The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds and/or flowers. All are worthy additions to the bucket. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
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Ventana Wilderness, CA
Continued below the orange coprolite
It appears that two of the wild California Condors eluded the spying eyes of the various naturalists keeping tabs on them, mated, nested and had a kid. The kid is now a nine month old, fully grown juvie. It also turns out that the male has pulled this off before - this is his third. It just goes to show what a little protection and habitat preservation can do for a critically endangered species.
From the article cited below:
With a wingspan of 10 feet, the California condor is the largest North American land bird. The massive black vulture is one of the world's longest-living birds, with a life span in the wild of 35 to 40 years. Once widespread across North America, the condor has declined precipitously since the 19th century, mostly as a result of hunting and poisoning from the lead shot left in meat they scavenged.
The last 27 California condors left in the wild were captured and placed in a breeding program in 1987. The Big Sur flock is the result of releases from that program. The new condor tot was the fourth condor chick produced last year in the Big Sur area.
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There are now 425 captive and wild California condors, 116 of which are living in the wilds of California. Condor populations are also found in Baja California, Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
Full article is
here and is a nice, quick and mildly informative read.
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Now It's Your Turn What have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
Thank you.