Photos Courtesy Gavin Emmons
The California condor is one of three finalists to be nominated to recieve the reDEW Earth Prize 2017. On December 10th, the winner will be announced and will recieve $28,000.
Through the reDEW Foundation, reDEW donates 25-percent of profits annually to international
wildlife conservation through the reDEW Earth Prize. The reDEW Earth Prize was established to
ensure the reDEW Foundation will always receive 25-percent of the annual profits from making
and selling jeans. In fact the brand completed its first round of funding in 2016, before a
single pair of jeans were sold.
2017 marks the second annual reDEW Earth Prize, and nominees represent some of the most
endangered species on the planet, including Painted Dogs of Africa, the California Condor and
Manatee. Anyone can vote for their favorite project by visiting http://redew8.com/pages/
foundation/ and casting a vote. It takes less than one minute, and no email or registration is
required.
Currently endangered, California Condors are the largest North American land bird. Condors
narrowly escaped extinction in the 1980’s when the population hit a low of just 22 birds. To
save condors from extinction, all wild birds were placed in captive breeding programs.
Pinnacles National Park is one of three California release sites that reintroduce condors back
into the wild. Today, there are more than 250 wild condors and partners like the National Park
Service, Pinnacles National Park Foundation, and the National Park Foundation have
helped to make this success possible. Your vote can help support the recovery program at
Pinnacles National Park and protect condors!
Now through December 31st, your donation through MCGives to the Pinnacles National Park Foundation will receive a partial match.
Your gift supports our #TrailsForever, providing for much needed rehabilitation, restoration, and improvements to trails and climber access routes at Pinnacles National Park.
Increasing visitation and decreasing budgets mean that our National Parks rely on the support of friends groups across the country to help them fulfill their mission of “..preserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources..” of our parks. Park staff, skilled work crews and volunteers contribute to trail projects through hard work and meaningful service. The Pinnacles National Park Foundation Trails Forever Program supports the ongoing working of maintaining and improving trails to meet the needs of park users and ensure the lasting protection of the park for future generations.
Condor 878 has officially left the nest! This chick was the only condor to hatch in Pinnacles National Park this year, and she has spent the last six months being cared for by both of her parents. However, she has now taken a huge leap toward independence by spreading her wings to explore the world outside her nest cavity for the first time. So far, she is staying close to the nest, perching in trees and on rocks with her parents. They will continue to stay close by for the next few months as 878 ventures further out. It won’t be long until she is meeting the other central California condors, finding her own food, and showing off her flight skills to visitors in the High Peaks!
This is an exciting time of year for the condor crew - not only are wild chicks taking their first flights, but Pinnacles is in the process of releasing two young condors who were raised in captivity. Condors 825 and 827 are both about a year and a half old and hatched at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho. They were transported to Pinnacles in September and have spent the last few months in our flight pen meeting the other condors in the area and adjusting to the climate. 827 took his first wobbly flight in the wild on November 29, and 825 will be following his lead shortly! The condor population is slowly increasing thanks to wild nests and juveniles released from captivity. Be on the lookout for these newest flock members as you hike around Pinnacles!
Although you might not be able to tell based on the weather at Pinnacles National Park, summer is slowly starting to wind down. As the seasons change, so do the resident wildlife populations- including condor 878, the only condor chick hatched in Pinnacles National Park this year!
At four and a half months old, 878 is maturing fast. She’s now nearly full grown, but it will still be about two more months until her impressive adult feathers completely grow in. In the meantime, she is going through somewhat of an awkward stage as she loses her downy fluff and her head starts to turn the solid black of a juvenile condor. We may be biased, but we still think she’s beautiful!
In the video clip, taken a month ago, 878 shows off some of her moves as she hops around in spurts of youthful energy. Young condors, like many young animals, use play as a way to exercise and let off steam. Flapping her huge wings is great practice for the day she makes the leap and takes her first wobbly flight!
Over the years, PIPA has been a strong supporter of the Pinnacles Condor Program. Volunteers regularly radio-track condors to help determine their locations. In the past year, PIPA support has helped make the park's first condor nest camera a reality. Placing a remote camera is technically challenging and PIPA directly served the program by obtaining a tablet that allows park staff to perfectly place the camera within the condor nest - allowing for great images!
Photo: Condor 878 suns her wings outside of the nest. Credit: NPS/Gavin Emmons
Thank you to our generous donors, sponsors, and partners! Please visit our Donor Recognition wall.
GPS track of Condor 564, summer 2015. Map: Jennie Jones, NPS
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