Cosmo the Condor
This is Cosmo, a California Condor photographed near Big Sur, California. Here is her story, from the Ventana Wildlife Society website:
"Cosmo's story is comparable to a television soap opera. She spends most of her time with large groups of condors and her affable nature and fun-loving ways meant that many male condors were interested in her when she matured. In 2008, she chose to pair with Condor #204 and they fostered Condor #470 together. Their partnership came to an end in 2010 when #204 was severely injured and had to be taken to the zoo for care and recovery. Even before #204's injuries, Condor #251 had spent every spare moment hanging around Cosmo. #204's prolonged absence in the zoo resulted in Cosmo re-pairing with #251 and they had Condor #603 in 2011.
To add to the drama, Cosmo and #251 spent a lot of time with Condor #306, a female released from Pinnacles National Park. Cosmo had been seen holding out her wings and showing off around #306: this display is typically performed by male condors when courting females, but in this case, biologists suspect that Cosmo was just promoting her dominance over the younger #306. The two ladies never showed jealousy over the split attentions of #251. The three condors, Cosmo, #251, and #306 formed a sort of trio around raising Condor #664 and Condor #708. Both chicks' parents were #251 and #306 (determined using genetic information), but Cosmo dedicated her time to help raise each chick as well. Sadly, #306 died in 2013 (the cause was a strongly suspected case of lead poisoning) and although Cosmo and #251 continued to care for her chick, #708 died shortly after #306 did. We hope that Cosmo and #251 will have better luck next year. She, #251, and #664 can often be seen flying the Big Sur coast together."
The greatest risk to Condor recovery is the continued use of lead shot by hunters. The birds ingest the toxic lead shot while feeding on carcasses. Help the Condor recovery program if you can by donating to the Ventana Wildlife Society (www.ventanaws.org/donate/)
natureasart.photoshelter.com
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© Mark K. Daly - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Cosmo the Condor
This is Cosmo, a California Condor photographed near Big Sur, California. Here is her story, from the Ventana Wildlife Society website:
"Cosmo's story is comparable to a television soap opera. She spends most of her time with large groups of condors and her affable nature and fun-loving ways meant that many male condors were interested in her when she matured. In 2008, she chose to pair with Condor #204 and they fostered Condor #470 together. Their partnership came to an end in 2010 when #204 was severely injured and had to be taken to the zoo for care and recovery. Even before #204's injuries, Condor #251 had spent every spare moment hanging around Cosmo. #204's prolonged absence in the zoo resulted in Cosmo re-pairing with #251 and they had Condor #603 in 2011.
To add to the drama, Cosmo and #251 spent a lot of time with Condor #306, a female released from Pinnacles National Park. Cosmo had been seen holding out her wings and showing off around #306: this display is typically performed by male condors when courting females, but in this case, biologists suspect that Cosmo was just promoting her dominance over the younger #306. The two ladies never showed jealousy over the split attentions of #251. The three condors, Cosmo, #251, and #306 formed a sort of trio around raising Condor #664 and Condor #708. Both chicks' parents were #251 and #306 (determined using genetic information), but Cosmo dedicated her time to help raise each chick as well. Sadly, #306 died in 2013 (the cause was a strongly suspected case of lead poisoning) and although Cosmo and #251 continued to care for her chick, #708 died shortly after #306 did. We hope that Cosmo and #251 will have better luck next year. She, #251, and #664 can often be seen flying the Big Sur coast together."
The greatest risk to Condor recovery is the continued use of lead shot by hunters. The birds ingest the toxic lead shot while feeding on carcasses. Help the Condor recovery program if you can by donating to the Ventana Wildlife Society (www.ventanaws.org/donate/)
natureasart.photoshelter.com
Thanks for looking! My most interesting photos are here: www.fluidr.com/photos/markvcr/interesting
© Mark K. Daly - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.