Science and Ideas Group Presents The Fate of the Condor
Presenter: Alacia Welch is the Condor Program Manager at Pinnacles National Park. This program is responsible for releasing and monitoring endangered California Condors in central California. Alacia has watched condors nesting in the wild and intervened to rescue chicks when they required care or were threatened by wildfire.
Description of talk: Alacia will speak to us about the importance of vultures in the world and how California Condors fit into the larger picture of environmental health. She will discuss the most significant threats to condor recovery and how they are similar and different to vulture declines in other parts of the world, especially India. Finally, she will tell us about the current status of condor re-establishment at Pinnacles N.P. and the outlook for their future.
Condors have been in the news lately. Here are links to two interesting reports:
As Avian Flu Ravaged Wild Condors, One Chick Became a Ray of Hope | Audubon Fall, 2023. California Condors sighted over Mt. Diablo. https://www.ktvu.com/news/first-flock-of-california-condors-seen-in-east-bay-in-over-100-years
Short biography: Alacia studied biology in college and obtained an internship position at Pinnacles N.P. through the Student Conservation Association a year after she graduated. She worked on the Vegetation Crew at the park for 2 seasons before she discovered her affinity for birds, and in particular the endangered California Condor. Her work now includes guiding condor recovery at Pinnacles N.P. and beyond, monitoring condor behavior, educating the public, and veterinary work with condors that have been poisoned by consuming lead shot found in dead animals. The Program is a definite success!