April 19, 2005
Condor News Update 19 April 05
The latest update from Chad Olson, Biologist with the Grand Canyon Science Center:
The Condor Nestwatch volunteer program is on hold right now, due to a shortage of equipment, which we hope is temporary. Looks like we need about $2K to get back to operating status.
Okay, now onto happier things.
It looks like we finally know what the breeding situation is for the year. We have three nests total, including one in Grand Canyon park, one on the Kaibab Plateau north of the Park, and one on the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. See details below:
Salt Creek (Grand Canyon) Nest: Condors 123 and 127 (Salt Creek pair, and parents of #305) have nested in Salt Creek again. We haven't confirmed the exact nest location yet, but most likely it's in the same cave as in 2003.
Unfortunately, the nest is not visible from the rim, so volunteer nest
monitoring will be dramatically different this year. Still, volunteers willing to hike into the canyon and camp for a few days, are more than welcome.
Kaibab Plateau Nest: Condors 187 (M) and 136 (F). First-time breeding pair. The nest is on the east side of the plateau in the National Forest, and is currently being monitored by The Peregrine Fund.
Vermillion Cliffs NM Nest: Involves condors 114, the father from last year's Vermillion Cliffs chick--and 126--a new breeding female. Condor 114's mate from last year divorced him. So condors 114 and 126 are currently incubating. Last year's chick, #342, is doing well and feeding at the release site.
Finally, the free-born chick from the Battleship Nest last year (#350) is doing well. We are now commonly seeing it around the village area and along the rims.
Posted by hargers at April 19, 2005 6:51 PM