VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – California agencies working to protect critically endangered condors are on high alert after 20 recent deaths in northern Arizona, wildlife officials said last week.
A highly pathogenic avian influenza that has infected domestic and wild birds across the country has been confirmed as the cause of death for California condors in in the Arizona-Utah flock. By April 17, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported 20 condors had died. So far, tests confirmed 10 of those birds were positive for the avian flu.
The virus had not been detected in condor populations in California and Baja California as of late this week. But agencies monitoring those flocks were preparing emergency actions in case that changes, said Ashleigh Blackford, the federal agency’s California condor coordinator.
“Our concern is definitely heightened in California,” Blackford said.
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More populations, more protection
Agencies have worked for decades to help the species recover. The largest flying land bird in North America – known for its bald head and black feathers – had all but disappeared in the wild by the early 1980s.
The population dropped to just 22 birds in the wild in 1982. Five years later, all remaining wild condors were placed in a captive breeding program to save the species from extinction.
By the end of last year, 347 condors lived in the wild – 183 in California and 116 in the Arizona-Utah region.
Supporting separate populations in different areas was part of the plan to help the species overcome any single event such as a virus outbreak or wildfire. The more populations and the more birds increases the odds of survival, Blackford said.
The condors also continue to rely on captive-bred birds being released into the wild.
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Virus can be fatal
The avian influenza can spread quickly and appears to be almost 100% fatal for some species. But scientists didn’t know until the recent outbreak how infected condors would fare.
“Now, we know that answer, and it is an unfortunate answer,” Blackford said.
But some condors do appear to be recovering. Eight sick condors were captured in Arizona and brought to a facility for treatment. Of those, four died and four others are still receiving care and showing signs of improvement, wildlife officials said.
A setback for Arizona flock
The 20 recent deaths account for around 17% of the Arizona-Utah flock. That’s four times the number of deaths in the region last year.
“That’s a substantial setback for this flock,” Blackford said. “But it is not insurmountable.”
In all of last year, the agency reported 20 condor deaths, most of them in California. Lead poisoning is consistently the leading the cause of death and continues to be the biggest concern for agencies working to protect the species.
The birds feed on carcasses containing bullet fragments, so trying to get folks to use other types of ammunition continues to be a priority, wildlife officials said. Lead poisoning not only can be fatal but also can suppress the immune system, increasing the condors risk from other illnesses.
“If we were not losing birds to lead, then our population would be stronger,” Blackford said. “It would be more robust, and we would have healthier birds.”
Ventura County Star
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