Pinnacles National Park California Condor Reestablishment Program Annual Report 2023

Welch, Alacia; Lehnert, Erin; Lopez, Kaitlin; 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 (“Condor Program”) at Pinnacles National Park (PINN 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 • reducing anthropogenic threats to condors • increasing public awareness about condor recovery • collaborating with other agencies and organizations on research to improve condor survival Together with Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), PINN manages a flock of 100 condors in central California. During 2023, PINN monitored all birds using the central California area, as well as PINN-managed condors that traveled beyond their typical range. PINN-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 PINN 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 were discontinued in 2023, but biosecurity protocols developed in 2022 for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continued to be followed. These protocols maximize bird and human safety, allowing management of condors to continue while also taking into consideration the threat of HPAI. In March and April 2023, an outbreak of HPAI killed 21 condors in Arizona and Utah. This incident prompted increased collaboration between all condor managers and brought in new partners to address this threat. In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an emergency authorization approving the use of an avian influenza vaccine for condors. After clinical trials in black vultures and captive condors, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) advised that all wild and captive condors receive the vaccine. Pinnacles began the process required to vaccinate condors and aims to start vaccinating the wild flock in 2024. 2023 marked the 20-year anniversary of the Pinnacles National Park Condor Reestablishment Program. Highlights from the year include: • Two condors fledged from nests at PINN - only the second year in the history of the program that this occurred. • Biologists installed a nest video camera and witnessed the egg hatching, observed a health concern on the nestling that could be monitored without intervention, and watched the young condor grow until it fledged. • PINN staff organized the first interagency technical ropes training with USFWS and Santa Barbara Zoo since February 2020. • During a routine capture, one condor was found to have six small shotgun pellets embedded in multiple feathers and under the skin on his jaw. • Three PINN-managed free-flying condors died. Two of those deaths were attributed to lead toxicosis, which continues to be the leading cause of death for the species. • The central California flock pushed the northern boundary of the core range further into Santa Clara County than ever before. • A group of six condors flew as far north as Mount Diablo State Park and soared over the Altamont wind energy development area without incident. • Condor 1027 joined the USFWS-managed condors in southern California at Bittercreek National Wildlife Refuge and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. • All condors captured at PINN were sampled for avian influenza and there were no positive cases.