Pinnacles National Park California Condor Reestablishment Program Annual Report 2022

Welch, Alacia; Fielding, Rose; Lehnert, Erin; Ryan, Daniel

California condors are one of the rarest bird species in the world and biologists have been committed to their recovery for over 50 years. The Condor Reestablishment Program at Pinnacles National Park (PNP or “Pinnacles”) has several objectives with the ultimate goal of species recovery in the wild: • monitoring central California condor population trends by documenting foraging, movements, nesting, and reproductive success • detecting mortalities and recovering condor carcasses to determine causes of death • mitigating threats to condors • increasing public awareness of threats to condors • conducting cooperative research to aid condor recovery Together with Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), PNP manages a flock of 94 condors in central California. During 2022, PNP monitored all birds using the central California area, as well as PNP-managed condors that traveled beyond their typical range. PNP-managed condors and VWS-managed condors make up a single flock, overlap in range, feed together, and are captured at release sites managed by both organizations. This report focuses on PNP Condor Program management of birds released from the park but also includes some VWS-managed condor data, courtesy of VWS. Many measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continued in 2022. When community transmission levels were high, all activities requiring close proximity between crew members were modified to reduce the risk of transmission. Staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE), including face coverings or N95 masks, and limited time together in enclosed spaces. With these measures in place, the PNP Condor Program successfully mitigated the risks of transmitting COVID-19 between staff while also balancing the requirements of managing critically endangered California condors. Concerns about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the U.S. surfaced in 2022. By July 2022, the virus had reached California and all condor release and captive breeding sites began to implement stronger biosecurity protocols to maximize bird and human safety. The HPAI outbreak affected how and where condors were treated for lead poisoning. Three Pinnacles-managed condors that would have received a full round of chelation treatments under normal circumstances were released after being radiographed and their health assessed. As of the end of 2022, no condors tested positive for HPAI.