Status of the California Condor and Mortality Factors
Affecting Recovery
Kelly J. Sorenson
Wildlife Restoration Coordinator and Assistant Director, Ventana Wilderness Society, P.O. 894, Carmel Valley, CA 93924;
(831) 455-9514, (fax) (831) 455-2846; kellysorenson@ventanaws.org
L. Joseph Burnett
Condor Field Coordinator, Ventana Wilderness Society, P.O. 894, Carmel Valley, CA 93924; http://www.ventanaws.org
James R. Davis
Executive Director, Ventana Wilderness Society, P.O. 894, Carmel Valley, CA 93924; http://www.ventanaws.org
Abstract
The California Condor Recovery Program (Program) is moving forward after the release of 116
California condors
(Gymnogyps californianus) to southern and central California and northernArizona. As of February 1, 2001 a total of 161 condors were alive of which 46 were in the wild:
24 in California and 22 in Arizona. Due to a high number of fatalities thus far (43), the Program
remains challenging. Discovering the relative importance of present-day mortality factors and
controlling especially problematic ones is critical to recovery efforts. The effects of lead toxicity
as a result of contamination from spent rifle and shot ammunition, and possibly other sources, is
the most significant threat presently. As a result, field release programs must focus a great deal of
effort on ways to counter mortality until long-term solutions to this problem can be realized. This
paper discusses from the perspective of Ventana Wilderness Society, the current status of the Califor-nia
condor, mortality factors that affect recovery, and management strategies to reduce fatalities.
