, their habitat, and the public at risk. Visit Ctr for Biological Div. website: *http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26002SUBMIT * The Dept. of Parks & Rec. information about this event planned for Oct 11/12 at Oceano Dunes* http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1170/files/odinitialstudymnd2008.pdf * Comments to Sarah Cumber: *Scumber AT parks.ca.gov* or fax/mail to: Sarah Cumber, Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Veh. Recreation Division, 1725 23rd St, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 324-4442 fax: 916-424-1610 For further info contact Ronnie Glick, Sr. Environmental Scientist at (805) 773-7180* * -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: CORRECTED "Invite" & Schedule From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:55:18 -0700 I didn't realize there had been some changes made by Steve - here is the _CORRECT Schedule_ Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project 7^th Annual Open House/Campout *Saturday, October 11th, 200**8** * _Schedule of Activities__:_ _*Bird Watching Field Trip*_* - 9:00am - 11:30am** * Pozo Valley to Hi Mountain, 3,199 ft. elev. _Meet _at Pozo Ranger Station. Carpooling recommended. _Habitats_: grassland, riparian woodland at Salinas River crossing, valley oak, blue oak and coast-live oak woodlands, chaparral. _Easy hiking_ conditions and car pooling. _Leader_: Peter Dullea, Hi Mtn. Project Volunteer /Advanced registration requested: contact Steve at //_s_schub AT webtv.net_// or #805 528-6138/ _*Picnic lunch *_* - 12 noon ** *Bring your own lunch OR order: *"Condor Special" SACK Lunches Available!* /If you are coming up to join us & want to travel lightly, think about reserving a delicious Condor Sack Lunch!/ *A fresh,scrumptious Margarita Mercantile sandwich - *choice* of turkey/jack cheese, ham'n cheddar cheese OR all cheese (1/2 or whole on French roll) /you'll add the condiments/ - *bag of chips or pretzels -Soda or water -Homemade brownie* *1/2 Sandwich lunch $7 each Full sandwich lunch $9 each* /Call Marcelle before Friday Oct. 9th at noon to reserve: 927-1017 (wk.) or 927-3359 (h) /or email: marcelle AT digitalputty.com (subject "reserve sack lunch") _*Hi Mountain Lookout Interpretive Center open *_- please sign our guest register _*Raffle tickets for sal*__*e*_ _*Welcoming comments*_* 12:30** pm* 1. /*Introductions*/ 2. /*Morning birding field trip report*//* *//- interesting //bird and wildlife //sightings/ 3. /*Hi Mountain Lookout Project year in review and recognition of staff, interns, and volunteers*// - /Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society & Dr. Francis Villablanca, Professor, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department 4. /*Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program*// - /Condor staff 5. /*Condor radio tracking demonstration*// - /Cal Poly student interns _*Raffle drawing for donated prizes *_-*annual fundraiser * *1:15** **pm* _*Afternoon activities and field trips:*_ 6. *Geographical landmarks -* a 360 degree view from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada. Geologic features observed from the Lookout include the Rinconada Fault Zone, serpentine rock, and marine sedimentary rock formations. Speakers: Kevin Cooper, USFS and Steve Schubert, MCAS. 7. *Native plant identification walk -* along the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Leader: Dr. Dirk Walters, San Luis Obispo Chapter, California Native Plant Society. 8. *Animal vocalizations workshop* - learn to recognize and imitate common birds of the Santa Lucia Wilderness. Speaker: Kevin Cooper, USFS, Los Padres National Forest Wildlife Biologist. 9. *Feathers Workshop -* Learn all about feathers with renowned artist, biologist, and taxidermist John Schmitt. Presenter: John Schmitt, contributing artist to the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds. 10. *Volunteers training session -* radio telemetry, facilities use, and scheduling. 11. *Meet with Hi Mountain Lookout staff -* Late afternoon sit down chat with condor biologists and staff, reminiscing about experiences in 'Condor Country'. _*Sunset watch and dinner *_ (dress warm in layers) Gas stove and oven are available for cooking and heating food in the Lookout facilities. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests. *Note: *no campfires are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout. _*Evening guest speakers 7pm*_ 12. "*Summer Internship at Hi Mountain"* - Cal Poly summer 2008 student internship slide show. 13. "*Trapping and banding birds of prey, Central Mongolia (2007) and South Texas (2008)"* - Raptor research slide show by Paul Andreano, past Hi Mtn. Lookout Intern. _*Astronomy observations*_ - Telescopic observations of the evening skies. _*Optional Hi Mountain Campout*_ Camping sites are available for Friday and/or Saturday nights at 'Cypress Hill' near the lookout. Other vehicle camping sites are located on the ridgeline near the entrance gate - with a view overlooking the mountains and coast - and at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground, located one mile down the road from the Lookout. There are picnic tables and outhouses at the campground - bring your own potable water. No open campfires permitted and smoking in enclosed vehicles only. *For additional information about the open house event and driving directions to Hi Mountain Lookout, see our website at *_*www.condorlookout.org*_ /*Please contact Steve Schubert at *//_*s_schub AT webtv.net*_// //*or at # (805) 528-6138 to RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group.*/ -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: You are invited From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:12:48 -0700 Please share this with anyone you know would enjoy the Open House & associated activities! Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project 7^th Annual Open House/Campout *Saturday, October 11th, 2007 * _Schedule of Activities:_ _*Bird Watching Field Trip*_* - **9:00am - 11:30am* Pozo Valley to Hi Mountain, 3,199 ft. elev. _Meet _at Pozo Ranger Station. Carpooling recommended. _Habitats_: grassland, riparian woodland at Salinas River crossing, valley oak, blue oak and coast-live oak woodlands, chaparral. _Easy hiking_ conditions and car pooling. _Leader_: Peter Dullea, Hi Mtn. Project Volunteer /Advanced registration requested: contact Steve at /_/s_schub AT webtv.net/ _/ or #805 528-6138/ _*Picnic lunch *_* - **12 noon *Bring your own lunch OR order: *"Condor Special" SACK Lunches Available!* /If you are coming up to join us & want to travel lightly, think about reserving a delicious Condor Sack Lunch!/ *A fresh,scrumptious Margarita Mercantile sandwich - *choice* of turkey/jack cheese, ham'n cheddar cheese OR all cheese (1/2 or whole on French roll) /you'll add the condiments/ *- **bag of chips or pretzels **- **Soda or water **- **Homemade brownie* *1/2 Sandwich lunch $7 each Full sandwich lunch $9 each* /F// //Call Marcelle before Friday Oct. 9th at noon to reserve: 927-1017 (wk.) or 927-3359 (h) /or email: marcelle AT digitalputty.com with subject "reserve sack lunch") // _*Hi Mountain Lookout Interpretive Center open - please sign our guest register*_ _*Raffle tickets for sale*_ _*Welcoming comments*_* *12:30 * /Introductions/ * /Morning birding field trip report- interesting sightings/ * /Hi Mountain Lookout Project year in review and recognition of staff, interns, and volunteers - /Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society & Dr. Francis Villablanca, Cal Poly * /Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program - /Condor staff * /Condor radio tracking demonstration - /Cal Poly student interns _*Raffle drawing for donated prizes (annual fundraiser)*_ - 1 PM _*Afternoon activities and field trips:*_ * /Geographical landmarks, a 360 degree view from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada - /Kevin Cooper, USFS Wildlife Biologist * /Geologic features observed from the Lookout, the Rinconada and San Andreas Fault Zones - /Steve Schubert, MCAS * /Native plant identification walk, along the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains - / Dr. Dirk Walters, San Luis Obispo Chapter, California Native Plant Society * /Animal vocalizations workshop "Common birds" -/ Kevin Cooper, USFS, Los Padres National Forest Wildlife Biologist * /Feathers Workshop - / John Schmitt, contributing artist to National Geographic Field Guide to Birds _*Volunteers training session - radio telemetry, facilities use, and scheduling*_ _*Late afternoon sit-down chat with condor biologists and staff*_ Reminiscing about experiences in 'Condor Country' _*Sunset watch and dinner *_(wear layered clothing) Gas stove and oven are available for cooking and heating food in the Lookout facilities. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests. *Note: *no campfires are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout. _*Evening guest *_*speakers - **7pm** * * Cal Poly summer 2008 student internship PowerPoint talk * Raptor research PowerPoint slide talk by Paul Andreano, past Hi Mtn. Lookout Intern "Trapping and banding birds of prey and life among the nomads in Mongolia, Summer 2007, and trapping and banding migrating peregrine falcons on South Padre Island, Texas" _*Astronomy observations*_ - Telescopic observations of the evening skies, sponsored by members of the Central Coast Astronomical Society _*Optional Hi Mountain Campout*_ Camping sites are available for Friday and/or Saturday nights at 'Cypress Hill' near the lookout. Other vehicle camping sites are located on the ridgeline near the entrance gate - with a view overlooking the mountains and coast - and at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground, located one mile down the road from the Lookout. There are picnic tables and outhouses at the campground - bring your own potable water. No open campfires permitted and smoking in enclosed vehicles only. *For additional information about the open house event and driving directions to Hi Mountain Lookout, see our website at *_*www.condorlookout.org* _ /*Please contact Steve Schubert at */_/*s_schub AT webtv.net*/ _/ //*or at # (805) 528-6138 to RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group.*/ HOPING TO SEE YOU THERE! Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: San Luis Obispo County’s website | 09/13/2008 | Saving a threatened scavenger From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:38:03 -0700 Associated Press Article 9-13-08....Hi Mountain Lookout photo and project description ---------- http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/468915.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sad news From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:12:53 -0700 Big Sur condor dies of lead poisoning By the Associated Press Article Launched: 09/10/2008 05:57:55 AM PDT BIG SUR --- A California condor captured in Big Sur has died of complications from lead poisoning. The 4-year-old female condor died Sunday at the Los Angeles Zoo, where it was taken after capture by Ventana Wildlife Society biologists. Society senior biologist Joe Burnett says the huge vulture was captured Friday and was later found to have six times the safe level of lead in her blood. Condors eat carrion often left behind by hunters, and ammunition is the suspected cause of the lead poisoning. Information from: The Salinas Californian -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: A Summer at Hi Mountain with the Interns From: "Pat White" <PatWhite56 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:03:57 -0700 Hi everybody, my name is Patrick White, for those of you who do not know me I am one of the interns working at Hi Mountain this summer. Another intern is Shannon Murphy, who worked here at the beginning of summer before she left to go to Costa Rica, and the other is Karlien Lang who took Shannon's place about half way through the summer. We have been up here since Fourth of July weekend collecting telemetry data for the Condor Recovery Program. We have been coming up every weekend for three days a week, usually there were two of us, but once all three were here, and I have been up here two weekends alone too. Shannon and I started our training by having Marcelle, one of the main Volunteers at Hi Mountain Lookout, drive us up to Hi Mountain for our first time to show us the ropes of setting up the lookout. The first thing you notice when you get up here is the view. You can see in every direction for what seems like a hundred miles. There are mountains in every direction, to the south you can see the Oceano dunes and to the North up to King City. The view is really nothing less than spectacular. After taking in the view Marcelle showed us all the basics like opening the doors and locks, turning on the power, water, and gas, and just showing us everything we need to live up here for three days a week for the whole summer. After we were comfortable with the lookout we went back to San Luis Obispo and got ready for our training at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge from August 29th through the 31st. On Friday morning we met our trainers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife station in Ventura. From there our trainer Wildlife Technician John Thompson drove us way out to Hopper Mountain which consisted of driving on freeways to a long trip on a dirt road. Hopper Mountain is right next to an oil field which the condors nest near also, so the oil company lets the Fish and Wildlife Service use their roads. It is a pretty amazing place; the roads just go up and down the sides of mountains which are very high compared to the valley below. Eventually we make it to the field camp which consisted of a Ranch House, a couple trailers, and a barn. We unloaded all of our stuff, get back in the car, and take off to do our first telemetry ever. On the way up to the site called "Silver Tanks" we see our first Condor ever, so we stop the car and just watch the bird circle above us. It was the first time Shannon and I were able to see just how impressive these giant birds are in person. After a few minutes we get back in the car and head back up the mountain because we would see plenty more Condors that weekend. When we got to "Silver Tanks" John showed use the basics of using the telemetry equipment, we tracked our first few Condors there and even had one fly over us while we were tracking it. For the rest of that first day we continued to practice telemetry and John showed us some of the Nest Monitoring sites, which were a pretty tough hike to get to. I can only assume anyone would be in awesome shape after working there for a month walking those trails. The next two days we were given a vehicle and sent out on our own to take telemetry readings all over the Wildlife Refuge. We saw plenty more Condors and were just as awed at everyone we saw. We knew that when we left we probably wouldn't see another one for the rest of the summer. During the next week Shannon and I prepared to go up to Hi Mountain for our very first weekend, which just so happened to be on Fourth of July. During that week we went down to the Forest Service Office in Santa Maria to get our off-road vehicle, as neither Shannon nor I had a car that could make it up to the Lookout. It actually took the better part of the day because we were required to have a Forest Service License. We met Kevin Cooper down there who took us through the process of getting the license. We had to watch a couple boring Videos and read a pamphlet, take a test, and then take it out for a short drive. After that we had to drive our bright green SUV out to the Pozo service station where we would switch out our vehicles for it every week before we would head up the dirt road. It was finally time for us to start our first week, so we drove up to the Lookout on the Fourth of July. Shannon's parents came up a few hours after we got there. We took telemetry data throughout the day and had a few visitors come up to check out the view and our interpretive center, although no one stayed to watch the fireworks. We had a barbeque that night and watched about five different fireworks shows, although they were all pretty far away. The fireworks in Pismo were the best. The next day we had a few more visitors, although no one was really that interested in the Condors. Then Sunday we finished our telemetry readings and packed up the lookout and left after our first weekend. The next week I got the newly improved phone and computer for the lookout, so we could now send our data from at the lookout instead of having to bring it home to send it to everyone. And over the next few weeks we had quite an eclectic mix of visitors. There were dirt bike riders, mountain bikers, horse riders, hikers, Forest Service employees, and people who came up just to see the lookout. I liked the people who came up to see the lookout the best, because they were actually interested in what we were doing and the condor recovery program. Perhaps the most interesting group of people who came up were "The Condor Kids". Shannon and I arrived one Friday to see a group of about ten people cheering as we drove up to the lookout in our Forest Service Vehicle. They were all wearing the same shirt that said "Condor Kids Return 2008". It turns out that they were all former Cal Poly students who had worked with the Condor program about 20 years earlier and were on a reunion trip. They were all really excited about the lookout and loved our visitor center, and were some of the best visitors we had the whole summer. They even offered us a beer for lunch! The rest of that weekend was pretty boring because there were no other visitors the whole time, all our excitement happened at the very beginning of that weekend. About halfway through the summer Karlien came up with Shannon and I for Shannon's last weekend. Shannon and I showed Karlien everything she needed to know to work up here so that she could take over for Shannon after that week. Shannon left to go to a summer work program in Costa Rica. For the rest of the summer it has been Karlien and I manning the Lookout, except for one weekend. We also started to come up on Saturday through Monday then instead of Friday through Sunday. One weekend Karlien could not make it up, so I went up by myself. I had already been up one weekend by myself earlier in the summer, so I knew it was going to be pretty boring. But this weekend happened to be the first weekend of deer season. Saturday I left the gate open so visitors could come up. A lot actually came up that day, but the only thing anyone wanted to know was if I had seen any deer. So the rest of that weekend I just left the gate closed, and no one even came up except to use the bathroom. It is much more fun when visitors actually want to learn something about what we are doing. The next weekend everything was back to normal and we were getting the normal types of visitors again mixed with a few hunters every now and then. Not much out of the normal has really happen since then. We have been here for two months now, and I only have one more weekend up here, while Karlien will be here for two more. So if anyone wants to come up here for a visit these next two weekends are the best times to do so from late Saturday morning to mid afternoon on Monday. Patrick White Hi Mountain Lookout Intern PatWhite56 AT gmail.com (805)-458-0660 Subject: This is what it will take! From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:05:03 -0700 (enforcement!) from UCSB Press Release... Four Arrested for Hunting Violations at Sedgwick Reserve August 12, 2008 (Santa Barbara, Calif.) -- Serving notice that they intend to enforce a strict ban on hunting at the Sedgwick Reserve, UC Santa Barbara police officers arrested four men for violating hunting laws last weekend. The 5,900-acre Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley is managed by UCSB for the University of California. The reserve is used year-round by university researchers, students, schoolchildren, and others. Hunting is banned all year at the reserve. On Saturday, the first day of deer-hunting season, two men were arrested near a gate along Figueroa Mountain Road, according to UCSB Police Sgt. Daniel Massey. One of the men was dragging a dead deer as he approached the reserve gate, Massey said. The second suspect was arrested after fleeing the area in his vehicle. The suspects, from the Los Angeles area, were arrested for hunter trespassing, lack of hunting licenses, no deer tags, illegal method of take (using a .22-caliber firearm), and use of lead ammunition, which is banned in the condor-protected area of the Los Padres National Forest. A portion of the Sedgwick Reserve is in the condor area. Both were cited and released and the gun they used was confiscated. "Interestingly, they parked in front of a gate that had three different signs on it saying 'No Hunting' and/or 'No Firearms,' " Massey said. "They admitted to seeing and understanding the signs." On Sunday, UCSB Police, working with California Department of Fish and Game officers, arrested two more suspects in the Sedgwick Reserve on similar charges. A man from Pauma Valley, Calif., was arrested for hunter trespassing and shooting from a roadway. The other man, from Los Angeles, was arrested for hunter trespassing, no hunting license, no deer tag, illegal method of take, and use of lead ammunition. Both were cited and released and their guns were confiscated. "We are very serious about enforcing this ban on hunting in Sedgwick Reserve," Massey said. "And people need to know that not only are we enforcing it during hunting season, we're there all year." The Sedgwick Reserve is one of seven natural reserves managed by UCSB. The University of California is responsible for oversight of 35 reserves throughout the state. -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: New report warns: current effort not enough From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:58:41 -0700 Condor Rescue Program in Danger of Failure By David Malakoff /Science/NOW Daily News 6 August 2008 Get the lead out: Removing the poisonous metal from bullets and shotgun pellets is the only way to save the highly endangered California Condor, according to a scientific review released today. Otherwise, one of the nation's most expensive and controversial efforts to save a species from extinction may fail. The report also recommends that hunters be encouraged to kill more wild game and pigs to create the carcasses on which the condors feed. The condor--North America's largest bird, with a 3-meter wingspan--was nearly extinct when government biologists captured the last few wild birds in the early 1980s. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planned to raise the giant scavengers in zoos and then release the birds back into the wild. Many critics predicted that the plan--which has since cost more than $45 million--would quickly fail. The good news is that it hasn't, according to a major independent review panel assembled by the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU), a leading bird science group. The condor recovery program "has achieved success beyond what many imagined possible," concludes the panel, which was convened at the request of the conservation group Audubon California and led by avian ecologist Jeffrey Walters of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg. There are now 150 captive condors in zoos and another 150 soaring free through the skies of California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California, Mexico. The bad news is that further progress isn't possible under the current program, the panel says. The birds "survive in nature only through constant and costly human assistance and intervention," the report says. Monitoring, feeding, breeding, and protecting the birds costs about $5 million annually, the report notes. But more than 10% of the wild adults still die each year, meaning that the population is not self-sustaining. One of the deadliest culprits is lead, which the birds ingest while feeding on wild pigs and other animals killed by hunters. As a result of that problem, "the program has reached a crossroads," the report concludes. "Progress toward recovery is not sustainable under current conditions because the reintroduction of more condors simply increases the costs required to keep wild birds alive rather than improving the viability of the wild populations." To improve the condor's chances, the panel calls for an immediate ban on the use of lead shot in the areas where the condor lives, preferably to be followed by a similar national ban. It also calls for federal and state agencies to encourage hunters to get out and kill more deer, pigs, and other wildlife in the condor's range. "Eliminating the threat of lead must be accomplished while simultaneously promoting sport hunting for large game," the report says, in part to ensure that the birds don't have to rely on costly feeding programs forever. The report also calls for creating a single new federal office and an independent scientific panel to oversee the condor program and more study into the best ways of breeding the birds and teaching them to feed and survive in the wild. Those recommendations are likely to be far less controversial than the proposed lead-shot ban. The National Rifle Association and hunting groups vociferously opposed but failed to stop efforts by California and a few other states to limit the use of lead shot. And hunters aren't likely to embrace any new proposal for a national ban, predicts Andrew Page of the Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C., which supports the idea. Although pro-hunting groups "have actively tried to discredit the science that shows lead ammunition is a problem," he says "more states are beginning to look at the idea." -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: donations From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 17:32:59 -0700 The following donations have been received: Materials and Supplies - Ted and Bonnie Pope, Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc., San Luis Obispo -- Swift ultra-lite 8X42 binoculars Peter Dullea, Lompoc -- niger bird seed and hummingbird food Financial donations - Lynne Harkin, Cambria -- $130.00 Janet Hamber, Santa Barbara -- $25.00 Steve Schubert, Los Osos -- $81.00 (40% proceeds from book sales) Judith Hoff, Alameda -- $50.00 Thank-you! Donations can be made by writing a check to "MCAS Hi Mountain Project" and mailing to: Morro Coast Audubon Society              Box 1507 Morro Bay, CA 93443-1507                                                                                                            Contributions are tax deductible under IRS Code 501(c)(3). Subject: good news w/ a little bad news From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:17:10 -0700 from the MercuryNews.com (San Jose I think) Two condor chicks survive wildfires; third still missing By Lisa M. Krieger Mercury News Article Launched: 07/17/2008 04:19:45 PM PDT Click photo to enlarge Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director of the Ventana Wildlife Society,... ( Marcio Jose Sanchez ) * « * 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * » Two rare California condor chicks have survived the Big Sur-based Basin Complex fire, enduring dense smoke but untouched by flames. "We're ecstatic," said Kelly Sorenson of Ventana Wildlife Society, which monitors each bird along the vast central coast. "We're so incredibly relieved that two chicks survived." The fate of the third remains unknown. Unlike the two survivors, who lived in coastal nests, the nest of the third chick was located in a more remote interior part of Ventana Wilderness Area, where the fire burned especially hot. In a brief visit to one of the nests on Tuesday, wildlife biologist Joe Burnett found a chick "fat and happy in the cave. Mom and Dad have been keeping this chick full of food despite the disruption of the fire." Among the rarest and most imperiled birds in the world, the chicks belonged to a small group of 23 wild condors in Big Sur. They are part of a reintroduction program administrated by the Ventana Wildlife Society. Only 151 wild condors remain in the world. Because the young birds are only three months old - still covered in downy gray feathers yet already the size of chickens - they were too young to fly and escape the fire. Sorenson and Burnett had hoped to rescue the birds ahead of the advancing fire, but were forced back by heat and smoke. For more than two weeks, they've been braced for bad news. All but one of the older condors in the wilderness have been accounted for. -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nice story From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:26:27 -0700 from newsday.com (an AP writer) After biologists flee Calif wildfire, captive-bred condors prove they can fly on their own By TRACIE CONE |Associated Press Writer 3:21 PM EDT, July 17, 2008 BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) _ As wildfire whipped toward a remote sanctuary of the endangered California condor last month, the rare birds got their biggest test in survival after years of pampering by biologists: They had to live completely on their own. Forced away by flames, their scientist handlers could only hope the birds' animal instincts would kick in. To their delight, they did. The birds found fresh air, and food: a beached whale and decaying California sea lion at the edge of Big Sur's cliffs. After the blaze swept through the area, many even returned home. "It's incredible. They did just what they're supposed to do," said Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the Ventana Wildlife Society, which runs the sanctuary. "I was honestly thinking we'd lose four to six birds. You can rebuild pens, but we only have a limited amount of time to restore a species." The Ventana Wildlife Society near Big Sur is the only nonprofit in California to prepare captive-bred condors for life in the wild, making it an integral part of conservation efforts to save the condor from extinction. Flames from the 188-square-mile fire in the Los Padres National Forest last month destroyed the society's aviary and release pen and thousands of dollars worth of equipment. The fire also displaced the 43 free-flying birds the society monitors and forced a hasty rescue of seven 1-year-old chicks and their adult mentor by the U.S. Coast Guard. For 17 days, biologists were cut off from the sanctuary, monitoring the wild birds by electronic transmitters. "We felt so helpless," Sorenson said. The vulture was declared an endangered species in 1967, when its population --- estimated to be 50 to 60 birds at the time --- was in sharp decline because of poaching, habitat destruction and lead poisoning. In the 1980s, the U.S. government approved an ambitious and costly conservation plan that brought the last of the nearly two dozen surviving California condors into captivity for a captive-breeding program. After teaching the newborns with puppets and other tools how to survive in the wild, reintroduction into forests started in the 1990s. While there have been some setbacks (powerlines have proven a difficult obstacle to navigate), there are now 332 condors, half of which are living supervised in the wild in Arizona, California and Baja California, Mexico. The wildfires near the sanctuary started the night of June 21 with a burst of lightning storms that ignited fires all over Northern California. The blaze near Big Sur was particularly complicated to attack because of the steep terrain. Sorenson was at the remote sanctuary that night, entertaining donors, when he saw a black cloud blow in over the coast. "I had an eerie feeling," Sorenson said. "We know it's dangerous. I told my donors we needed to get out of there." By the time Sorenson and his group reached the highway, he could see four plumes of smoke rising from the mountains behind him. The next day, the Ventana Wildlife staff sought to rescue the seven 1-year-old juveniles and one adult mentor from the sanctuary. They were not ready to be released into the wild to fend for themselves. The birds had to be taken to a sanctuary the group operates with federal biologists from Pinnacles National Monument. With roads impassable, the U.S. Coast Guard airlifted the birds out in two trips through thick smoke and approaching flames. "The clock was ticking," said senior biologist Joe Burnett. All told, biologists have tentatively accounted for all but two birds: a chick that had been in a nest high in a redwood tree and another older condor that was released into the wild two years ago. Last week, Sorenson and Burnett returned to the burned-out sanctuary and hiked to the edge of the feeding site. At the top of a charred Ponderosa pine the alpha male of the group surveyed his blackened canyon. Burnett pumped his fist. "They survived on their own without us," Sorenson said. "It shows us they can do it." -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: AC8, her life and death From: "Helen Snyder" <chickcharney2001 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:00:47 -0000 The yahoo newsgroup raptor-conservation has had an feisty ongoing discussion about Tejon Ranch's plans to put housing developments on some of the high ridges in the middle of condor Critical Habitat. One person wrote that Tejon already had had a "lethal take" when a pig hunter shot AC8 on the ranch. Stan Moore, who is defending Tejon consultant Pete Bloom who apparently said the plans would be good for condors, wrote back very callously about how AC8 was a "very old bird", inplying she was of no use, a waste of space. It got me thinking about AC8 and what a central role she'd played in the whole recovery effort from the start, and I wrote the following to give another perspective to those who would diss her. You can read the exchanges and join the group at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/raptor-conservation/ I put four pictures up on an album I called AC8 here. I bet Jan Hamber could add a lot to the story of AC8! Helen Snyder, Portal AZ **************************** Re: open letter in support of incidental take permit for Tejon Ranch development It was sad to see the shooting on Tejon of California Condor AC-8 minimized as just the death of a "very old condor" by Stan Moore, in such a contrast to the days when every condor's life was special and meant something to the people who cared about saving the species. And among condors, AC8 was definitely a special bird. If a single individual condor can stand as a symbol for the entire recovery program, AC8 is it, an emblem of the intense effort that started in February 1980, and continues today. AC8 played a role from beginning to end in every area of research into why condors were so endangered and what could be done about it. When the intensive recovery effort first started we didn't know what the condor's problems really were. Was it lack of reproductive effort? disease brought back to chicks by adults? unhatchable eggs due to contaminants? incubation problems caused by hormonal disruptions from pesticides? food shortage? adult or juvenile mortality? None of these proved to be a problem, but they had to be addressed, and AC-8 gave us a lot of the answers. In the two busy years before we had permits to trap and radio birds, we mounted intensive nest-watches to try to answer some of these questions. AC8 nested deep in the Sespe Sanctuary, so far in that the nest-watchers spent several days at a time on each shift. We watched during all daylight hours, every day, and learned as much as we could about the causes of the decline. She taught us much life history information during her life in the wild - I remember vividly one spectacular aerial dogfight between her and her mate against a Golden Eagle that was heading toward their nest; I had no idea condors could move so fast as they dove and swerved after the intruder, their wings making loud deep booms as they maneuvered. This and other such responses taught us that Golden Eagle predation was a likely source of mortality for condor chicks. I watched one of her chicks fledge one day when both parents were away, when a gust of wind caught the exploring youngster unaware, lifting it up and away from the nest area and across the canyon where it crash-landed in a bush. This answered the minor question of whether adults led their young into first flights, and what the specialized behavior is that allows an adult returning to an empty nest to re-locate its newly fledged young in the chaparral a quarter of a mile away, another tiny piece of behavioral information we hadn't known, like so many others AC8 showed us. After AC8 was radioed she taught us the importance of Tejon and other areas for foraging and as bridge for safe passage to and from the Sierra Nevada. Before all the condors were radioed we used photos of molt patterns to distinguish between individuals and keep accurate count of condor numbers, and AC8 contributed to this information database too. Over the years, AC8 proved to be the most productive female. Once multiple clutching had been demonstrated she re-laid reliably after eggs were taken and flown to the San Diego Zoo for hatching, and she contributed young and many eggs to the captive flock before all the wild birds were taken in for captive breeding. She continued to breed in captivity. Her eggs were smaller and therefore thinner than the average of eggs in museums, and demonstrated a key fact: any apparent eggshell thinning has to be corrected for egg size when only tiny fragments are measured for contaminant studies. When the first captive-bred condors were released to the wild, Native American tribe members' hands were the ones that opened the release-cage doors, as they believe that the only way to heaven is on the back of a condor. They had objected strenuously to capturing all the free-flying condors, saying that this prevented their tribe members from making the transition to heaven, and they needed free-flying condors to ensure that passage for their people AC8 became an important symbol to the Chumash tribe and I was there in 2005 at the tribal headquarters when John Schmitt was finishing preparing her as a specimen for the tribe. The tribe held a ceremony to guide her on her spirit journey after a pig hunter shot her on Tejon Ranch. I believe her mounted skin is now in the tribe's keeping. I'm about as spiritual as a box of rocks, but it was a deep privilege to be present that day in the Chumash community center as AC8 again resumed the form of a soaring condor, and to realize that another entire community of humans appreciated her as intensely as we biologists did, albeit for completely different reasons. Photos: I created a condor album just now and posted four pictures: one AC8 at her nest in the early 1980s; one of John Schmitt doing the final suturing on AC8's body the day he mounted her for the Chumash tribe; one of the ceremonial material the tribe had in readiness; and one especially disturbing picture I found a few days ago: it's the avatar of a varmint hunter who hunts on Tejon, and posts on an online hunting forum. Helen Snyder, Portal AZ Subject: URGENT: comments needed by Monday on Tejon Ranch's development plans From: "Helen Snyder" <chickcharney2001 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:22:46 -0000 Tejon Ranch is proposing to build two massive developments in the heart of the highly endangered California Condor's legally- established Critical Habitat. This move, if approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will makes the concept of critical habitat optional: any developer from now on will be confident that legally- declared Critical Habitat is no obstacle to his plans. Tejon Ranch has never been a friend of the condor: over the past decades they worked to prevent any releases of captive-reared birds from occurring anywhere near their borders, and this latest effort to punch a hole in condor critical habitat is just one more example of their lack of concern for this iconic species, so important to so many of us. Tejon is a publically-traded corportation, responsible primarily to its shareholders, not the people of California or the wildlife it supports. The Center for Biological Diversity's website http://www.savetejonranch.org/ gives a good overview of the problems with Tejon Ranch's development plans, and the problems are not all condor-related. The two housing developments are astride (Tejon Mountain Village) or adjacent to (Centennial) two of the western US's most active geological faults, the infamous San Andreas fault and the Garlock fault, and these two future killer faults meet one another just a few miles off Tejon's boundary: here's the map. http://www.savetejonranch.org/rockin/index.html Tejon's website www.tejonranch.com offers their vision of the development plans, complete with pretty pictures and assurances about how much they care about the condor. Audubon California, the NRDC, and Sierra Club signed onto the plan, pledging not to sue in exchange for a promised preserve for part of the ranch. A consortium of high-ranking condor program leaders and other scientists with a history of direct involvement in all phases of the recovery program who are opposed to this assault on critical habitat. See the op-eds and comments in High Country News: one pro, one con: http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=17786 http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=17785 A quick look at websites like firewise.com should be enough to scare off any homesite purchaser: community planners now know that ridges in grasslands are among the absolute riskiest for fire danger. The air quality in the Tejon area is some of the worst in the state, and consistently falls below EPA standards. One wonders if this isn't some kind of Hail Mary pass by the board of directors of a struggling corporation willing to go into debt and risk all. It's a bizarre business model. According to columnist Jim Matthews of Outdoor News Service, one of the state's biggest mule deer herds lives right under the footprint of Tejon Mountain Village. He's hunted there for 40 years, and presents arguments for combining Tejon and adjacent Wind Wolves Preserve into a National Wildlife Refuge by a buyout that would return money to shareholders and preserve this wonderful area forever. Others have argued for park status for Tejon. Similar large-holding buyouts have occurred in the past (Gray Ranch in NM, 321,700+ acres), and are planned for the future elsewhere: the upcoming purchase of private lands in Montana (320K acres) by The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Lands for around $500 million is one example that's been in the news, and US Sugar's 187K-acre holdings in Florida are proposed for purchase to add to the Everglades at a price almost three times the current value of Tejon Ranch. Something similar can be done with Tejon, and condors and other wildlife, conservation, and hunting [if lead-free, the leftovers are good for condors], will all be the winners. Tejon is offering a contored conservation plan whereby they donate 178K acres to a Conservancy of their own creation, along with the option to secure development rights (but not ownership) of another 62K acres. Read Jim Matthews' comments at the end of the PRO High Country News op-ed by Graham Chisolm, linked to above. Tejon must apply to the US Fish and Wildlife for a "take" of Federally-protected wildlife. The USFWS is inviting comments; MONDAY JULY 7 is the deadline. The notice of intent is published here: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12426.pdf Comments can be emailed to tu_hcp_eis [at] fws.gov Helen Snyder, Portal AZ Subject: and some GOOD news! From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:52:32 -0700 This from Zoo & Aquarium Visitor Mag: FOUR OREGON ZOO CONDORS TO BE RELEASED INTO WILD Last year was a record year for Oregon Zoo condors: An unprecedented seven eggs were laid, including two by condor pairs who had never produced eggs before. Unfortunately, an abundance of eggs doesn't guarantee an abundance of chicks; three eggs were infertile and a fourth proved to be unviable partway through incubation. The low fertility was likely due to the number of young females in the program. California condors don't reach sexual maturity until about 5 to 7 years of age. The condor recovery goal is to establish a captive population of 150 birds and two separate wild populations of condors, one in California and the other in Arizona. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Condor Recovery Program coordinate and implement the recovery program and provide oversight of all program partners. The Oregon Zoo's condor recovery efforts take place at the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, located in rural Clackamas County on Metro-owned open space. The remoteness of the facility minimizes the exposure of young condors to people, increasing the chances for captive-hatched birds to survive and breed in the wild. The Jonsson Center is currently home to 19 adult condors. The 7 eggs last season made a total of 15 since the center was established, and 10 chicks have hatched. In 2001, the Oregon Zoo became the third zoo in the nation to join the California Condor Recovery Program. California condor captive-breeding programs are also operated at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey. The Oregon Zoo was the recipient of the Wildlife Society's Conservation Award for "creating the nation's fourth California condor breeding facility" in April 2005. Condors, the largest land birds in North America, have wingspans of up to 10 feet and weigh 18 to 30 pounds. They are highly intelligent and inquisitive, often engaging in play. Their range extended across much of North America during the Pleistocene Era, which ended about 10,000 years ago. By 1940, that range had been reduced to the coastal mountains of Southern California, and in 1967 condors were added to the first federal list of endangered species. In 1987, the 17 condors remaining in the wild were brought into captivity and a captive-breeding program was developed. For more information about the Oregon Zoo's California condors, visit: www.oregonzoo.org/Condors/index.htm . -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Anthony Prieto, V.C. Star editorial From: "Paul Andreano" <himountainpaul AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 15:43:15 -0700 Guest editorial in the Ventura County Star by hunter Anthony Prieto on the new non-lead ammunition regulations. http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/29/nonlead-ammo-the-law/ Nonlead ammo the law By Anthony Prieto Sunday, June 29, 2008 New hunting regulations requiring nonlead ammunition in the range of the California condor in Central and Southern California go into effect this week to prevent further lead poisonings of California condors. I am the co-founder of Project Gutpile (http://projectgutpile.blogspot.com/), a Web site for California hunters on the latest data, technology, availability and ballistic information on nonlead ammunition. I've been a volunteer for 10 years with the condor recovery effort and have hunted Southern California for blacktail deer and wild pigs for the past 22 years. I've seen and heard both sides of the lead-am-munition debate and have been side by side with both hunters and conservationists in the field. Hunting with lead ammo left me no choice but to bury my lead-tainted gutpiles. In 1998, I was introduced to the Barnes' 100 percent copper bullet. It shot better. It was faster, retained nearly all its weight, and delivered a humane, knockout blow to the deer and pigs I shot. It is everything a hunter could possibly ask for in a round of ammo. More importantly, it kept lead out of the environment. For eagles, condors, black bears and our own human consumption, lead poisoning is no longer coming from the end of my gun barrel. Lead is a toxic metal. It most adversely affects eagles, vultures and other carrion-eating birds that suffer a slow, agonizing death from lead poisoning. I am one of the 30,000 to 50,000 hunters affected by the new nonlead ammo requirements beginning Tuesday. We've switched from leaded gas to nonleaded, removed lead from paint, and continue to remove lead-painted toys off the shelves. Why the resistance with lead ammo? It was done with bird shot for waterfowl hunting, by replacing lead with more than a dozen nontoxic shot types in the 1990s. In this initial year of the ban, nonlead ammo may be tough to buy over the shelves, unless you go to a Bass Pro Shop or Cabelas — or you can purchase it online. Hands-free phones are also hard to find, but I'm sure most of us will take the time to research and invest in one come Tuesday, the day the handheld-cell-phone-while-driving ban also goes into effect. The simple rule of supply and demand will make nonlead ammo more available. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to:Hi_MountainCondor AT yahoogroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and group home page can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondorYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: SADNESS From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:04:37 -0700 * 12:43 01 July 2008 * NewScientist.com news service * *Peter Aldhous* * California's rampant wildfires have claimed an icon of conservation biology: a condor chick, burned in its nest at Big Sur, on the Pacific coast south of Monterey. Officials with the Ventana Wildlife Society have yet to regain access to the site from which they have been reintroducing captive-bred California condors (/Gymnogyps californianus/) since 1997. The team now fears that the fire may have also destroyed their field lab and cabin, as well as the pens used to hold birds prior to release. "We don't know what, if any, loss we have with our structures, but the fire burned our canyon," Kelly Sorenson, the society's executive director, told *New Scientist* on Monday. "One condor nest burned with a chick inside." Thankfully, Sorenson and his team had enough warning to arrange a rescue for eight condors in the holding pens. -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fire From: Debi Schmitt <otisbird AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:51:57 -0700 > >how stressful to be turned up on end & how loud Better then the alternative, but they don't know that. They did make it so they didn't see anything. That was helpful. .---.__ / /6|__\ \ \/--` / \\ debi / )\ / _.' / //~`\\-' =====//===(=))========= jgs /` Subject: Here's the "whole story" of condor evac From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:32:37 -0700 This was the story from Ventana Wildlife Society's web-site... more details... I watched the helicopter video (from the Chronicle story: links.sfgate.com/ZDXG ) as the crates were unloaded...how stressful to be turned up on end & how loud that must've been for them. Now, I want to invent condor headphones to protect their hearing! or invent sound-proof carriers! http://www.ventanaws.org/pressroom/ -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fires From: Debi Schmitt <otisbird AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:42:43 -0700 How wonderful they were able to talk the Coast Guard into doing this. Hope it all went well for those eight. And hope the remaining ones found a safe place to ride it out. Very exciting video! Thanks for sharing it. .---.__ / /6|__\ \ \/--` / \\ debi / )\ / _.' / //~`\\-' =====//===(=))========= jgs /` Subject: Scarey - keep fingers crossed From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:08:46 -0700 Wildfire threatens condor refuge, 8 birds evacuated SF Chronicle Staff Report Monday, June 23, 2008 *(06-23) 22:50 PDT Big Sur* -- Eight captive California condors were evacuated by helicopter from the hills above Big Sur in Monterey County this weekend when a wildfire threatened their sanctuary, officials said Monday. The unusual rescue Sunday was coordinated by an air crew from the U.S. Coast Guard in San Francisco after the not-for-profit Ventana Wildlife Society pleaded for help in saving the endangered birds. Lightning struck a canyon Saturday and started a wildfire in Monterey County that was burning in the Los Padres National Forest. The Ventana Wildlife Society, which works on species recovery, habitat conservation, and research, runs a condor release site in the Los Padres forest, where it prepares captive-bred condors for life in the wild. The group says that only 315 California condors exist, half in the wild. The eight condors that were at the site included seven juveniles and an adult condor used to teach the younger birds survival skills, according to the Wildlife Society. Their rescue required two flights into the smoky area near their refuge: the first flight carried five condors and two Wildlife Society members and the second flight evacuated three condors and the one remaining wildlife worker. By Monday night, the fire had grown to more than 7,000 acres and the fate of the condor release site was unknown. The evacuated birds were taken to another condor site at the Pinnacles National Monument, where they will be released later this year. The group says it hopes three condor chicks that had been released earlier in Big Sur survive the fires. To see video of the rescue operation, go to links.sfgate.com/ZDXG and links.sfgate.com/ZDXH -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Articles about the letter From: birdingcarole AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:50:25 +0000 Hi all: Here are some articles about the letter. Again, these came to another list I am on and I don't know if the links work, etc. I think all is O.K. Carole who is on her way down to Arroyo Grande for an interview, and to escape the heat up here in Cupertino ... ......................................................................................... http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9542922?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Some condor experts oppose Tejon development deal The Associated Press 6/10/08 LEBEC Nearly a dozen scientists sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter protesting a pact between the Tejon Ranch Co. and environmentalists to set aside a swath of wilderness in exchange for not opposing development on other parts of the ranch. The letter, dated Monday, argued that the proposed development will cut through land used by the endangered California condor, which nearly became extinct in the 1980s. "A major housing development in the heart of one of their most important use areas simply should not be permitted," the group of 11 scientists wrote. Several were part of a federal condor recovery team responsible for bringing the species back from the brink of extinction. Tejon and a coalition of environmental groups reached a landmark deal to preserve close to 240,000 acres of wilderness on the Tejon Ranch in the Tehachapi Mountains, about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. In exchange, the groups agreed not to oppose new luxury homes, condos and offices on 10 percent of the ranch. Schwarzenegger championed the conservation deal at a news conference last month. The development plan still has to undergo various federal and state reviews before it is approved. Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Lisa Page said the extensive process will ensure that the condor is protected. "He loves the California condor," Page said. "He's committed to protecting them." Graham Chisholm, director of conservation for Audubon California, which supported the land deal, said 109,600 acres of protected open space have been designated critical habitat for the condor. He said the planned development could potentially affect 19,000 acres or less of critical habitat. Tejon has maintained that its proposed development will not adversely affect the condor. The "protection of the California condor is of extreme importance in everything we do, from our conservation efforts to our development plans," the developer said in a statement Tuesday. In an op-ed column published Sunday in the Bakersfield Californian, the developer's chief condor consultant, Peter Bloom, said Tejon has made concessions including agreeing to not develop on several ridges used by the bird. "There is no question in our minds that the Tejon Ranch conservation agreement is good for the condor," Bloom wrote. ......................................................................................... http://www.mountainenterprise.com/atf.php?sid=3044¤t_edition=2008-06-06 NEWS UPDATE: Tejon Ranch's Statement on Conservation Plan Opposed by Condor Experts June 8, 2008 By Patric Hedlund UPDATE: FRAZIER PARK Calif. (Saturday, June 7, 2008)—A group of 11 scientists, condor biologists and members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Condor Recovery Team responsible for bringing the species back from the brink of extinction released a letter today, addressed to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. They cite the USFWS' own research studies, along with those of the California Department of Fish and Game that say the survival of the largest land bird in North America is dependent on the area designated as Critical Habitat being preserved. Tejon Ranch Company (TRC) intends to build Tejon Mountain Village in the "core" of the condor's Critical Habitat area the letter says. A two-year secret negotiation between five conservation groups and TRC yielded an agreement announced May 8 for a phased, multipart preserve that could eventually retain 240,000 acres of the 270,000 acre ranch as contiguous habitat for many of the 28 animal and six plant species that live there which are labeled as threatened or endangered . The agreement, announced with fanfare and a visit from the governor, has been hotly criticized by some California condor scientists because in return for the preservation plan, the conservation groups were required to agree to be sidelined and not participate in upcoming CEQA proceedings or to oppose three TRC developments: Tejon Mountain Village (3,400 homes and several resort hotels within the condor's Critical Habitat), the Centennial project (23,000 homes and commercial-industrial parks) plus additional development adjacent to the Tejon Industrial Complex at the northern base of the Grapevine. Further disclosures, reported by Associated Press last week, revealed that Tejon Ranch Company has made significant payments to condor scientists for their "opinion" on the TRC conservation plan. The payments were said to require the scientists to sign a contract agreeing not to oppose the company's development plans, even if they feel the plans may harm the condor's chances for survival. The arrangement have been called "buying silence" by those opposed to the TRC developments. Concern has been raised that perhaps there would be no California condor expert voices left to speak honestly in the upcoming public process about the development proposals' impact on the endangered species that has drawn the most sustained public and private involvement in America. The June 7 scientist group's full statement can be read below, following a statement from Tejon Ranch Wednesday, June 4 about their conservation plan. ......................................................................................... STATEMENT FROM CONDOR EXPERTS Tejon Ranch Conservation Agreement: A Tragedy for Condors From: Dr. Noel F. R. Snyder, David A. Clendenen, Janet A. Hamber, Dr. Eric V. Johnson, Dr. Allan Mee, Dr. Vicky J. Meretsky, Bruce K. Palmer, Anthony Prieto, Dr. Arthur C. Risser, Jr., Fred C. Sibley, and William D.Toone Date: June 7, 2008 To: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Assemblymember Pedro Nava P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 Kern County Board of Supervisors 1115 Truxtun Ave., 5th floor Bakersfield, CA 93301 Ken McDermond Deputy Regional Director, California Nevada Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605 Sacramento, CA 95825 Re: Tejon Ranch Conservation Agreement: A Tragedy for Condors Dear Sir(s) and Madam(s): At a press conference on May 8, several environmental organizations celebrated a deal with the Tejon Ranch Company that calls for permanent protection of large amounts of open space in exchange for a pledge from the organizations to not oppose Tejon’s proposed housing developments. But although they called the agreement a “great conservation achievement,” these organizations neglected to mention that one of the residential developments, Tejon Mountain Village, would place thousands of dwellings in the heart of officially designated “Critical Habitat” for the endangered California Condor. As former and present participants in the condor conservation program we are firmly opposed to any development proposals for condor Critical Habitat, and we know of no evidence to support claims that the recent agreement is generally endorsed by condor experts. In fact, the agreement is almost uniformly opposed by condor experts who are independent of compensation from Tejon Ranch. Proponents have misrepresented the agreement by not revealing these negative aspects to the public, a problem we try to remedy here. If built, this development would result in substantial harm to condors, posing a significant threat to the recovery of this well known and highly revered species. That any environmental organization might agree to such consequences is alarming and raises troubling questions about how the recent agreement was reached. Critical Habitat, established on the Tejon Ranch in 1976, is the highest level of federal protection given to areas most crucial for endangered species and is designed to prevent significant degradation of these areas. The lands involved were a major focus for foraging and roosting activities and served as a hub for movements of condors throughout their range. The recovering condor population is again occupying Critical Habitat on Tejon with frequency, and it is questionable that a fully satisfactory recovery of the species can be achieved in its historic range if significant degradation of these lands is allowed. Condors are sensitive to many direct and indirect threats from human activities and they uniformly avoided urban and suburban areas in historical times. A major housing development in the heart of one of their most important use areas simply should not be permitted. Incredibly, private environmental organizations with no special authority and with very limited experience with condor issues have now agreed to a deal that would allow substantial residential development of condor Critical Habitat. Sadly this deal was based on secret negotiations from which virtually all experienced condor experts were excluded. This is the worst sort of deal-making imaginable, particularly for a species that has become a public trust. The lands sacrificed in this agreement are of major and likely irreplaceable value to condor conservation, while many of the lands slated for protection have not normally been used by condors and likely will never be of importance to condors. Furthermore, many of the protected lands would likely never be developed because of steep terrain and other practical problems. Unfortunately, in their eagerness to protect such lands a few well-meaning organizations have become parties to a major threat to condor conservation. They seem not to recognize that the price being paid for formal protection of undeveloped lands, some of them undevelopable, represent a huge net loss for conservation. Critical Habitat designation has the force of law and deserves the respect and support of all parties, including land owners, governmental agencies, and environmental organizations. The recently announced plans are fundamentally inconsistent with Critical Habitat protection for the condor. If implemented, they would set a precedent for disregard of Critical Habitat protection for many other endangered species, a precedent with far-reaching and potentially disastrous consequences. Tejon has many developable areas that lie outside Critical Habitat for condors, and surely the ranch could restrict its development plans to such locations if it were serious about its support of condor conservation. Unfortunately, such support has been in doubt since Tejon sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the mid 1990s to remove endangered species protection from released condors and to prevent condor restoration efforts in the vicinity of the ranch. The lawsuit failed in the first respect but succeeded in the second, and no releases have been conducted in the near vicinity of Tejon. The importance of Critical Habitat on Tejon Ranch to the California Condor has been repeatedly recognized in historical USFWS and CDFG documents and official statements, and has not diminished today. Some examples follow: It is the opinion of the recovery team that the condor’s survival would be severely jeopardized by any major change in the use and/or management of the core portion of the Tejon Ranch (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1979) The condor will not survive without Tejon (in litt., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, November 10.1971 …the ranch is one of the most important links in the preservation of this endangered species (in litt., California Department of Fish and Game, May 21, 1979) [Tejon Ranch}…is essential to condor survival and without it value of the Sespe area would be questionable (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1972) The future of the California condor could hinge on maintaining the Tejon Ranch habitat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1972) It would be disastrous to have any major new developments very far inside the red line [central portion of the Tehachapi Mountains] (in litt., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, June 7, 1979) I am mainly concerned about permanent or long term disturbances, or major changes in the level of human activites. Homesites or ongoing mining activities, for example, I feel would be incompatible with proper condor management (in litt., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, June 7, 1979) Allowing Tejon Mountain Village to be built in condor Critical Habitat would represent a victory only for unnecessary trophy-home development in the wrong place. This development would be a sad defeat for a species in which society has invested tremendous conservation resources, and an even worse defeat for the future of Critical Habitat protection for all endangered species. These are no grounds for celebration. Sincerely, Dr. Noel F. R. Snyder USFWS biologist in charge of condor field studies 1980-1986, member of Condor Recovery Team 1980-1985 P.O. Box 189 Portal, AZ 85632 (520) 558-2413 David A. Clendenen Condor researcher and USFWS lead biologist for condors 1982-1997, member of Condor Recovery Team 1995-2000 Janet A. Hamber Condor biologist, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 1976-present Dr. Eric V. Johnson Field condor researcher, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1978-1986 Dr. Allan Mee Postdoctoral condor researcher for Zoological Society of San Diego 2001-2006 Dr. Vicky J. Meretsky Field biologist, Condor Research Center 1984-1986 Bruce K. Palmer USFWS California Condor Recovery Program Coordinator 2000-2004 Anthony Prieto Co-founder of Project Gutpile and condor field biologist 1999-present Dr. Arthur C. Risser, Jr. Condor Recovery Team member 1980-1985 Fred C. Sibley USFWS biologist in charge of condor field studies 1966-1969 William D.Toone Condor Recovery Team member 1984-1992 ......................................................................................... http://world-wire.com/news/0806090005.html CLEARING THE AIR ON TEJON RANCH AND THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR TEJON RANCH, CA, June 10, 2008 --/WORLD-WIRE/--The following is a statement by Peter Bloom, a noted zoologist best known for directing the effort to capture all of the wild free-flying California condors between 1982 and 1987. Bloom recently led a distinguished team of condor experts in making recommendations for how the Tejon Ranch Company, which owns the largest contiguous private property in California, could protect the condor and its habitat. “In May, five of California's leading environmental organizations -- Sierra Club, Audubon California, Natural Resources Defense Council, Endangered Habitats League and the Planning and Conservation League -- announced a far reaching agreement with Tejon Ranch Company to protect 240,000 acres of the Ranch and create an independent Tejon Ranch Conservancy with permanent funding to support wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. The environmental organizations also agreed to not oppose development on 10 percent of the Ranch. “In the months leading up to the announcement, a team of condor scientists had an opportunity to independently contribute to and review an internal company report analyzing the impact of the proposed Tejon Mountain Village development on the California condor. Joining me on that team were two of the most highly regarded biologists with expertise in the condor, Lloyd Kiff and Bob Risebrough, who have between them nearly 50 years of unquestionable dedication and leadership in California’s Condor Recovery Program. The report and our input provided the scientific basis for those parts of the recent conservation agreement that had direct relevance to the condor. “We were willing to give our input and assessment of the report because of our concern for the condor and because Tejon Ranch -- the largest contiguously owned private property in the state -- has a particularly important role to play in expanding the condor’s range from the coastal mountains to the southern Sierra Nevada. “We were also encouraged by the fact that Tejon Ranch had previously acted in good faith when it came to the condor -- it was one of the first private landowners to ban lead ammunition on its property -- and that our input would be available to the five highly regarded environmental organizations negotiating with the company, including Audubon California, whose commitment to condor science and recovery goes back generations. “We were asked to give our unvarnished input after we had a chance to review proposed development plans and data about condor activity on the Ranch, and to evaluate habitat on the property first hand. Since those were not small tasks, Tejon Ranch appropriately paid for our time and related expenses. Throughout the process, we maintained the total freedom to agree or disagree, and to do so publicly. To suggest otherwise would be totally false. “To the credit of Tejon Ranch Company and its environmental partners, all of the condor team’s recommendations were adopted. Among the important improvements we secured for the condor were: · Making the lead ammunition ban binding; · Pulling back development on Grapevine, Squirrel, and Lolas Ridges; · Removing all proposed development from Tunis Ridge; · Pulling back development 3.5 miles on Geghus Ridge, · Protecting the vast majority of the Ranch’s backcountry in conservation easements, · Provision for the purchase of 80 life saving GPS units, · Providing year-round, contaminant-free feeding stations; and · The hiring of a full time Tejon Ranch condor biologist. “We have spent our lives using rigorous science to promote the recovery of the California condor. We made the decision to participate at Tejon Ranch with those same values in mind. There is no question in our minds that the Tejon Ranch conservation agreement is good for the condor.” For more information about Tejon Ranch and the recent conservation agreement, please visit: http://www.tejonpreserve.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to:Hi_MountainCondor AT yahoogroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and group home page can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondorYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: (unknown) From: birdingcarole AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:51:34 +0000 Hi all: This came from another emailing list, so I can't verify it's accuracy, but I thought people on this list might be interested in seeing this letter. Carole P.S. Sorry, don't have time to figure out how to turn off the red letters!! ******************************* A group of 11 scientists, condor biologists and former members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Condor Recovery Team responsible for bringing the species back from the brink of extinction released a letter on June 7, addressed to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, opposing the Tejon Ranch deal and planned development within condor critical habitat. They cite the USFWS' own research studies, along with those of the California Department of Fish and Game that say the survival of the largest land bird in North America is dependent on the area designated as Critical Habitat being preserved. Tejon Ranch Company intends to build Tejon Mountain Village in the core of the condor's designated critical habitat. STATEMENT FROM CONDOR EXPERTS Tejon Ranch Conservation Agreement: A Tragedy for Condors From: Dr. Noel F. R. Snyder, David A. Clendenen, Janet A. Hamber, Dr. Eric V. Johnson, Dr. Allan Mee, Dr. Vicky J. Meretsky, Bruce K. Palmer, Anthony Prieto, Dr. Arthur C. Risser, Jr., Fred C. Sibley, and William D.Toone Date: June 7, 2008 To: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Assemblymember Pedro Nava P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 Kern County Board of Supervisors 1115 Truxtun Ave., 5th floor Bakersfield, CA 93301 Ken McDermond Deputy Regional Director, California Nevada Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605 Sacramento, CA 95825 Re: Tejon Ranch Conservation Agreement: A Tragedy for Condors Dear Sir(s) and Madam(s): At a press conference on May 8, several environmental organizations celebrated a deal with the Tejon Ranch Company that calls for permanent protection of large amounts of open space in exchange for a pledge from the organizations to not oppose Tejon’s proposed housing developments. But although they called the agreement a “great conservation achievement,” these organizations neglected to mention that one of the residential developments, Tejon Mountain Village, would place thousands of dwellings in the heart of officially designated “Critical Habitat” for the endangered California Condor. As former and present participants in the condor conservation program we are firmly opposed to any development proposals for condor Critical Habitat, and we know of no evidence to support claims that the recent agreement is generally endorsed by condor experts. In fact, the agreement is almost uniformly opposed by condor experts who are independent of compensation from Tejon Ranch. Proponents have misrepresented the agreement by not revealing these negative aspects to the public, a problem we try to remedy here. If built, this development would result in substantial harm to condors, posing a significant threat to the recovery of this well known and highly revered species. That any environmental organization might agree to such consequences is alarming and raises troubling questions about how the recent agreement was reached. Critical Habitat, established on the Tejon Ranch in 1976, is the highest level of federal protection given to areas most crucial for endangered species and is designed to prevent significant degradation of these areas. The lands involved were a major focus for foraging and roosting activities and served as a hub for movements of condors throughout their range. The recovering condor population is again occupying Critical Habitat on Tejon with frequency, and it is questionable that a fully satisfactory recovery of the species can be achieved in its historic range if significant degradation of these lands is allowed. Condors are sensitive to many direct and indirect threats from human activities and they uniformly avoided urban and suburban areas in historical times. A major housing development in the heart of one of their most important use areas simply should not be permitted. Incredibly, private environmental organizations with no special authority and with very limited experience with condor issues have now agreed to a deal that would allow substantial residential development of condor Critical Habitat. Sadly this deal was based on secret negotiations from which virtually all experienced condor experts were excluded. This is the worst sort of deal-making imaginable, particularly for a species that has become a public trust. The lands sacrificed in this agreement are of major and likely irreplaceable value to condor conservation, while many of the lands slated for protection have not normally been used by condors and likely will never be of importance to condors. Furthermore, many of the protected lands would likely never be developed because of steep terrain and other practical problems. Unfortunately, in their eagerness to protect such lands a few well-meaning organizations have become parties to a major threat to condor conservation. They seem not to recognize that the price being paid for formal protection of undeveloped lands, some of them undevelopable, represent a huge net loss for conservation. Critical Habitat designation has the force of law and deserves the respect and support of all parties, including land owners, governmental agencies, and environmental organizations. The recently announced plans are fundamentally inconsistent with Critical Habitat protection for the condor. If implemented, they would set a precedent for disregard of Critical Habitat protection for many other endangered species, a precedent with far-reaching and potentially disastrous consequences. Tejon has many developable areas that lie outside Critical Habitat for condors, and surely the ranch could restrict its development plans to such locations if it were serious about its support of condor conservation. Unfortunately, such support has been in doubt since Tejon sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the mid 1990s to remove endangered species protection from released condors and to prevent condor restoration efforts in the vicinity of the ranch. The lawsuit failed in the first respect but succeeded in the second, and no releases have been conducted in the near vicinity of Tejon. The importance of Critical Habitat on Tejon Ranch to the California Condor has been repeatedly recognized in historical USFWS and CDFG documents and official statements, and has not diminished today. Some examples follow: It is the opinion of the recovery team that the condor’s survival would be severely jeopardized by any major change in the use and/or management of the core portion of the Tejon Ranch (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1979) The condor will not survive without Tejon (in litt., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, November 10.1971 …the ranch is one of the most important links in the preservation of this endangered species (in litt., California Department of Fish and Game, May 21, 1979) [Tejon Ranch}…is essential to condor survival and without it value of the Sespe area would be questionable (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1972) The future of the California condor could hinge on maintaining the Tejon Ranch habitat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1972) It would be disastrous to have any major new developments very far inside the red line [central portion of the Tehachapi Mountains] (in litt., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, June 7, 1979) I am mainly concerned about permanent or long term disturbances, or major changes in the level of human activites. Homesites or ongoing mining activities, for example, I feel would be incompatible with proper condor management (in litt., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, June 7, 1979) Allowing Tejon Mountain Village to be built in condor Critical Habitat would represent a victory only for unnecessary trophy-home development in the wrong place. This development would be a sad defeat for a species in which society has invested tremendous conservation resources, and an even worse defeat for the future of Critical Habitat protection for all endangered species. These are no grounds for celebration. Sincerely, Dr. Noel F. R. Snyder USFWS biologist in charge of condor field studies 1980-1986, member of Condor Recovery Team 1980-1985 P.O. Box 189 Portal, AZ 85632 (520) 558-2413 David A. Clendenen Condor researcher and USFWS lead biologist for condors 1982-1997, member of Condor Recovery Team 1995-2000 Janet A. Hamber Condor biologist, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 1976-present Dr. Eric V. Johnson Field condor researcher, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1978-1986 Dr. Allan Mee Postdoctoral condor researcher for Zoological Society of San Diego 2001-2006 Dr. Vicky J. Meretsky Field biologist, Condor Research Center 1984-1986 Bruce K. Palmer USFWS California Condor Recovery Program Coordinator 2000-2004 Anthony Prieto Co-founder of Project Gutpile and condor field biologist 1999-present Dr. Arthur C. Risser, Jr. Condor Recovery Team member 1980-1985 Fred C. Sibley USFWS biologist in charge of condor field studies 1966-1969 William D.Toone Condor Recovery Team member 1984-1992 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to:Hi_MountainCondor AT yahoogroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and group home page can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondorYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hi_MountainCondor/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:Hi_MountainCondor-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Hi_MountainCondor-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: good news! From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:17:18 -0700 From the San Jose Mercury News: 3 Calif condors released after treatment for lead poisoning The Associated Press Article Launched: 06/06/2008 04:52:24 PM PDT LOS ANGELES---Three endangered California condors were returned to the wild Friday after undergoing treatment for lead poisoning at the Los Angeles Zoo. Three other condors continued to receive treatment at the zoo, said Jesse Grantham, an official of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's California Condor Recovery Program. The program is trying to create a self-sustaining population of the giant species, which was on the brink of extinction in the 1980s and even now number only in the low hundreds. Officials this week announced they were in "crisis mode" after seven condors were found with lead poisoning. The birds started turning up sick about a month ago during random trapping at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge in the southwestern San Joaquin Valley. One bird died during treatment at the zoo. A chick originally thought to be poisoned later tested with lower lead levels and was returned to its nest. Lead poisoning is a known risk for California condors. The vultures, which can have 9 1/2-foot wingspans and fly more than 100 miles a day, are scavengers and may feed on carcasses of animals that have been killed by hunters using lead ammunition. -- Marcelle SteppingStones *EcoSac* Shopping Bag System *(800) 926-1017* www.bags4you.com e-mail: service AT bags4you.com /Saving on paper & plastic since 1989! Providing the highest quality bags & the BEST customer service!/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: good new/bad news From: Marcelle <marcelle AT bags4you.com> Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:54:46 -0700 From the Oregonion Oregon Zoo hatches condor chick, loses another Posted by Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian June 06, 2008 13:45PM Michael Durham, courtesy Oregon Zoo.Atishwin, known for his attentiveness, will serve as a foster father for the Oregon Zoo's newest condor chick, which hatched Tuesday. The Oregon Zoo's California condor breeding season ended with good news and bad. Tuesday, keepers celebrated the arrival of spring's fifth and final hatchling. Wednesday, they mourned the loss of another -- an ailing month-old chick that died during emergency surgery. Because California condors are critically endangered, each hatch brings the species closer to recovery, and each loss is keenly felt, said Shawn St. Michael, the zoo's condor curator. Only about 300 of the huge, prehistoric looking birds exist today. The chick that died had a tough go from the start. Poorly positioned inside its egg, keepers at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation in rural Clackamas County had to help it hatch on May 7. At 153 grams, or slightly more than 5 ounces, it was the smallest condor chick the zoo had seen since it joined the effort to breed the birds in 2001. St. Michael and keeper Kelli Walker tended the chick closely, administering intravenous fluids and antibiotics. They used a puppet crafted to look like an adult condor to feed the little one a mixture of mouse meat and the human nutrition supplement Pedialyte. When the chick failed to