NEWS
# FOUR NEW ADOPTED CONDORS
8 & 9. Marinela Servitje, a renowned business woman, that created Mexico´s most famous children Museum, El Papalote. It´s the first person who adopted two condors, a pair a couple, female 05 blue and male 61 white. The name for the female is Aurora that presents the morning, the shining, that represents beauty and hope. The male´s name is Orion that means the one who climbs to the heights, and might evoke a majestic flight and longevity. Aurora was born on April 7th, 2009, at Los Angeles Zoo. Orion was born on June 7th, 2001. They both fly free at SSPM.
7. Rodolfo Patron, an avid environmentalist, business man and conservationist, adopted male 98 blue label. He named him Galan, a Spanish attribute for a handsome man, may be to highlight the beauty of a misunderstood species. The bird is quite dominant, rarely seen, he was born on March 27th, 2009, at the San Diego Zoo, and release on august 6th 2011.
6. Fundacion Xochitla, a renown Mexican environmental organization, just adopted Female 59 yellow, and name her Centinela, a Spanish name for sentinel. While she is still a juvenile, her head coloration will change from dark black, to bright red when adulthood, she is a very social bird, she was born in the wild at Sierra San Pedro Martir on April 14th 2020.
# RECOGNITION, on the 6 of June, 2023, in the world´s environmental day, Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras, where recognized by the State government of Baja California and the consulate of the United States in Tijuana, B.C.
The recognition was personally given by Thomas Reott, US Consul in Tijuana BC. For the two decades of dedication and commitment to bring back the California Condor to the Baja Peninsula, where it was extirpated in the early 1970´s.
Thomas Reott & Juan Vargas
Juan Vargas & Catalina Porras
# Mexican Children Book; El sueño del cóndor, by Vivian Mansour; illustrations by Yanin Ruibal Pavlovich; photograph by Miguel Angel Sicilia/CONABIO
A beautifully narrated and emotional real story of the three California condor chicks born in Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City, that traveled by plain 2000 kilometers to Baja California Sierra San Pedro Martyr National Park, to be released there as part of a binational recovery program of the species.
Sponsored by Secretaría del Medio Ambiente CDMX and the Zoológico de Chapultepec.
# Photo exhibit, of 23 portraits of the Baja California condors, at Mexico City National History Museum. This exposition name Cóndor de California, una Historia de Conservación Inspiradora, Will be at the Museum until the month of July. On the 26 of April two of Mexico most renown conservationist Ramón Perez Gil and Rodrigo Medellin will give a about the importance of the species, at the inauguration of the exhibit.
# The Chapultepec Zoo will send this May 2023, another two young condors that where born at the Zoo in 2022, to the Sierra San Pedro Martyr National Park.
https://twitter.com/AztecaNoticias/status/1650628944926842880?t=yfHmfAmp9fX9ODWa2Hl0PQ&s=09
# Abril, 2023. These tree different links present one of the biggest threats to avian species, the bird flu. This disease has caused already the death of tree confirmed California condor, in the Arizona population.
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/08/1168788132/avian-flu-california-condors-northern-arizona
# This spring 2023, the Museo de Historia Natural of Mexico City open a photo exhibition of 23 Baja California wild condor portraits, the title CONDOR DE CALIFORNIA: UNA HISTORIA DE CONSERVACION INSPIRADORA. California Condor: an Inspiring Conservation Story. The idea behind this presentation is to observe and value each individual as a living been, that needs our support and compassion not only because is an endanger species, but because it is an esencial part of the natural world. The exhibition also presents a print of a tree meters condor in full flight, that helps children to realize the huge size of these birds, when they compare the it with their own body size. The exhibition will stay outdoors until late July, 2023.
# On the April issue 2023, of Nexos magazine, the writer Jorge Comenzal present a very personal text about he´s first encounter with a Baja California condor at Punta San Pedro SPM. The text is in Spanish and a short version can be link here https://www.nexos.com.mx/?p=72233 the hole text is only for subscribers of this Mexican influential magazine. The title could not be more provocative, Ángeles carroñeros: un encuentro con el cóndor de California. Scavenger Angels’: an encounter with the California condor. Vultures are Jorge´s most treasure wild animals, he is working to narrate the Mexican condor story in a book.
# A second condor chick appeared in a camera trap image, on the 18th of March at Punta San Pedro. He or she was in the company of the other chick that was spotted for the first time on the 25th of December last year. These are very good news, especially because of the harsh weather that San Pedro Martyr had on September 2022, that could be the reason that other young birds couldn´t make it.
© HIRAM LICONA
# This spring, 2023 Juan and Hiram did a condor awareness tour, around cities, towns and communities, near The Sierra San Pedro Martir National Park:
1-4 SECRETARIA DE TURISMO- NANCY SERRATOS ECONOMIA Y PESCA
5-6 DIRECCION BOMBEROS
7-8 CORREOS DE MEXICO
9-18 MINERVA ESCUELA PRIMARIA ESTATAL MATUTINA JAIME NUNO
19-23 SECRETARIA PROTECCION AL AMBIENTE, SECRETARIO CONSEJO
24-25 ESCUELA SECUNDARIA NUMERO UNO
26-27 CASA DE LA CULTURA
28-29 RANCHO AGUA CALIENTE FELIPE TORRES
30-31 ELIAS JEFE KILIWA OFICINA INPI INSTITUTO NACIONAL PUEBLOS INDIGENAS
32-33 MUSEO DEL CARACOL ENSENADA
34 ESTUDIANTES UABC
They gave talks of the importance and presence of this unique vulture in the region, they also gave pamphlets and the 2023 condor classic calendars.
# On march 2023, for the very first time in 20 years, a kit fox Vulpes Macrotis was spotted at the northeast desert portion of Sierra San Pedro Martir.
# These 2023 winter season at SPM was week on snow storms, usually in the last 20 years Juan and Catalina had struggle with deep snow, sometimes almost 3 meter deep, even that Juan had to use the snowmobile to move around it was during just a few days. This is not good news, because that means less amount of water for the forest, and much less vital liquid for the agricultural fields below. A very worrisome sign of a changing climate.
# This last march, spring came with full blooming power around Sierra San Pedro Martir, while the high-lands where still receiving snow, the western hills where cover with the orange California puppies, and the lower desert to the east, was painted with spots of purple abronias, nature was rejoicing.
# A highlands delicacy. There is nothing to compare after a hard and cold day in the field, like a warm apple pie, not much sugar and no cinnamon. On march 8, 2023, Catalina surprise everybody at the SPM condor biological station with this gourmet pie, there where strong fights for the last piece.
# TWO NEW ADOPTED CONDORS
4. Chicles Canels. Is a Mexican candy and chewing gum Corporation that was founded in 1925 by Don Roberto Garcia Navarro from San Luis Potosi, and now exports its products to over 40 countries. Nature conservation was always in agenda of Don Roberto, now he´s sons are taking that commitment, supporting the Mexican California condor program by adopting the male condor 75 yellow label, after some discussions among Don Roberto´s gran children they name him GUM. He was born in the wild at the Sierra San Pedro Martir, on April 23rd, 2012.
5. Anonymous. A Mexican business man, with a strong commitment to support social and environmental causes, joins the adoption program of a Baja California condor number 03 blue label. A male condor born on April 15th, 2006, at the San Diego Zoo and released on September 14th, 2008 to the SPM wilderness. Guillermo wants to name him RA the Egyptian word for sun, and one of the oldest deities in ancient Egypt, associated with primal life-giving energy. A culture that worship vultures, Pharaohs wore the uraeus (cobra) and the head of a vulture on their foreheads as symbols of royal protection.
# Hermanamiento, Twinning
Fundacion para la Conservacion del Quebrantahuesos in Spain and The California Condor Programe in México. Two magnificent scavengers are represented here by these two initiatives in two different continents, they will unify efforts to help each other in training programs and in the promotion of a cultural vision of the importance of these large birds of prey.
# Agreement between Pronatura Noroeste and the Mexican California Condor program. This Mexican conservation organization that works mainly in the northwest of the country, will use its fundraising capacities to help the condor in Mexico, embracing the adopt a condor program and they will do sow free of charge.
# Agreement between The Wild Foundation and the Mexican California Condor program. The Wild Foundation will highlight the stories of Catalina Porras and Juan Vargas trough a podcast called Voices of Wilderness, of the work and challenges they face by protecting on of the most endangered birds in the world.
# Let´s Celebrate Life, a BWILD initiative that show case the best wildlife videos in Mexico, embrace the California Condor program, by producing a short video of the return of the California condor to Mexico.
Last 25 of December the California condor team receive a wonderful Christmas present, a new condor was spotted at Punta San Pedro, an all-black chick that was born that spring.
It’s a beautiful young male or female? of an impeccable plumage, is a little bit scary, but curios, is swift on flight, elegant; and is quite independent, she or he follows the group in search of food without asking its parents.
Alejandra Argúelles
Field researcher
Unfortunately, it was the only new wild young bird that survive that year, of all nine nesting pairs.
LA ULTIMA LLAMADA, seis especies contra la extinción Documentary film, THE LAST CALL, six species against extinction. By Ivan Carrillo was nominated on the Santiago de Chile film festival, where the Mexican condor story is highlighted as one of them.
On Friday November 25, of 2022, the condor team at San Pedro Martyr saw and receive the last signal of the condor 73 black label. This one had only a VHF transmitter, this reason makes it impossible to retrieve the body, and find the reason of its dead. For the future success of the condor research program, it´s imperative to arm all condors with GPS devices that will give very precise valuable information.
Autor Hans Petters
Marcial - Inventa.
Takumi - LEXUS University.
Pai Pai - FAUNAM.
20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RETURN OF THE CALIFORNIAN CONDOR TO MEXICO
On August 12th, 2002 the first three condors arrived in Mexico from the San Diego Zoo in California, as planned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, in an effort to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. The U.S. Government believed the topography and remoteness of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula to be the most suitable habitat for these magnificent birds. They chose the mountain range of the Sierra San Pedro Martyr, which is protected as a national park —the highest protection of natural resources under the Mexican law—. Indeed, it has been the perfect habitat. Perhaps a token of its suitability is that here is where the last California condor was seen in the country in the seventies.
When Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras were hired by the San Diego Zoological Park, they moved to a remote section of the park, where they have been living ever since, working every single day toward the preservation of this species. Twenty years later, there are 39 free condors in the San Pedro Martyr Sierra, and 6 more to be released in 2023. This is one of the most awe-inspiring stories of success in species conservation in the world.
It is high time this story is shared around the world, so younger generations may be inspired to preserve other species. There is a lot to learn from the host of supporters and driving forces behind the reintroduction of the California condor to the U.S. and Mexico. This 2023 we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of this victory! Part of the festivities include the launch of this website, where anyone can adopt a condor to support its economic sustenance at the Sierra San Pedro Martyr. We also have upcoming events and exhibitions with new collaborators, universities, museums, NGOS, businesses and other special guests who may join the cause.
Some of the new allies that will join this celebration are:
SIETECOLORES
Sietecolores is a Mexican business specializing in public space design, with a focus on learning, recreation and harmonious coexistence. They create spaces that facilitate our understanding of the world. Sietecolores supported the SPM condor program with the construction of this website.
UNIDOS PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN
This Mexican conservation organization design this “IMBACKBCCONDOR” website, whereby they broadcast information, and the experience during these past 20 years of working towards the restoration of condor population in Mexico.
In 2010, Unidos para la Conservación commissioned a California Condor painting to the American artist, Hans J. Peeters. The resulting work of art was reproduced in a limited edition of prints, numbered and signed by the artist, and a series of postage stamps for the Mexican postal Service. In 2012, however, the Unidos para la Conservación office was robbed and the original painting was stolen.
Since 1990, Unidos para la Conservación has printed a small monthly calendar with wildlife images. The upcoming 2023 calendar’s cover features a pair of condors. A larger 2023 calendar features the wildlife of the San Pedro Martyr Sierra, with highlights of Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras and their work.
During 2023, Unidos para la Conservación will share the IMBACKBCCONDOR website on their social media: Fundación Mexicana para la Educación Ambiental, The Cougar Fund, Universidad Iberoamericana, Naturalia, BWILD, Artes de Mexico, Fundación Manuel Arango, The Wild Foundation, Papalote Museo del Niño, Pronatura Centro and Pronatura Noroeste, and the Instituto de Ecología at UNAM.
ADOPT A CONDOR
There are 45 condors in the Sierra San Pedro Martyr. In order to keep them safe and guarantee their survival, a team of 7 professionals have to work every day from a remote location in this mountain range. At the beginning, almost all the financial and technical support came from the USA. For 10 years now, the funding has come from a variety of sources. In 2022, ADOPT A CONDOR was launched to further secure the financial stability of these operations, with three inaugural donors:
-
INVENTA. A private Mexican market business that pledged to adopt the male 41 yellow for three years. The company named him: Marcial is a name that ---. Marcial was born in the wild in San Pedro Martyr Sierra at Baja California, Mexico, the 8th of April, 2015. He is an orphan: his parents, 406 and 446, have disappeared. Marcial belongs to the first generation born in the wild.
-
LEXUS University. A car agency in Mexico City has adopted a female, 95 blue, for one year. They named her Takumi, which means “master craftsman” in Japanese, referring, specifically, to someone that has devoted over 60,000 hours to became an expert on any given activity. Takumi was born on March 12th, 2006 at the San Diego Zoo, and was released to the Sierra on September14th, 2008. 95 likes to flirt will males from other females. She and the female condor 218 s had a love triangle with the male 261. See video https://we.tl/t-041ImWpR62
-
-
FAUNAM. This research and conservation organization lead by Dr Ramon Perez Gil adopted the male condor, 20 green, for one year. He is a subadult of low hierarchy, he likes to annoy other young birds. He was born at Chapultepec Zoo, on February 8, 2018. And was name by Mexico City children, Pai Pai a Baja California Indian tribe name. He was release, on October 1, 2019, into SPM wilds. Though he showed an antisocial behavior while adapting to the wild, he was very smart at detecting and keeping safe from predators and slowly but successfully integrated to the rest of the flock.
CALIFORNIA CONDOR TRIBAL HEADDRESS
In October 2022, the Amazonian tribal chief Tashka Yawanana visited the San Pedro Martyr condor site sponsor by The Wild Foundation, to observe the condors and to do a ritual on their behalf. With permits form the Mexican government, we collected condor feathers left in the aviaries and on the feeding site, so Tashka could take them home, to his community in Brazil, where his friend Vinyya would create a headdress for him in the fashion of the Yawanawa tribe headdresses made traditionally for ceremonies and rituals.
Last November, Tashka wore the headdress to the COP27 in Egypt, and to tree different presentations, where he spoke to large audiences. He said: “These feathers stopped more people at the COP27 than any other headdresses I have worn before to other conferences.... truly fascinating, the power of a huge bird coming back from extinction.”
CHAPULTEPEC ZOO: NEW CONDORS RELEASED AT SPM
On June 30th of 2022, four California condors that were born at Mexico City Chapultepec Zoo. Thanks to the support of the Mexican Army Navy the birds were flown by plane helicopter to the San Pedro Martyr Sierra National Park in Baja California, as part of a Binational California Condor Reintroduction and Conservation Program.
The Chapultepec Zoo has contributed with 6 condor chicks to the Mexican program at Sierra San Pedro Martyr, whose names are MAAU, which “means grandmother on the father’s side” in Kiliwa; KUAPP which means “butterfly” also in Kiliwa; KURI-KURI, remembering a traditional song of the Yumanos people; and TRIQUI honoring the name of the Triqui indigenous people from Baja California, and CUCAPÁ and PAI PAI from previous years
ARTICLE: THE MAJESTIC CALIFORNIA CONDOR IN WAYS TO RECOVER – NEXOS, CRISIS AMBIENTAL – IN SPANISH. September 19, 2022
María Catalina Porras Peña, Juan Julián Vargas Velazco, Gonzalo de león Girón y Alejandra G. Ramos.
https://medioambiente.nexos.com.mx/el-majestuoso-condor-californiano-en-vias-de-recuperacion/
IN JUNE 2022, THREE FEMALE CALIFORNIA CONDORS ARRIVE TO ZACANGO ZOO.
This ecological park is the second facility in Mexico to guard individuals of this species. 820 FEMALE NAKAI, ASHKII 821 FEMALE MIMITEH, AND 829 FEMALE ASKY.
ARTICLE:
DR JANE GOODALL HOLDS A CALIFORNIA CONDOR FEATHER AT HER SPEECH AT WILD9, 9TH WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESS IN MÉRIDA YUCATÁN MEXICO
In 2009, the English primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall help up a California condor feather during her speech at Mexico’s World Wilderness Congress in Mérida Yucatan. Two months earlier she published a book about how endanger species are being rescued from the brink of extinction, where one of the stories featured the California Condor. The book is titled: Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink.
DISAPPEARED condor 82 yellow, was last seen on June 7, 2022.