Weather Thwarts Release of Condors
Plans to release a half-dozen California condors into the wild have been thwarted by inclement weather.
Four of the 20-month-old endangered birds either can’t or won’t leave their pens because of the powerful storms that have plagued Northern California in the last week.
“We are getting killed by the weather,” said Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the Ventana Wilderness Society, a Carmel-based nonprofit that is leading the release. “We have had tons of rain. If not rain, it has been dead calm -- terrible flying conditions -- or really strong wind. We’ve just had bad luck.”
One bird was released from its pen at Pinnacle National Monument in San Benito County on Dec. 20, but that condor spent too much time on the ground and scientists recaptured it, fearing it might be eaten by coyotes.
A sixth condor was released, got lost for several days and has been seen recently sitting in a tree on a private ranch.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
