April 17, 2005
Condor Update as of 17 April
Post-mortem information on #305, the Salt Creek one-year-old, is that the direct cause of death was starvation. That doesn't explain the underlying cause or causes. #305 had been seen feeding, and even had been fed by his parents until recently, when they began to drive him away from the nest area. Starvation does not preclude lead poisoning, but there are several ailments that condors are subject to that are manifested by the inability to hold down food or lose appetite.
Another bird was in the first week of April, #347, a recently released female. She was also showing lethargy and wasting. She died enroute to Phoenix for examination and treatment.
Investigations continue.
Posted by The Naturalist at April 17, 2005 5:15 PM