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California condors may soon soar again in state’s northwest corner
The Sacramento Bee ^ | February 4th, 2017 | By Jane Braxton Little

Posted on 02/04/2017 6:16:32 PM PST by Mariner

Tiani Williams has spent hours hiding near the stinking remains of road-killed deer. When the stench attracts a turkey vulture into her wire trap, she throws a flannel sheet over the bird and starts a series of tests aimed at her real goal: Returning the California condor to her Yurok ancestral lands in the state’s northwest corner. Jane Braxton Little

Today her objective is within sight. The Yurok tribe, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have launched a formal review of a project that could see America’s largest land bird flying over the North Coast’s redwoods as early as next year.

It’s a gamble whose success, ironically, depends on hunters.

Gymnogyps californianus was tottering on the brink of extinction in the 1980s, when the population of the entire species was reduced to a mere 22 individuals. Today, thanks to a $5 million-a-year federal recovery program, condor numbers have climbed to more than 400, over half of them foraging in the wilds of Central and Southern California, Arizona, Utah and Baja, Mexico.

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: chat
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These are magnificent buzzards often mistake for a small airplane at a distance.

26lbs, 10 foot wingspan flying at 1000ft. They often cover more than 150miles per day looking for meat, gorging every 3-10 days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_condor

God put all the animals in our trust. We should endeavor to do the best we can.

1 posted on 02/04/2017 6:16:32 PM PST by Mariner
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Any windfarms nearby?


2 posted on 02/04/2017 6:17:54 PM PST by dsrtsage (One half of all people have below average IQ. In the US the number is 54%)
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To: Mariner

We have Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles and turkey buzzards a’plenty here at the Lake of the Ozarks all winter. Water is open. Fish can be found.


3 posted on 02/04/2017 6:20:54 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: dsrtsage

Yes, an enormous wind farm throughout the Altamont pass at the northern end of their natural range.

Several have been chopped up.


4 posted on 02/04/2017 6:24:32 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: dsrtsage
That was basically my 1st thought: Griffon Vultures – courtesy of the association of ecologists GURELUR, Navarre, Spain
5 posted on 02/04/2017 6:24:54 PM PST by where's_the_Outrage? (Trump the anti politician. About time!)
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To: Mariner

We have seen them while driving up the coat those things are hugh and have series wingspans


6 posted on 02/04/2017 6:27:23 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom Its a Joke friends)
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To: Mariner

“condor advocates are reaching out to hunters in an education program that emphasizes the effects of lead ammunition on condors and wildlife generally”

Is this possible? How many lead bullets would it take to poison the wildlife?


7 posted on 02/04/2017 6:28:56 PM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: Mariner

I have a hard time believing that enough animals are carrying around lead in them, to be this big of a problem.

Evidently studies prove me wrong, but it sure seems like a stretch.


8 posted on 02/04/2017 6:32:24 PM PST by DoughtyOne (NeverTrump, a movement that was revealed to be a movement. Thank heaven we flushed!)
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To: Mariner
In their uphill battle for survival condors have struggled against habitat loss and eggshell thinning, but it is lead poisoning that poses the biggest continuing threat. Among the birds already in the wild, nine out of 10 have elevated lead levels. The primary source, scientists agree, is fragments of lead ammunition in the carrion they ingest. Unless their exposure to lead is reduced, condors are unlikely to achieve self-sufficiency.

I call bullshirt.

9 posted on 02/04/2017 6:41:38 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (President Trump is coming, and the rule of law is coming with him.)
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To: dsc
“condor advocates are reaching out to hunters in an education program that emphasizes the effects of lead ammunition on condors and wildlife generally”
Lead?
What about wind farms?
¡Ban wind farms or else! [something like that]
10 posted on 02/04/2017 6:43:29 PM PST by IWontSubmit
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
scientists agree

Like global warming.

11 posted on 02/04/2017 6:46:25 PM PST by MUDDOG
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

How many have actually succumbed to lead poisoning? I doubt any.


12 posted on 02/04/2017 6:47:58 PM PST by umgud
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To: dsc

They are dishonestly conflating lead shot for fowl with jacketed bullets for game.

California Condors do not eat other birds. They are too small.

They eat fallen game, and it’s rare indeed to find a lead bullet in fallen game. Or Coyotes. Or any other large mammal.

If a deer dies in the woods, 10 of these guys show up from all over the place and eat it. Everything but the bones.


13 posted on 02/04/2017 6:50:07 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: DoughtyOne

They are being dishonest.

Condors do not eat that duck that took only 5 pellets of #8 and fell 600 yards away.

If it doesn’t weigh 40lbs and mammal, they are not interested.


14 posted on 02/04/2017 6:53:13 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: dsc

Lead bullets do not poison the condors. This is a scam to make it hard for gun owners to shot and hunt is all.


15 posted on 02/04/2017 6:55:28 PM PST by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I now nothing about hunting or condors, but yeah, that sounds specious.


16 posted on 02/04/2017 7:00:29 PM PST by Impy (Toni Preckwinkle for Ambassador to the Sun)
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To: Mariner

I once saw a flock of buzzards consume a large dog carcass in short order. Most impressive how they ate everything so fast. Huge birds too.


17 posted on 02/04/2017 7:02:30 PM PST by Redcitizen
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To: Impy
Most road kill are, by definition, killed by vehicles.
18 posted on 02/04/2017 7:06:39 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (President Trump is coming, and the rule of law is coming with him.)
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To: Redcitizen

It’s ok as long as they don’t go to the northeast part of the state. Ground Squirrel country.


19 posted on 02/04/2017 7:09:11 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: DoughtyOne

http://www.huntfortruth.org/science/scientific-opinions/


20 posted on 02/04/2017 7:18:53 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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