California condor: habitat and description of species

To everyone who has anything to do with ornithology, it is well known that the Californian condor is not only the world's largest bird, but also one of the rarest. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, today it is on the verge of almost complete extinction. After reading this article, you will find out how the representatives of this species live and live.

Biology and way of life

The Condor, whose photo is presented in this publication, is capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 km / h. To facilitate the flight, he uses air flows. In search of food these birds usually leave at dawn. In case of successful hunting, spend the rest of the day in a state of calm wakefulness.

The Californian condor is considered a long-liver. The average life expectancy is about sixty years. At the same time, sexually mature individuals are six years old. For nesting these powerful monogamous birds choose solitary caves or high rocky ledges. The female lays only one very large white egg. The incubation process continues for one and a half months.

How does the young grow?

The hatched chick is developing quite slowly. That's why he spends the next six months of his life with his parents. A three-month condor whose photo can not accurately convey the beauty and power of these birds, from time to time leaves the nest to make its first flights. Parents teach him everything that can be useful in adult independent life.

What does the Californian condor eat?

The bird eats only carrion, which is in various stages of decomposition. Hovering high in the sky, she looks out for a suitable prey, which mainly consists of the corpses of large hoofed animals. Despite the fact that the condors mostly inhabit mountain landscapes, they can also feed on the flat terrain.

In all that has to do with food intake, these birds have a strict hierarchy. Young individuals embark on a meal only after the dominant and older condors. After being full, they fly away for a rather long rest, for which they choose the preferred secluded quiet place.

California condor: description

These are mighty and majestic birds, whose wingspan is 3.4 meters. The average weight of an adult is from seven to fourteen kilograms. Externally, the female is very similar to the male, the only distinctive feature on which it is possible to recognize the sex is the size of the bird.

The California condor, whose long body is covered with black plumage, has a bare neck surrounded by a beautiful feather collar. Under the wings of the bird is a white triangle. On the bald pink head is a short, strong and curved beak, which is ideally suited for cutting fresh, not yet decayed carrion.

Young birds can be recognized by brownish-brown plumage with a light border. Their back is covered with a scaly pattern, and on the minor wing wings there is no white color. Most interestingly, the final change in appearance occurs only at the age of four.

Why they were brought to the Red Book?

In the XIX century, a sharp decline in the number of California condors began. This happened immediately for several reasons. The main role in the disappearance of these birds was played by direct persecution by shepherds, who unreasonably believed that the Californian condor Exterminates sheep herds. The high vulnerability of these birds is also due to the rather extensive nesting and hunting areas, sometimes making up about 90 kilometers. Also, a sharp decrease in the number of livestock was affected by the active use of pesticides intended to combat gophers.

The totality of all of the above factors led to the fact that in the first half of the 1980s there were only 22 birds in the world. In 1893, scientists were able to select several eggs and grow them in artificial conditions. After some time, people had to resort to even more radical measures to save the condors. In 1987, six surviving animals were placed in captivity, where 27 domesticated birds were already kept. Fortunately, all of them safely adapted to the new conditions of existence and even began to multiply.

As a result, by 2003, scientists were able to increase the total population of condors to 223 individuals, 85 of which were reintroduced into the wildlife of Northern Arizona.

Currently, the habitat of representatives of this species is limited to the coastal regions of California. They mostly inhabit the southeastern part of Monterey County and the north of Los Angeles. Also, California condors can be seen in Tulare and the vicinity of Kern. Earlier this bird inhabited the states of Oregon and Washington.