WILD CONDORS AT SIERRA SAN PEDRO MARTYR, BAJA CALIFORNIA 2023
WHITE LABEL: BORN AT LOS ANGELES ZOO, CALIFORNIA US - SPM wild
Female 18 she was attacked by a golden eagle back when the program was starting at SPM. She was born on April 5th, 2000, and released into the Mexican wild on October 10th, 2002, at SPM. She was a dominant female condor before the attack. She formed a trio with female 395 and male 362 with no breeding success. Then both females decided to mate with male condor to SB# 403, also with no breeding success. Finally chose a male SB# 572 and now has a juvenile daughter, SB# 1059, hatched in 2020.
Female 20 has been a very prolific mother with four chicks, three females and one male. Her firstborn was a female, 682, presumed dead at the end June of 2022; all the other ones are alive and free. She was born on April 10th, 2000, and released the 13th of October 2003. Her mate is SB# 320 (20 blue).
Male 61 (SB# 261) has had three mates: 217, 395 and 505. In 2007, with 217, they had the first chick born in the wild but sadly died within the first month. Once a widower in 2015, in the eastern cliffs, mated with 395 and produced a female, SB# 831. Unaware of this, 395 was captured to be mentor of new captive bred juveniles. In 2018, with his new mate, SB# 505, blue tag, successfully bred a male SB# 1007.
Male 69 used to be a very dominant condor, until his dominance was overthrown by male 508. He was born on April 6th, 2002, and was released the 31st of July 2004. In 2008, with 284, had the first egg in the western cliffs of the Sierra, but the embryo wasn´t able to hatch. 269 and 284 have suffered the loss of four chicks and a juvenile. Finally in 2017, they had success with a female, SB# 900, and is still alive. He is the dominant one when incubating and raising the chick. Though he is a very responsible parent, and mate, he does flirt with other females. On the other hand, he is very jealous.
Female 84 (SB# 284), her mate is SB#269 (69 white tag). She is a very faithful mate and doesn´t pay attention to other males who had tried to conquer her. She is a very sweet and strict mother.
Female 73 had three born chicks, two of whom have survived: female 851 and male 675 (yellow). The other male 1008 is thought to have been attacked by a bobcat. She was born on April 28th, 2005, and released on June 9th, 2007, to the SPM wilderness. Her faithful and responsible mate is SB# 361 (61 blue).
BLUE LABEL: BORN AT SAN DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES ZOO CALIFORNIA US - SPM wild
Male 20 is the partner of female 220 white. Together, they form a very successful coupling that has raised 4 chicks, three females and one male; although one of their daughters has died. He is very faithful to his partner. He was born on June 24th, 2003 at the Los Angeles Zoo and was released on May 16th, 2005 to the SPM wilderness. His nesting territory lies in the eastern cliffs of the SPM mountains.
Male 61 is rarely seen. He used to be a partner for female 373 white, but quite recently male 403 blue, who just became a widower, is chasing her and trying to be partnered up with her. He was born on April 5th, 2005, at the Los Angeles Zoo and was released on June 9th, 2007 to the SPM wilderness.
Male 62 He was born on April 12th, 2005, at the Los Angeles Zoo and released on June 9th, 2007 to the SPM wilderness. He liked to flirt with all females but didn´t want to take responsibility during nesting season. It was until 2014 when he tried nesting for the first time but with two females, SB# 218 and SB# 395. Finally in 2022 mated with SB# 851 and his nesting territory is still a mystery in the eastern side of the Sierra.
Female 95 used to be part of a trio and finally in 2015 mated with male SB# 261 (61 white) and had a daughter, 831 yellow, born on the 19th of April 2015. No one suspected of this relationship and was trapped to be a mentor. Once released she started following male 269 white; they are seen together quite often, although female 284 is the real couple of 269. Female 95 has tried to displace her and chase her away. On the other hand, SB# 675 has tried to conquer her with no apparent success. She was born on March 12th, 2006, at the San Diego Zoo, and released on September 14th, 2008 to the SPM wilderness.
This female condor was adopted by LEXUS Universidad in Mexico City, and named her Takumi, that in the Japanese language means a master craftsman who has devoted at least 60 thousand hours to their craft.
Male 03 (SB# 403) after failed his first breeding attempts with females SB# 218 and 395, he decided to have only one female mate and conquer SB# 682 in 2020. Has had two sons with female 682 yellow. The first one, SB# 1057 (57 yellow) hatched in 2020, and the second one, hatched in 2022 lives. His mate, 682, disappeared in late June of 2022, so now he is trying to seduce female 373 (73 while) to be his new mate who is in turn partner to male 361 blue. Field personnel witnessed he was still attending his nest but it seems he didn´t succeed to raise the chick on its own. He was born on April 15th, 2006, at the San Diego Zoo and was released on September 14th, 2008 to the SPM wilderness.
Male 68 (SB#468) This condor is rarely seen at the feeding grounds in Punta San Pedro because other condors chase him down. He was born on April 7th, 2008, at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park and was released to the SPM wilderness on June 23rd, 2010. His best friend is male SB# 573. We haven´t seen if he has had success with a female yet.
Male 98 (SB# 498) has become a dominant bird who is rarely seen and has no partner that we know of. He was born on March 27th 2009, at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park and was released into the SPM wilderness on August 6th, 2011.
Female 05 (SB# 505) in 2018 had a son with male 261 white: SB# 1007, "07" yellow ID Tag. One day, female 505 was seen at Punta San Pedro with an aluminum can stuck on her beak which made it impossible for her to eat. To dispose of it, Juan and Catalina had to capture her temporarily. She was born on April 7th, 2009, at Los Angeles Zoo and was released on August 24th into the wild.
Male 08 (SB# 508) is partnered to female SB# 656, "56" black ID Tag. In 2019 they had a daughter (SB# 1050) that was lost in August of 2021 by the depredation of a bobcat. He was born on April 12th, 2009 at the Los Angeles Zoo and released on August 24th, 2012 into the SPM wilderness. He is very faithful to his mate 656 and a very responsible dad.
Male 45 (SB# 545) has not yet unmistakably procreated, although it is believed that in 2022, he and female SB# 830, "30" yellow ID Tag , showed nesting behavior, according to GPS data. He was born on Ma, 2009, at the San Diego Zoo WAP and released on August 6th, 2011 to the SPM wilderness.
Male 49 (SB# 549) has is female SB# 661, "61"black ID Tag, as his partner. They had a son in 2021 that is the only surviving chick (SB# 1115) of the 2021 season. He was born on May 21st, 2010 at the San Diego Zoo WAP and released into the wild on January 18th, 2012. He is a very faithful and responsible partner.
Male 72 (SB# 572) is SB# 218, "18" White ID Tag partner. It took him years to persuade her to be his mate. They have one daughter that lives, SB# 1059 , "59" yellow ID Tag, born in 2020. Male 72 was born on May 4th, 2010 at the San Diego Zoo WAP and released into the SPM wilderness on May 10th, 2012.
Male 73 (SB# 573) is an occasional visitor to the Punta San Pedro area, where the condors are fed. He wanders east and south of the San Pedro Martyr Sierra. He is probably the wildest of all the Mexican condors, as he does not depend on any human administered food to survive. He was born on May 4th, 2010, at the Los Angeles Zoo and was released on August 24th, 2012.
BLACK LABEL: SAN DIEGO ZOO CALIFORNIA US - SPM wild
Female 56 (SB# 656) She is the partner of male SB# 508, "08" blue ID Tag. They were the parents of female 1050 who was predated by a bobcat in 2021. Since then, they have tried to procreate without success. She was born on May 9th, 2012 and was released on June 20th, 2015 to the SPM wilderness. She has been very faithful to 508.
Female 61´s (SB# 661) mate is male SB# 549, "49" blue ID Tag and mother of SB# 1115, "15" yellow ID Tag, whose sex has not yet been identified, the only chick that survived in 2021 breeding season. The couple did not raise a chick in 2022 because they are still taking care of 1115. Female 61 was born on May 4th, 2012, and was released on June 20th, 2015. She is faithful to SB# 549.
Male 62 (SB# 662) has no identifiable partner. During the 2021 mating season, researchers reported a sighting of him displaying courtship behavior towards another male, 73 black. They even reported an attempted mutual mounting. He was born on May 14th, 2012, and was released on June 20th, 2015 to the SPM wilderness.
Male 67 (SB# 667) is not very notorious. There are no records of mates. He was born on May 27th, 2012, and was released on June 20th into the SPM wilds.
Male 73 (SB# 573) There is no record of a female partner for this bird, although Male 73 has been seen with another male, 62 black, in a mutual mounting. He spent much of his time away and for many years would arrive to the release area with male SB# 468, seem to be good friends. He was born on June 26th, 2012, and released on June 20th, 2015 to the SPM wilderness.
YELLOW LABEL: BORN WILD SPM BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Male 75 (SB# 675) since early 2022, very insistently courts female 284 white, who already has a mate. Previous years he had been seen courting SB# 395, apparently with no success. He was born in the wild at the San Pedro Martyr Sierra, on April 23rd, 2012.
Female 82 (SB# 682) disappeared in June of 2022, officially declared dead. She was born in the wild at SPM on May 13th, 2012. She was a good mother to SB# 1057 and loyal to SB# 403 since they paired.
Female 30 (SB# 830) has recently (2022) formed a couple with male SB# 545 blue "45" ID Tag. First known time for her to breed. It seems like they have a chick, because they continued visiting the nest site after the incubation period finished and through the next six months. She was born in the wild at SPM, on April 6th, 2015.
Female 31 (SB# 831) does not have a partner, and it is rare to see her at the Punta San Pedro feeding grounds. She was born in the wild at SPM, on April 19th, 2015. According to field notes she didn´t attempt to nest during 2022 breeding season.
Male 4 (SB# 841), this condor was one of the first birds to be born in the wild at the Sierra San Pedro Martyr Sierra, on April 8th, 2015. He is already an adult, but in his early years both his parents, 406 and 446, disappeared. Although he was an orphan at early age, now a Mexican business, INVENTA, has adopted him, providing Juan and Catalina with the financial resources to secure his future for three years. They have named him Marcial, from a very dear relative that thought them about nature conservation. This bird is pacific and fights back if necessary.
Female 51 (SB# 851), recently partnered up with male SB# 362 "62" blue ID Tag. She was born in the wild on April 15th, 2016. We hope they were successful in raising a chick during the breeding season of 2022, her first nesting attempt.
Female 00 (SB# 900) has a daughter with of male SB# 269 and female SB# 284. She was born in the wild at SPM, on April 15th, 2017. Recently SB# 498 was seen to display courtship behavior to her.
Male 19 (SB# 919) is rarely seen, although recently he has been seen near the aviary, perhaps because there are many females inside. He was born in the SPM wilderness, on May 15th, 2017. Parents are not yet determined; DNA analysis results are pending. Not a full adult yet but sexually mature.
Female 59 (SB# 959) she was born in the wild at the SPM Sierra, on April 23rd, 2018. She is not yet an adult and is in the process of changing head coloration. Parentage DNA analysis results are pending but we believe SB# 220 and SB# 320 are her parents.
Male 7 (SB# 1007) shows the characteristics of a dominant bird. He was born in the wild at the SPM Sierra on May 15th, 2018. He is still a subadult. Parentage DNA analysis results are pending.
Male 57 (SB# 1057) is still a juvenile with a black head. He is very straightforward and does not mind if he is pushed away while he is eating. He was born in the wild at the SPM Sierra, on April 7th, 2020. We are waiting lab results to confirm that his parents are SB# 403 and the late female SB# 682.
Female 59, SB# 1059, she is still a juvenile and also very social. She was born in the wild at the SPM Sierra on April 14th, 2020. Lab results are pending to confirm that SB# 218 and SB# 572 are her parents.
Male 69 (SB# 1069) is not very social. He is rarely seen, but when it is time to eat, he is very straightforward. He was born in the wild at Baja’s SPM Sierra, on May the 1st, 2020. We believe SB# 220 and SB# 320 are his parents; both seen to take care of him.
Male 15 (SB# 1115) This young bird is very social and is often seen at Punta San Pedro. He was born on April 15th, 2021, in the wild. He is the only survivor of that year. Both SB# 549 and SB# 661 look after him, reason we believe these are his parents.
GREEN LABEL: MEXICO CITY CHAPULTEPEC ZOO-SPM wild
Female 99 (SB# 899) is very neutral: she doesn’t mingle and would rather not be disturbed. When released she rapidly integrated to the wild flock. She was born at the Chapultepec Zoo on February 15th, 2017. The Zoo organized a children contest in Mexico City to name her, and she was named Cucapá, in reference to an American Indian tribe that lives in Baja California and south of Arizona. The name means the people from the water. Cucapá was released into the wild on October 1st, 2019.
Male 20 (SB# 920) is a subadult on the lower end of the hierarchy who likes to annoy other young birds. He was born at Chapultepec Zoo, on February 8th, 2018. He was named Pai Pai, also in honor of a Baja California Indian tribe, by the children of Mexico City. He was released on October 1st, 2019, into the SPM wilderness. It took him longer to integrate to the flock, and liked to be on his own. On the other hand, he is very smart and stayed alert of predators. On 2023 this bird was adopted by Ramón Pérez Gil Salcido from FAUNAM.
CAPTIVE AT SIERRA SAN PEDRO MARTIR BAJA CALIFORNIA MEXICO 2022
Female 35 (SB# 35) is called INAJA. She has been a mentor for many years to the young pre-released birds that are born in captivity. She was born in early 1984 at the San Diego Zoo. She is 38 years old and has spent years traveling back and forth within the U.S.A., staying at the different aviaries of the Los Angeles Zoo and Portland Zoo, among others, until she finally arrived at the Mexican aviary in the SPM Sierra in 2013. Her role as an educator is extremely important. She teaches the young ones to fly and perch in high branches inside the aviary whenever a predator shows up. We hope someday she will be released to fly free with others of her own species.
FOUR NEW CONDORS FROM MEXICO CITY CHAPULTEPEC ZOO ARRIVED AT SPM ON JUNE 30, 2022 - IN CAPTIVITY – POSSIBLE RELEASE ON 2023
Female 63 (SB# 963) “63” green ID tag, is a quiet bird with an unforthcoming flair. She was born at the Chapultepec Zoo on January 11th, 2019. She is still in captivity at the SPM aviary, where she will probably spend the winter, until she and 5 more condors are ready to face the threats of the wild mountains when they are released in 2023. She was named MAAU, a Kiliwa word which means “grandmother from the father’s side”.
Female 02 (SB# 1002) “02” green ID tag, broke both of her front fingernails on the transfer from Mexico City to the San Pedro Martyr Sierra. This makes it very difficult for her to perch on the high branches on her temporary home, the SPM aviary. She was born at the Chapultepec Zoo on May 14th, 2019. The children of Mexico City named her KUAPP, which means “butterfly” in Kiliwa.
Male 56 (SB# 1056) “56” green ID tag, is friendly towards his companions at the SPM aviary alongside whom he will be released in 2023. He was born at the Mexico City Chapultepec Zoo on January 17th, 2019. He was named KURI-KURI by children in Mexico City, which is a traditional song of the Yumano people.
Female 58 (SB# 1058) “58” green ID tag. This young bird likes to play with the feathers that she finds on the ground of the SPM aviary. She runs with the feathers and jumps opening her wings. She perches on the highest branches at night. She was born at the Mexico City Chapultepec Zoo on February 12th, 2021. The children of Mexico City named her TRIQUI, the name from an indigenous tribe of Oaxaca, in the South of Mexico.
TWO NEW CONDORS FROM SAN DIEGO ZOO CALIFORNIA US – ARRIVED TO SPM ON MAY 11th, 2022 - IN CAPTIVITY – POSSIBLE RELEASE ON 2023
Male 14 (SB# 1014) “14” black ID tag, he shows affiliative behavior mainly towards his brother SB# 1035 is an aggressive bird who does not tolerate other juveniles to perch with him at his favorite branch. Instead, he likes to perch close to the mentor. He was born on March 31st, 2020.
Male 35 (SB# 1035) “35” black ID tag. This condor is less aggressive than his brother, though more dominant. He tolerates other birds perching close to him. He was born on May 6th, 2020.
COUPLES BY NOVEMBER 2022
MALES FEMALES
1. 269 WHITE 284 WHITE
2. 320 BLUE 220 WHITE*
3. 361 BLUE 373 WHITE*
4. 508 BLUE 656 BLACK
5. 362 BLUE 851 YELLOW*
6. 572 BLUE 218 WHITE*
7. 545 BLUE 830 YELLOW*
8. 549 BLUE 661 BLACK
9. 403 BLUE-WIDOWER 682 YELLOW*
10. 261 WHITE 505 BLUE
*POSSIBLE PARENTS FOR 2022 SEASON. WE HOPE 4 NEW CHICKS TO SURVIVE, THIS WOULD BE A BETTER REASON FOR EXTRA CELEBRATIONS! THAT WOULD MEAN MEXICO WILL HAVE A POPULATION OF NEARLY 50 CONDORS IN THE WILD BY THE END OF 2023.
CONDOR NUMBERS IN MEXICO, 2022
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54 CONDORS IMPORTED FROM CALIFORNIA, US
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49 HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE SPM WILDERNESS
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5 RETURNS TO U.S.
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39 ARE IN THE WILD AT THE SPM SIERRA
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18 DEAD CONDORS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM
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24 ALIVE CONDORS THAT WERE BORN IN U.S.
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23 WILD MALES ALIVE
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15 WILD FEMALES ALIVE
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3 MALES CURRENTLY IN CAPTIVITY AT THE SPM AVIARY
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4 FEMALES CURRENTLY IN CAPTIVITY AT THE SPM AVIARY
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26 CONDORS BORN IN THE WILD AT SPM
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12 OF THEM HAVE DIED
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6 CAPTIVES AT THE MEXICO CITY CHAPULTEPEC ZOO
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3 CAPTIVES IN TOLUCA, AT THE ZACANGO ZOOLOGICAL PARK