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 Numbering 30 in the wild in Arizona, California condors are commonly seen along the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park. Restoration of the species in Arizona began in 1996, and in 2001 a condor laid an egg in the park, which later broke (below). In February 2002, two condor pairs nested below the South Rim, again raising hopes for successful reproduction of the species.  Elaine Leslie
Back to Chapter 6: Restoration Articles Restoration of mountain yellow-legged frogs in Kings Canyon By Harold Werner Breathing space at Lechuguilla Cave By Jason M. Richards National Park Service to share science role in Everglades restoration By Thomas Van Lent Wolf restoration in Yellowstone successful beyond expectations By Douglas W. Smith, Roger J. Anderson, and Julie Mao Wetland and stream restoration at Elk Meadow in Redwood National Park By James H. Popenoe Other Developments Award-winner Profile - Botanist honored with first professional excellence award Preservation of the Fort Dupont stream Coastal dune restoration at Point Reyes Bonytail restoration continues Maintenance staff help restore native fish at Point Reyes |
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 By Elaine Leslie Spring 2001 brought a significant event to the hidden ledges and caves within Grand Canyon National Park. For the first time in more than 100 years, a California condor laid an egg in the wilds of Arizona. Although the condors promptly broke the egg, the event still raised hope for the restoration of an extirpated species in the skies over the Colorado Plateau. The discovery of the egg came at an opportune moment for the condor restoration program, which was about to enter into a five-year review of reintroduction efforts. The program has been under fire lately by scientists who argue that too many of the released birds are dying. In spite of aversive training and conditioning to keep condors away from humans and human structures, condors continue to be killed by collisions with power lines, consumption of antifreeze, and lead poisoning. These dangers create a quandary for biologists trying to restore the species in both Arizona and California. How can they release these endangered creatures back into a world where such threats still await them? At Grand Canyon National Park, staff biologists take a proactive approach. Power lines and poles throughout the developed zone have been fitted with devices to deter collisions. Human structures where condors are tempted to perch or roost have an aluminum wire deterrent called Nixalite temporarily affixed to the rooftops to prevent landing. A condor biologist constantly roves areas of high visitor use in hopes of reducing human and condor encounters. Despite these efforts, lead poisoning remains a problem for scavenging condors. Many biologists hypothesize that ingestion of lead bullets found in animal carcasses may have been a primary factor in the decline of condors. To address this concern, rangers in the park use copper slugs to dispatch animals wounded by vehicles. The park plans to switch to a “green” bullet developed by the U.S. Army that is made of tungsten combined with tin or nylon when it becomes available in summer 2002. Additionally, the park is concerned about other forms of lead in the environment, such as paint, and has applied for funding under the Natural Resource Preservation Program to identify and mitigate their sources. The existing release and monitoring program is an important aspect of the recovery efforts, but more scientific data collection is being encouraged to analyze habitat use by the birds. The park will use the data in park planning, preparing National Environmental Policy Act documents, and analyzing potential impacts of recreation. Park staff, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Peregrine Fund continue to work closely with adjacent land management agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management; USDA Forest Service; and Navajo, Hualapai, and Havasupai Tribal Nations, to prepare for challenges in the upcoming breeding season. To meet those challenges, the ecological aspects of recovery efforts must be given high priority. Preserving the species is not enough. Data on distribution, abundance, and ecological relationships of the California condor must be collected and examined to ensure that suitable habitat for survival and reproduction is available, inside and outside park boundaries, to reach the long-term goal of a viable yet unmanaged population of condors in the wild. |
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This material is from Natural Resource Year in Review--2001, published by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in May 2001 (publication D-2255) /YearInReview/yir/yir2001/06_restoration/06_4_leslie_GRCA.html Last Updated: |
