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Show MOUNTAIN TIMES Will Condors Again Fly Over Southern Utah? But this so the birds state’s Congressional delegation seems intent on blocking the reintroduction. Long ago, thel0-foot wing spans of the condor graced Utah’s skies, as it searched for large carrion, dead animal carcusses, its preferred diet. But as the whoolly mammoth, saber-toothed cat, and other large Pleistocene mammals disappeared, the condor’s range began to shrink. During the past century, these large birds were found primarily along the Pacific coast from Baja to British Columbia, ranging inland occasionally to Arizona and perhaps Southern Utah But as the West became increasingly settled by pioneers, condor populations plummeted. Shooting, egg collecting, and more recently pesticide and lead contamination of their food supply took a severe toll on the birds. By the 1930s, condor numbers had will avoid humans and power poles. The official California Condor Recovery Plan calls for establishing at least two Stephen W. Hoffman georgraphically separate, free-flying, wild populations. The experts have selected the Vermillion Cliffs in northern Arizona as the site to release condors to establish a second population. From the release site, birds will likely range widely, eventually occupying Grand Canyon National Park and portions of Southern Utah. Condors instinctively soar many miles in search of food. Condor releases in the Vermillion Cliffs were originally scheduled for this past winter or early spring. However, many rural communities in Southern Utah, backed by Utah’s Congressional delegation, are attempting to block the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s plans for the condor release. This local opposition has already postponed the release several months. But such concerns are ill-founded, especially since the Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the Vermillion Cliffs population as “non-essential, experimental.” This designation is identical to the one used in the release National of wolves in Yellowstone Park, and will ensure the release does not conflict with existing land uses in the region, including livestock grazing, sport hunting, and timber and wildlife management activities. There will be absolutely no restrictions on any legal land-use activities, even if they might adversely effect the condors. Still, Southern Utah residents do not trust the federal authorities and fear they may change the “non-essential” dropped to fewer than 100 birds, confined largely to the mountains north of Los Angeles. In 1982, an emergency effort was launched to protect the remaining birds and preserve their limited gene pool. Condors were captured from the wild and placed in the San Diego and Los Angeles Zoos for captive breeding. The last wild condor was captured in 1987. Over the past ten years, captive breeding efforts have been gradually rebuilding the population. In the wild, these long-lived (they may live 40-50 years in the wild), 22-pound birds lay only one egg every two years. However, through the process of “double-clutching,” captive condors have been stimulated to lay two or three eggs each spring. Although there were only 27 California Condords alive in 1982, the total world population has now grown to 103. During the past five years captiveproduced condors have been released back to their native haunts in the Sespe Condor Sanctuary north of Los Angeles. After some initial problems with mortality caused by collisions with designation. powerlines and poisoning, uphold this designation over the long term. the releases Falcon Expert to Speak HawkWatch International presents Clayton White, one of the world’s leading experts on falcons. He will address issues of Endangered Utah ook and the status of Peregrine Falcons in the West. When: May 9 at 7 p.m. Where: Primary Children’s Hospital, 3rd floor auditorium Service has But put has been remedied by providing livestock and deer carcasses at feeding stations. A similar strategy would be used condors along Vermillion Cliffs. Sens. Orrin Hatch for the Arizona/Utah population 524-4380) Bob The release of the California Condors is an unprecedented opportunity to restore one of America’s most unique and spectacular native bird species. Utahns should not allow antifederal paranoia to stand in the way Residents need to express their unwavering support for the release of the phone 524-5933) need to hear from you now Stephen W. Hoffman is the president and founder of HawkWatch International, a Salt Lake City-based conservation organization wildlife concerned with protecting raptors and the Earth’s biodiversity. @ e Glass in many e Full Service Bead Store Many Classes to Choose From sizes and shapes Seed Beads #6 #8 #9 #11 #12 ¢ Beads * Mushrooms « from Japan * Czech * Antique © Tri-Cuts from Japan & Czech People African Trade * Watch Faces Earing Parts * Semi-Precious phone Bennett (S.L.C « Austrian Crystals * Side Bars Stones * Delicas * Czech * Findings-S.S. G.F. * Hearts * Moons « German » India * Fimo-Blocks Crystals * Enamel « 7 Strand Tiger Tale * Stars * Cubes ° Italy « Bricks Beads ° More To South 700 East e Sandy Mall its intent collisions with power | ¢ 801-576-1755 Retrieve Golden Results .. the Fish & Wildlife in writing | * Pierced * And Many How To Books Including New “Creating With Polymer Clay” 9447 to updrafts that allow the condors to soar for may hours over open country in search of food. In California, the greatest problem been Arizona's (S.L.C. ANT s Condors need only three conditions to survive and prosper: An uncontaminated food source (large carrion); undisturbed nesting sites (on large cliffs); and consistent, strong has and northern ase birds: thé California Condor. There is a new approach to the releases that is improving the birds’ survival: pre-release conditioning eae in California seem to be working well. W. Hoffman have an incredible opportuto help restore one of the rarest and most spectacular on By Stephen Ue Ww nity nation’s lines, something that may now be overcome. The second greatest problem has been with contaminated food sources. This PAGE. 17 ... Call David Matthews David MATTHEWS Real Estate on Higher Ground David Matthews Associate Broker, A.B.R., G.R.I., C.R.S. 1500 Kearns Boulevard Suite E-200 * P.O. Box 3202 Park City, Utah 84060 a te, aa MLS. Network @ Park City Direct Office Fax 801-645-8000 801-64-REMAX 801-647-0023 |