California Condor Nestling in Arizona Biologists Confirm Existence of Chick

August 18, 2003 (NPS): Biologists from Grand Canyon National Park and The Peregrine Fund confirmed the existence of the first California Condor nestling in Arizona in decades, perhaps centuries. The sighting was confirmed on Saturday during an arduous 24-mile hike in 100 degree heat to observe the nest. The biologists observed the feathered chick at the edge of the nest cave near the top of a 400 foot cliff in the Salt Creek drainage. The chick appeared to be very healthy and is estimated to be 15 - 16 weeks of age.

"It was amazing!" stated Sophie Osborn, Field Manager for The Peregrine Fund. "The chick was right on the edge of the nest cave sitting on a rock preening and looking around," continued Osborn. "The setting so timeless, remote, and magnificent that I wondered how it could be the only one of its kind in such a vast tremendous place." finished Osborn.

Since March, biologists suspected that Condors 123 and 127 were incubating an egg. Suddenly, in early May the behavior of the pair changed and they became very attentive to the nest, switching nest duty on a daily basis. This appeared to indicate the presence of a nestling (incubation period for condors is usually 56-58 days). Due to the location and depth of the nest, however, the only way to confirm the existence of a nestling was to wait until the chick was old enough to move to a location in the nest where it could be seen.

"This is truly what wildlife reintroductions are all about - natural reproduction in the wild. This is wildlife history in the making and we are confident it is just the first in a long line of Arizona-hatched condors soaring across our skies," stated Arizona Game and Fish Director Duane Shroufe. "This is the end result for which everyone has been working for so diligently," finished Shroufe.

"This chick is a tremendous reward for more than seven years of hard work by all reintroduction cooperators," stated Andi Rogers, California Condor Coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "This is unbelievably exciting," finished Rogers.

"This is wonderful news. We've been anxiously awaiting this news since 1996, when condors were first released in the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona," stated Roger Taylor, Arizona Strip Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management.

"It's news we've all been waiting for. It marks a giant step forward in the wild recovery of a spectacular species," said H. Dale Hall, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region.

"It was great to see such a healthy, energetic chick. It was alert and active. After the female fed it, it bounced around the cave like a little rabbit. It was indescribable to see the first condor chick in Arizona in more than 100 years in a setting like the Grand Canyon," stated Chad Olson, Raptor Technician for the National Park Service.

"Although Park and Peregrine Fund biologists have been confident of a viable chick nesting within the redwall from the daily observations, we are thrilled at this visual confirmation. This chick faces a daunting task for survival. We will continue to monitor the chick and provide full protection to the nesting area as the last four weeks prior to fledging are critical. Restoration of condors marks a monumental event in the Colorado Plateau," stated Joseph Alston Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park.

This is the last of three nests that biologists were monitoring in Arizona this year. Two other nests produced eggs but neither were successful. In California this year one egg was laid and hatched in early May.

Regular updates from the field on all of the California Condor activities in the Southwest are provided on the Notes from the Field section of The Peregrine Fund’s web site www.peregrinefund.org.

On another front, the Phoenix Zoo successfully treated Condors 203 and 235 who had lead fragments in their digestive systems. Both condors were suspected to have ingested lead from a coyote carcass on the Kaibab Plateau. Biologists plan to re-release the two birds later this week.

The historic Arizona reintroduction is a joint project among The Peregrine Fund, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Southern Utah's Coalition of Resources and Economics, and numerous other partners. Funding for the project is being provided by The Peregrine Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Peter Pfendler, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Awards, Steve Martin/Natural Encounters, Grand Canyon National Park Foundation, Grand Canyon National Park, Kearney Alliance, Patagonia, Turner Foundation, Globe Foundation, Earth Friends, Arizona Public Service, Wallace Research Foundation, Grand Canyon Conservation Fund, and others.

The California Condors are being released as a "non-essential/experimental population" under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. Section 10(j) provides that the species can be released in an area without impacting current or future land use planning. However, in Grand Canyon National Park condors are provided full protection as federally protected threatened species. This authority has been spelled out further in an innovative agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local governments. This "Implementation Agreement" spells out a positive working relationship between the Federal government and the various local governments.

National Park Service Announces Annual Fee Free Day

August 15, 2003 (NPS): Every year the National Park Service designates Founder's Day, August 25th , as Fee-Free Day at all national parks that collect an entrance fee. This year to increase consistency and coordination across Federal recreation programs, Interior bureaus and the USDA Forest Service will adopt National Public Lands Day as a single interagency Fee-Free Day. Although National Public Lands Day is typically the last Saturday in September, this year it will be celebrated on September 20, 2003.

Grand Canyon will not waive entrance fees on August 25th, this year, but will waive entrance fees and commercial tour fees as part of National Public Lands Day on September 20th. Recreation "user fees" such as backcountry permit fees, camping fees and fees for other activities offered in the park will not be waived.

Free entry passes issued that day to commercial tour operators will be valid only for that individual tour. Free entry passes issued to single visit entries issued on that day, will be valid for seven days on both the North and South Rims, so visitors are reminded to hold on to their receipts.

The National Park Service is proud to take part in this coordinated Federal recreation effort and would like to extend a warm welcome to all visitors in recognition of National Public Lands Day.

For additional information about Grand Canyon National Park, please call (928) 638-7888 or check our web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/.

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