NEW WORLD VULTURE STUDIES Tom J. Cade (Oral) Commentary on Released California Condors in Arizona
Between 1996 and 2002, 53 immature condors were released in northern Arizona, and 20 died. The main cause of death was predation by eagles and coyotes, but
death from ingesting lead was second. Many other condors would have died of lead poisoning without frequent chelation treatments. If lead residues in carcasses can be eliminated by the adoption of non-lead shot and
bullets, condor mortality should drop below 5% per year, allowing for a self-sustaining population. Under current conditions continued chelation will be necessary. About 20% of released condors showed little initial
fear of humans, and some even made physical contact with people. Methods to correct “bad” behaviour included: pre-release electrical shocking of birds when they landed on mock utility poles; hazing birds when they
landed near people or occupied buildings, and detention in confinement followed by re-release. Case histories of condors show that over time nearly all birds decreased close contact with humans and began to act more
like wild condors, especially when condors paired up and became reproductively active. It is not yet clear to what extent the observed changes resulted from management or simply from the slow maturation of condor
behaviour. The Peregrine Fund, 5668 Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, USA. Email: tcade@peregrinefund.org
Marsha A. Schlee, Ricardo A. Perez Leon, Vidal Campos, (Oral) Jose E. Sandoval, Miguel Catalan, Orlando Martinez and Enrique Fuentes The King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa
in El Salvador: an Endangered Species Most Mesoamerican countries have classified the King Vulture as threatened or in danger of extinction. In
El Salvador 1 or 2 breeding pairs can be found at Parque Nacional El Imposible (PNEI) in the western department of Ahuachapán, another pair in northern Morazán and occasional transients, probably from Honduras, in
northern Chalatenango and Santa Ana. At PNEI King Vulture nests have sometimes been found on the ground or in large holes in trees,Volador (Terminalia oblonga, Combretaceae) and Ojushte (Brosimum
alicastrum, Euphorbiaceae). Movement patterns of the species at PNEI were monitored from 20 March 2001 to 20 February 2002. Such data help to pinpoint roosting, nesting and feeding sites and are indispensable for
managing the species. PNEI and its buffer zone cover some 5000 ha, but the King Vultures frequently go outside the area in search of food. Breeding is successful but abundance has not increased. Some young may have
wandered to nearby forested areas in Guatemala or farther into the Cordillera de Apaneca-Llamatepec, but no data are available on mortality or dispersal patterns. The conservation of small but viable populations of King
Vultures in El Salvador should be enhanced by the programme of certification of ecologically-friendly shade-coffee plantations (PROCAFÉ) as well as by expansion of the present Salvadoran system of protected areas
(SISAP) and biological corridors (CBM).
M.A.S. Muséum National d‚Histoire Naturelle, Département Écologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité, Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
Tel: +:33 1 40 79 37 78 Cellular: + 33 6 99 38 55 73 Fax +:33 1 40 79 37 93 Email: schlee@mnhn.fr
R.P.L. Universidad Nacional de El Salvador, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemática, Escuela de Biología, San Salvador, El Salvador, C.A. Email: perezleon@telesal.net
Others: Parque Nacional El Imposible, SalvaNATURA, 33 Av. Sur # 640, Colonia Flor Blanca, San Salvador, El Salvador, C.A. Email: salvanatura@saltel.net Allan Mee1, Greg Austin2
, Mike Barth2, Colleen Beestman2 (Oral) Tessa Smith2 and MikeWallace1 Pre-Nesting Behaviour in free-flying California Condors:
Evidence for Extra-Pair Copulations and Female Mate Guarding The California Condor Gymnogyps californianus
is one of the most critically endangered birds. Beginning in 1992, reintroductions have sought to re-establish wild populations and recent breeding efforts have provided the opportunity for intensive study of breeding behaviour. Here we document, for the first time, the occurrence of extra-pair copulations and female mate guarding in condors and discuss the role of social rank in choice of pair and extra-pair mates. We studied pre-nesting behaviour from late-November to egg-laying (mid-February to early April) when displays and copulations ceased. We quantified displays and copulations during timed observation periods. Pre-breeding behaviour in condors includes pair-flights, male displays and copulations. Full displays began up to 126 days prior to egg-laying although early pre-breeding displays rarely led to mounting and attempted copulations. Copulations began up to 53 days prior to egg-laying. Females often solicited displays by approaching and interacting with males. Males usually displayed to extra-pair females when their social mate was out of sight. Where pair females were present, they always disrupted such displays or copulation attempts. Although most males attempted to engage in extra-pair behaviour, the highest ranked male in the population gained almost all documented extra-pair copulations
1. CRES, Zoological Society of San Diego, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego CA92101, USA
Tel: 00 1 (619) 744 3313 Fax: 00 1 (619) 744 3314 Email: Amee@sandiegozoo.org2. USFWS, Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, PO Box 5839, Ventura, CA 93005, USA
Tel: 001 (805) 644-5185 Fax: 001 (805) 644-1732 Emails: Greg_Austin@r1.fws.gov Mike_Barth@r1.fws.gov collbeestman@netscape.net skijunkie@aol.com |
