Zion’s California Condors

The Zion community has been enthralled by two nesting condors and a brand new chick, conveniently nested on a cliff side just outside the Human History Museum in the park! Condors breed every other year, so to spot a nest is very rare. But news this week makes the future of the chick uncertain. Unfortunately, daddy condor suffered from lead poisoning, and was found dead. While this doesn’t spell out certain doom for the family, it does make the mother condor’s job that much harder. Typically, father and mother condor would take turns looking for food to bring to the chick. Wildlife rangers in the park are discussing options, like leaving meat for the mother to find, to increase their chance of survival.

We’ll watch and hope that this family continues to fight on!

Photo courtesy of Erik Trautman