A bird species exterior to Maryland, but of universal interest to
birders.  Unbelievable report!

Jerry Davis did not point out the obvious, that littering by
humans needs to be controlled.  I encourage birders to consider
that certain types of people will never change, and picking up
after them, though a humbling experience, is worthwhile.

Bill Ellis
Eldersburg


-----Original Message-----
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Jerry W Davis
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 9:53 AM
To: 
Subject: California Condor Problems


As reported in Swarovski Birding E-bulletin - September 2005


CALIFORNIA CONDOR PROBLEMS

It was only about twenty years ago that the chances for
California
Condor survival seemed almost hopeless. Since then, daring
approaches,
solid science, hard work, and a spirit of optimism have buoyed
chances
for the condor's positive future.

With healthy appearing experimental populations flying free, it
seems as
though we may have turned the corner, or at least approached the
corner,
for this species.

Lead bullets in the environment (i.e., in carrion) have been seen
as the
only significant impediment to condor population growth, while
other
things have certainly been looking up.

Last month, however, researchers at the Hopper Mountain National
Wildlife Refuge in California had to remove a condor chick from
the nest
of male #21 and female #192. The chick appeared to be
underdeveloped and
was losing feathers; however, once in hand, the bird to have
something
impacted in its crop and gut.

After transporting the chick to the Los Angeles Zoo, and
following a
three-hour operation, an astounding amount of material was
removed from
the ventriculus and proventriculus of the condor chick. The
following
items were among the debris removed from the chick: 4 bottle caps
and a
screw top, 3 electrical fittings, 5 washers, 13 22-caliber
shell-casings, 1 38-caliber shell-casing, a shotgun-shell,
several
pieces of plastic bags, about a quarter cup of broken glass and a
similar amount of broken plastic, a few small pieces of fabric, 4
small
stones, a metal bracket, a piece of wire, and a few small pieces
of
rubber.

Fortunately, it did not appear that any of this remarkable
collection of
detritus perforated the gut, and currently the chick appears to
be doing
well.

Does this mean that all adult condors are attracted to ubiquitous
shiny
objects and will bring them back to their nest for their chicks?
Or does
this simply mean that male #21 and/or female #192 have this
tendency? If
the first option is the case, then the species is clearly in deep
trouble, since these sorts of objects are virtually everywhere in
a
condor's environment. If the second is the case - with this
unfortunate
chick simply having "idiot parents" - then we should remain
hopeful.



Jerry W. Davis
Forest Wildlife Program Manager
Ouachita National Forest
PO Box 1270
Hot Springs, AR 71902-1270
501-321-5201 Voice
501-321-5353 FAX