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[shep]

CONDOR FREEDOM!
December 12, 2020
The 5 in the San Simeon cage freed today.
2 of them perched up in a tree - in safety off the ground
https://www.explore.org/livecams/condors/california-condor-sanctuary

Boise 90 and 62 Sottow safely up off the ground - where crew want them

The crew had put a carcass right in front of the cage door 2 hours before release, so the inmates were eager to get out and get it! hahahaa

90 wasnt first - surprise! He was 3rd


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[shep]

From Cali Condor
Dec 17, 2020
31 condors and 2 Golden Eagles were spotted in Big Sur
https://www.explore.org/livecams/condors/california-condor-sanctuary

10 condors and one golden eagle were spotted in San Simeon!
https://youtu.be/1a1z4M80BXg

GREEN GRASS is returning to Big Sur after the August fires! 
Flying condor pic by Betsy, Explore



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[shep]

Tatjyana - explore photo
Dec 18, 2020
#190 Redwood Queen (F)
#631 Zephyr (M)
#937 Leonard (M)
#888 Cedric (M)
#825 Pinn (F)

Redwood Queen with Cedric standing in front of her.
Maybe she's nurturing him. Her chick was taken to the zoo after the fire.

Big Sur condors
https://youtu.be/sF44iGs1JM4

RQ is quite a favorite, and she is an available female since Kingpin is no longer around.
There are fewer female condors than males.  Not good, and they just brought in 2 males from Idaho.

https://www.explore.org/livecams/condors/california-condor-sanctuary



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[shep]

Kodiak and Sierra
The juvie condors from Boise Idaho
They finally named them

#974 is Kodiak
#990 named  Sierra

Cali Condor, Explore does these daily charts
The Boise names are official


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[shep]

Tim Huntington
webnectar photography



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[shep]

Dec 22, 2020
This lady is waiting for her boyfriend


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[shep]

Condor lore, breeding age
Cali Condor,  Explore Dec 22
Condors typically reach sexual maturity by 6-8 year old, but some individuals may attempt nesting earlier!
In 2019, #725 successfully produced a chick at the age of 5, #828 is turning 5 next spring!

[shep]

BREEDING SEASON
January 5, 2021
This is when condors choose their mate.
There is a shortage of females so the girls get their pick

RQ (Redwood Queen) is being seen with Phoenix  among others.
Her mate Kingpin is presumed to have perished in the tragic August Dolan fire.
Her chick Iniko was taken to the zoo and doing well
Poor girl lost it all.

Many humans lost it all in 2020 also.  HORRIBLE year!

[shep]

Tim Huntington
webnectar photography
https://www.explore.org/livecams/birds/california-condor-sanctuary



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[shep]

No word of an egg yet
Feb 23, 2021  Betsy update on Explore
Ventana Wildlife Society
No word of an egg yet
Feb 23, 2021  Betsy update

Xuchen and Muursh
This month we celebrate 2 of the newest members of the Big Sur Flock, Xuchen #956 and Muursh #957

Xuchen meaning to get to be first
Muursh meaning to be dark
Xuchen will be two years old on 2/24/2021 as will Muursh on 2/28/2021

Both condors were hatched in captivity at the San Diego Zoo and later transferred to VWS for release in San Simeon, California.  Muursh is #190 Redwood Queen's brother, making him Uncle Muursh to little Iniko.

For more information about condor releases visit
https://www.ventanaws.org/condor-releases.html

Big Sur condor sanctuary blog and cam (usually)
https://www.explore.org/livecams/condors/california-condor-sanctuary

Muursh, RQ's dark bro -
Queen hasnt seen him yet - if she's never at SS.

Im not keeping this thread up daily, too busy - but I'm checking in when I can!

[shep]

Redwood Queen ( RQ 190 ) and Phoenix ( white #477 Phoenix ) are officially listed as a pair.

RQ is Iniko's mother.  The father Kingpin is listed as missing after the August fire. 

           ---------------------

From Cali Condor - explore
Female 725 was MIA all day Feb 27
Nesting?  Egg?  VWS suspects she nests in a cave..

RQ and Phoenix
https://youtu.be/_n5yaHWdkjY
https://youtu.be/_9XzmdpIfQI

image of Phoenix - Linda - Explore

[shep]

Redwood Queen
March 3, 2021  Betsy Explore Ventana
Redwood Queen #190 might be flying solo this season. After last year's fire and the loss of her mate, Kingpin. Parents of Iniko at the zoo, to be released this fall.

Appears its normal for RQ to skip a year. 2020 was traumatic for her.
Female condors lay only one egg per nesting attempt and they don't always nest every year. Often, pairs will skip a year in between breeding

[shep]

Redwood Queen laid an egg
March 5, 2021 
Redwood Queen (190, red tag 90) is nesting with Phoenix (477, white tag 77)
RQ and Phoenix are incubating an egg in her old nest Redwood tree.
We suspect they laid the egg approx. 2/26/21, so we anticipate the egg to hatch at the end of April approx. 4/24/21
The natural incubation time for a condor egg is 57-60 days
https://www.ventanaws.org/condor477.html

Things change fast!  2 days ago they thot RQ wouldnt breed this year!   

[shep]

NOSE BLING - unwanted

BIG SUR Condor 943 Percy has half of a can lodged on his lower beak.

Our current plans are to attempt to recapture 943 ASAP to remove it and hope their is no serious beak damage.  Trapping any wild condor is no easy feat!
 Ventana Wildlife Soc Mod - 4/1/2021

I took pic from Betsy on Explore
HOW could they do it - 2 small helicopters like a roundup?  into a large net?

2nd pic from April 29 zoom chat
They captured him and he's ok

[shep]

HATCH WATCH
Apr 25, 2021  Redwood Queen and Phoenix egg eggspected to hatch about April 24th.  We estimate the egg was laid on 2/26.  The 7 other nests in central California are doing well and we expect to have more eggs hatching over the next couple weeks.

Percy, Condor 943 update Apr 19
Percy was recaptured and is recovering at the Pinnacles flight pen after a thorough health exam. The can is now off his lower beak and he suffered no long-term damage. He will be released after he has sufficiently recovered.
ventanaws.org

per Betsy
943 named Percy ... short for perseverance

https://www.explore.org/livecams/birds/condors-castle-nest