Conservancy for the Range of the Condor

FUEGO. Condor 70, "Fuego," seen Monday near Torre Creek, in Big Sur. Fuego was hatched in the wild, being transported there as an egg from the L.A. Zoo, in 2008. In Big Sur, he went through the Basin Complex fire shortly after birth, plus one other nearby fire, and thusly received his name, "Fuego," Spanish for "fire." Fuego has a three-way relationship going with his step-father, "Amigo," and a young female, "Kodama." I understand they are among the most visible of Big Sur condors, and are often observed flying where I saw them, and a little north, around Grimes Point. This is the second threesome for Fuego, that rogue. The first ended when the female of the trio disappeared.

CONDORS LOST. The Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), which manages the condor population on the Big Sur Coast, reports that three of the five missing condor chicks have been found alive. Unfortunately, two died in the fire, which swept through the VWS's facility, as well as the nearby forest where nests were located. That fire is still burning. In an article in the Monterey County Weekly, VWS biologist Joe Burnett expressed his belief that the remaining nine missing condors are ..."likely lost." You can read that article by clicking the link below, and you can help the VWS effort to rebuild the condor population by contributing to the Ventana Wildlife Society on their website www.ventanaws.org. This means that of the recent condor population of 101 on the Central Coast, with 2 known lost, and 9 "likely" lost, the population tally will be 89. That is a significant reduction, and we--along with many others--are quite sad about it. https://www.montereycountyweekly.com//article_059a20b8-f38

From a good friend in Big Sur https://www.facebook.com/100014829368926/videos/948487608988876/

Good news. The Ventana Wildlfe Society, which manages condors in Big Sur, reports that the well-known condor chick INIKO has survived the fire, and is being cared for by mother Redwood Queen. The father, Kingpin, is still missing, as are twelve other condors. Here is a link to the VWS film of Iniko's nest site: https://www.facebook.com/VentanaWildlifeSociety/videos/667726083851089

https://www.facebook.com/VentanaWildlifeSociety/videos/636096657039431