California condors once ranged from British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico, but declined to just 22 individuals in the wild in 1982. After the removal of all surviving birds into captivity in 1987, San Diego Zoo Widlife Alliance has worked tirelessly to breed and reintroduce these birds into the wild again. Working with our Mexican partners in Baja California, our goal was to re-establish a condor population in the San Piedro de Martir mountains as a critical component of recovery of this endangered species. Each year we are released 4 to 8 captive bred condors, with a goal of reaching the anticipated carrying capacity of 20 pairs. All release candidates were socialized in captivity and later with groups of older birds before being released to the wild at 2 years of age. Each bird carries both radio and GPS transmitters on their wings, helping us study their behavior and movements as they learn to adapt to their new environment. By restoring an extirpated and ecologically important species to a key portion of its former range, this bi-national program is making a significant contribution to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery goals for the critically endangered California condor.

 

Role: I took the baton to  manage this iconic programme from 2001- 2015  In 2002, six California Condors were reintroduced in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, in Baja California, Mexico, Since then, the Mexican field team Catalina, Juan and Mohamed have been their guardians, and have dedicated their lives to California Condor conservation. One of our strategic goals was to train Mexican biologists in behavioral and wildlife science techniques in order to contribute to conservation science capacity building in the region and prepare for the eventual transfer of management responsibility for the Baja condor program to the Mexican government. I supported Dr Mike Wallace who was the lead field biologist for the programme, and multiple zoo staff and the Mexican the field team with funding, permits, radiotracking and GPS data support, regular visits to innoculate birds for West Nile virus, study birds, and  to advance the project partnerships across Mexico. During my time managing this iconic project, I prioritized getting solar power and running water installed at our field station, and building a new aviary and field lab. I coordinated a field visit by  our genetics team to conduct sexing of the birds at the field station - an anaytical first. Having sketched out a diagram of a new aviary on a napkin over a fish taco dinner, we employed an architect to draft our design, and contracted local builders to complete a stunningly large aviary at 9000ft.  Our relationship with park staff and local schools grew a firmer footing thru outreach evaluations. I secured USFWS tenders and IUCN SOS funding, and on we had our first California condor born in the wild in Mexico survive beyond fledging. I secured Wildlife Without Borders funding and set up a capacity building project training park staff across Mexico, and zoo staff, in the techniques required to manage these birds. Working across the border was never easy, and required flexibility and the need to drop every other task and provide support when emergncies occurred due to lead poisoing of birds or responding to the threat of wild fires. Since 2012 the wild birds have had 1-3 chicks annually and the population is expanding. Flights are made by birds close to and sometimes crossing the border. After 50 years extinct in Mexico, today, over 42 California Condors fly freely in Mexican territory.

 

A film about the team in Mexico was premiered in October 2021 at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival  in New York. My dear friend and colleague Mike has since passed away. His field skills and work with the birds are legend. You taught me the meaning of perserverance, and I miss you Mike.

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