If it didn't wear a number ID, it could be easily mistaken for an errant drone. With a 9-foot wingspan... the majestic condor #11 lazily soared in the thermal updraft high up on Hopper Mountain. It circled overhead for approximately five minutes... watching the people below. While it's reported that condors are extremely inquisitive... this big bird didn't fool me: it was showing off! Everybody with a camera took full advantage of the condor's exhibitionism. What a hoot... so to speak.

According to the National Wildlife Service , California Condors can soar on warm thermal updrafts for hours, reaching speeds of more than 55 miles per hour and altitudes of 15,000 feet. Through telemetry... flights up to 150 miles in a day have been recorded. Condors hold their wings in a horizontal position and fly very steadily, unlike turkey vultures which fly with their wings held in a V-shape and appear to be unsteady or “wobbly.” Turkey vultures and golden eagles are the birds most often confused with condors. A condor has large white stripes on the underside of its wings, whereas the golden eagle and turkey vulture have white on the wingtips rather than a thick white stripe.

This was my second trip to the condor sanctuary within the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge six miles north of Fillmore. I was privileged to join the Friends of California Condors and personnel from the National Wildlife Service for a special occasion: A cave (nest) entry by USFWS biologist Joseph Brandt and Chandra David of the Los Angeles Zoo. Time for a health checkup of a chick born earlier this spring so Brandt and David rappelled down to the nesting cave in the mountain side. With the chick in hand... the biologist draws a blood sample from the young bird to be sent to a lab for analysis. After a routine checkup... the chick is administered a vaccination for West Nile virus. While the exam took place... except for a very brief exit... dad condor remained in the cave observing the activity.

After the chick's physical... Brandt executed routine housekeeping duties of the nest included cleaning the remote camera and hauling out any microtrash that might be in the nest area. Then back up the mountain side. Exhilarating to observe the event firsthand.

According to BLM, Special Management Area descriptions, “Hopper Mountain consists of 2,025 acres of Federal surface and subsurface and 3,240 acres of Federal mineral estate adjacent to three historically important California condor areas: Sespe Condor Sanctuary, Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and Sespe-Piru Critical Condor Area.
The Sespe Condor Sanctuary was established in 1947 following field studies by Carl B. Korford between 1939 and 1946. Originally about 35,000 acres, the Sespe Condor Sanctuary was enlarged in 1951 to include approximately 53,000 acres within Los Padres National Forest. The Sespe Condor Sanctuary is closed to all non-permitted entry.

Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1975 with the purchase of the Hopper Ranch by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The area was purchased to serve as a buffer from development for the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and to provide an area for a condor feeding program. In the past, carcasses were provided during the winter months and at times during the nesting and fledgling periods. The ranch house is used as headquarters for the condor field program that monitors the wild population of California condors in the region.
The Sespe-Piru Critical Condor Area was designated by the Secretary of the Interior in 1976. The Sespe-Piru Critical Condor Area includes the Sespe Condor Sanctuary.

In 1988, both Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary were used as release sites for Andean condors. The first two releases of captive reared California condor chicks were made at a release site in the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in 1992.

Factoids:
In 1982... only 22 California Condors alive in the world.
1937 – 1,200 acres was preserved for the Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary
1947-1951 – 53,000 acres was preserved for Sespe Condor Sanctuary
1967 – California Condors are placed on Federal Endangered Species list
1971 – California Condors are placed on California Endangered Species List
1974 – Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge established 2,471 acres
1985 – Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge established 14,094 acres
1987 – Last wild condor captured 14 Apr using a pit trap at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
1992 – 8 condors released from Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
1993 – 5 condors released from Lions Canyon, Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary
1995 – 14 more condors released from Lions Canyon
1996 – 4 condors released from Castle Crags, Machesna Mtn. Wilderness and 4 from Hopper Mtn. NWR
1997 – 4 condors released from Lions Canyon
1999 – 6 condors released from Lions Canyon
2000-2007 – 26 condors released from Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
2007-2011 – 25 California Condors released from Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
2012 – 33 fledged California Condors are flying wild for the entire program with 16 over Southern California.
December of 2012 – A world total of 234 birds flying free, 170 in captivity for a total of 404 California condors alive in the world. There are 69 condors flying over southern California.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program (Recovery Program) is a multi-entity effort to recover the endangered California condor. Cooperators include the U.S. Forest Service, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, Oregon Zoo, California Department of Fish and Game, the Peregrine Fund, Ventana Wildlife Society, Santa Barbara Zoo, the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City and many others. The Recovery Program is currently focusing its efforts on the captive-breeding and reintroduction of California condors to the wild in the hopes of establishing a self-sustaining population. The goal: to establish two geographically separate populations, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs. As the Recovery Program works toward this goal the number of release sites has grown. There are three active release sites in California, one in Arizona and one in Baja, Mexico.

The efforts of many dedicated people of the various governmental agencies worked tirelessly to bring the California condor back from the brink of extinction. However... as well as the recovery program appears to be working... lead continues to be a prevailing hazard for the magnificent birds. Condors are scavengers and subject to become fatally ill if feasting on the carrion of various animals shot with lead bullets by hunters or ranchers. Many condors in California, Utah and Arizona have died from lead poisoning since the beginning of the recovery program.

A bill introduced by Assembly Member Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, to ban lead bullets statewide in California recently passed on a 9-5 vote in the Assembly's Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. The use of lead bullets is prohibited in eight counties with endangered California condors. The bill would make the prohibition statewide in scope. Across the country, there are two dozen states with partial bans on the use of lead bullets, usually in sensitive wildlife refuges. While removing led from the environment will aid condors... as well as all wildlife... it doesn't eliminate condors shot by poachers, ranchers or people out just to have some fun.

Perhaps most people won't put the condor in the top five of the prettiest birds in the wild. Thus, devoid of Cinderella status in the bird kingdom, a condor lacks a degree of affection routinely given prettier feathers. Yet the more you know about its gallant struggle to survive... and maintain its rightful place on Mother Earth... the more you adore... and love... this majestic bird.

Watch the skies over Fillmore and Piru... condors check on us now and then to see how we're doing. When you see one, enjoy and revere the sight because you are one of the few that get the privilege. Remember: The California condor is a critically endangered species and is protected by laws of the federal government.

If you are inspired to learn more... here are a few websites...
http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/HopperMNWR/hoppermtNWR.html
http://www.thecondorsshadow.com/
http://www.wilderutopia.com/traditions/california-condor-overcoming-exti...
http://www.friendsofcondors.org/

Flying high overhead.. riding the thermals
There I stood. It was the last tour of the season at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. First Tour for me. I had never seen a condor before, but I hoped with all my heart that I would. Then, out of no where came the most beautiful sight that I had ever seen in my adult life. As the tears of joy, happiness, thankfulness, and gratitude rolled down my face, she flew over us. It was none other than condor 111. She had come to grace us with her magnificent presence while two other condors held back. But not her.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program (Recovery Program) is a multi-entity effort to recover the endangered California condor. Cooperators include the U.S. Forest Service, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, Oregon Zoo, California Department of Fish and Game, the Peregrine Fund, Ventana Wildlife Society, the Center for Scientific Investigation and Graduate Studies in Ensenada, La Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAP), National Park Service at Pinnacles National Monument, Santa Barbara Zoo, the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City and many others. The Recovery Program is currently focusing its efforts on the captive-breeding and reintroduction of California condors to the wild in the hopes of establishing a self-sustaining population. If you have a Facebook account... go to... https://www.facebook.com/USFWSCaliforniaCondor ... and "like" for current condor information.