Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

The free-flying condors over Yurok ancestral territory all appeared healthy in their annual spring health checkups.

With all exams complete, none of the birds have tested high enough in circulating blood lead to require treatment. Only one bird had a slightly elevated blood level, indicating exposure.

Condors A1 (studbook 969), and A0 (studbook 973) were the first of the flock to nest this spring, but it was determined last month that the egg was not viable. Based on a small chance that they might try to re-nest this season, Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP) staff decided not to trap A0, the female of the pair, to save her undue stress should she be carrying an egg.

Exams are stressful for condors and other wildlife, explained NCCRP Manager Chris West, and it wasn’t worth the risk of complications to a potentially developing egg. A0’s transmitters are currently working properly, and NCCRP was also heartened by the low lead in the rest of the flock.

Examinations also include testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (known as bird flu or HPAI) exposure and feather sampling to determine historical lead exposure. Staff and veterinarians gave the birds head to toe physical exams and checked vital signs, weight, and feather growth.

NCCRP staff also replaced six failed radio transmitters and two failed GPS units on the birds, to ensure ongoing monitoring of the flock. Staff use these transmitters to track the birds, giving valuable insights into their movements and behavior. It was this monitoring that helped the team determine A1 and A0 were nesting in first place, as their nest was in too remote a region to visit physically. The monitors can also alert staff to possible illness or injury to a bird, allowing for possible response to render aid.

Throughout the duration of the project, the crew wore N95 respirators per the California Condor Recovery Program Health Team’s protocols to protect staff and birds from the potential of exposure to zoonotic diseases, (infectious diseases which can be spread between non-human animals and humans) especially HPAI.

The next cohort of condors will be transferred to the NCCRP field site in July. They will spend time in the NCCRP flight pen, acclimating to local conditions and getting familiar with each other and the local condors before their release into the wild throughout the fall.

Lead is the single biggest threat to condors in the wild and is responsible for nearly half of released condor mortalities where the cause of death is determined. A tiny lead bullet fragment the size of the head of a pin is enough to kill not only a condor but also vultures and eagles, should they ingest it while scavenging on remains of an animal killed with lead ammunition. These important scavengers remove carcasses from the landscape and are critical in reducing the spread of disease in many game species.

Recent research indicates that big game hunting is unlikely to raise the likelihood of lead ingestion by condors. The responsible switch to lead-free ammunition by big game hunters has made high-use hunting areas safe places for condors to forage. It is likely that individuals who manage the landscape using firearms and who are unfamiliar with more recent laws banning the use of lead ammunition for dispatching wild and domestic animals, coupled with illegal poaching, are the primary source of lead in recently poisoned condors. This makes empowering land managers with information on current laws and assisting them in accessing lead-free ammunition major priorities.

The NCCRP is a collaboration between the Yurok Tribe and Redwood National and State Parks (NPS). To learn more about the Yurok Tribe’s condor restoration work - https://www.yuroktribe.org/yurok-condor-restoration-program

The California Condor Recovery Program is a multi-entity effort, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working to establish self-sustaining condor populations within the historical range. The program includes addressing threats to the species in the wild; captive breeding; and reintroduction at field sites, like the Northern California Condor Restoration Program. In addition, the program raises awareness about condors and how the public can help support them through individual actions, like making the switch to lead-free ammunition.

Photos below all via the Yurok Tribe: