Written by: C. Polite
Reviewed by: L. Kiff
Edited by: L. Kiff

DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY

     Endangered, permanent resident of the semi-arid, rugged mountain ranges surrounding
the southern San Joaquin Valley, including the Coast Ranges from Santa Clara Co. south to
Los Angeles Co., the Transverse Ranges, Tehachapi Mts., and southern Sierra Nevada.
Forages over wide areas of open rangelands, roosts on cliffs and in large trees and snags.
Occurs mostly between sea-level and 2700 m (0-9000 ft), and nests from 610-1372 m
(2000-6500 ft).  Nonbreeding individuals move north to Kern and Tulare cos. in April, often
returning south in September to winter in Tehachapi Mts., Mt. Pinos, and Ventura and Santa
Barbara cos.  Total population in early 1980's estimated to be fewer than 20, and declining
(Ogden 1982).  Occurrence in the wild now in question.  Two U.S. Forest Service sanctuaries
set aside within the Los Padres National Forest, primarily for nesting and roosting protection .

SPECIFIC HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

   Feeding:    Strictly a scavenger, eating carrion such as cattle, sheep, deer, and ground
squirrel carcasses.  Dead cattle have provided the most important food source in recent
decades.  Requires about 1 kg (2.2 Ib) of food per day.  Can convert food to fat rapidly after
gorging; thus, can remain for several days without feeding (Wilbur 1978).  Searches for food
while soaring and gliding.  Food must be in open areas to enable landing and take-off (Koford
1953).  Often forages over areas 7.3 to 30 km² (2.8 to 11.6 mi²), or larger.  May fly 56 km (35
mi), or more, from roost to feeding sites (Koford 1953).

   Cover:    Traditional roosting sites are ledges or cavities on cliffs.  Also uses old-growth
Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and snags, in undisturbed areas.

   Reproduction:    Nests in caves, crevices, behind rock slabs, or on large ledges on high
sandstone cliffs.  Nest often surrounded by dense brush.  A nest is not constructed; egg laid
on bare surface.  Nesting occurs within the Coast and Transverse Ranges of Ventura and
Santa Barbara cos.

   Water:    Uses water for drinking and bathing.

   Pattern:    Requires vast expanses of open savannah, grasslands, and foothill chaparral,
with cliffs, large trees, and snags for roosting and nesting.

SPECIES LIFE HISTORY

   Activity Patterns:    Yearlong, diurnal activity.

   Seasonal Movements/Migration:    Subadults and nonbreeders often move north March to
May to traditional roosts and foraging areas in the southwestern Sierra Nevada, returning
south again at the end of summer.  Breeding pair remains near nesting area yearlong.

   Home Range:    No additional data found.

   Territory:    Territoriality not confirmed at any season.  Simultaneous use of nest sites has
occurred as close as 0.8 km (0.5 mi) apart; nest defense between adults was not observed
(Koford 1953).

   Reproduction:    Breeds annually, or less often.  Courtship observed as early as October.
One egg laid February to May.  Incubation approximately 59 days, after which young remains
in nest for about 5 mo.  Young remains dependent on parents for food for several months
after begins flying.

   Niche:    Reduced nesting success in recent decades associated with eggshell thinning,
probably caused by presence of DDE in eggshell (Kiff et al. 1979).  Golden eagles have been
observed attempting to prey on condor chicks (Ogden 1981).  Turkey vulture competes with
condor for food.  Numbers of cattle and other livestock carcasses reduced in recent years
because of changes in husbandry practices, including increased salvaging of carcasses.

   Comments:    Apparently extinct in the wild after 1987.  Captive breeding program
underway, with plans to reintroduce into the wild in the early 1990's.

REFERENCES

Brown, L., and D. Amadon.  1968.  Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world.  2 Vols.  Country
     Life Books, London.  945pp.
Kiff, L. F., D. B. Peakall, and S. R. Wilbur.  1979.  Recent changes in California condor
     eggshells.  Condor  81:166-172.
Koford, C. B.  1953.  The California condor.  Natl. Audubon Soc., Washington DC. Res. Rep.
     No. 4.  154pp.
Miller, A. H., I. I. McMillan, and E. McMillan.  1965.  The current status and welfare of the
     California condor.  Natl. Audubon Soc., New York. Res. Rep. No. 6.  61pp.
Ogden, J. C., ed.  1981.  Condor field notes.  Calif. Condor Res. Center, Ventura CA.  4pp.
Ogden, J. C., ed.  1982.  Condor field notes.  Calif. Condor Res. Center, Ventura CA.  6pp.
Verner, J.  1978.  California condors: status of the recovery effort.  U.S. Dep. Agric., For.
     Serv., Berkeley CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-28.  30pp.
Wilbur, S. R.  1976.  Status of the California condor, 1972-1975.  Amer. Birds  30:789-790.
Wilbur, S. R.  1978.  The California condor, 1966-1976: A look at its past and future.  N. Amer.
     Fauna No. 72.  136pp.
Wilbur, S. R.  1980.  Estimating the size and trend of the California condor population, 1965-
     1978.  Calif. Fish and Game  66:40-48.
 
Compiled from information from California Department of Fish and Game - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group