November 5, 2004
Condor Chick Fledges in California
The first fledging of a Condor Chick has occurred, in California near Ventura. Read this news release:
NEWS RELEASE November 4, 2004
Contact:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex:
Denise Stockton or Marc Weitzel, (805) 644-5185
Ventana Wilderness Society: Kelly Sorenson 831-455-9514
For Immediate Release:
FIRST FLIGHT OF A WILD CONDOR CHICK IN CALIFORNIA
A wild born condor chick has taken flight; the first wild chick to fly in California in twenty-two years. The chick [#326] slowly began the process of fledging (first flight) by leaving the nest in early September and perching 20-50 feet below the nest cave where it hatched April 9, near the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County. Only very short hopping flights were observed until mid-October, at which time it flew[slipped/fell] 30 feet. Two weeks later [Nov 1]a longer flight of 150 feet was observed, leaving no doubt that the chick had officially fledged. The last wild condor chick to fledge in the wild was in 1982.
The parents are captive released birds from two different release sites, the ten year old male is the dominant male of the southern California flock, and he had two previous nesting attempts that failed. He was released by the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County in 1995. The seven year-old female was released in central California at Big Sur by the Ventana Wilderness Society in 1998, she is one of two Big Sur females that relocated to southern California about three years ago. This is her first nesting attempt.