California Condor Killing

I dunno, Quinn, maybe he didn't really do it. She lived out her last three years in the wild and it was her time to die.

California Condor Killing
Hi Piffka

Merlins are one of the species we catch and band then release. There are three falcons we expect to catch during the banding season. Peregrine, Merlin and American Kestrel. You are certainly right in describing them as beautiful. I saw last month for the first time in my life a gyrfalcon. Went right over the yard where my daughter the beautiful Nina lives with her husband and two daughters in Swampscott Ma.

I'm sure she is wonderful, what a nice way of saying it.

Here's a photo of a gyrfalcon... lucky you! I've never seen one. Only one Merlin for sure, a few Peregrines, and some other bird-eating hawks. We have lots of bird feeders and have identified "pigeon hawks"... maybe they were Merlins?

California Condor Killing
Yes, Nina is beautiful inside and out. I'm only beautiful inside. The Cooper's hawk is called pigeon hawk. The goshawk, Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk are all accipiters. These are woods hawk with long narrow tails. This gives them increased ability to maneuver through trees in chasing its prey.

Great site regarding the condor reintroduction:
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/condors.html

And from field notes in February:

Another sad story from southern California's condor flock. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, working closely with California Department of Fish and Game, is investigating the senseless shooting and killing of AC-8 (Adult Condor #8), one of the last California Condors taken into captivity in the 1980s and a matriarch of the captive-breeding program. AC-8 was found dead on February 13, and a subsequent necropsy determined she died of gunshot. Just before returning to the wild, AC-8 served as a condor mentor to the orange tags here in Big Sur. We were honored to have such an incredible bird be a part of our rearing program. We called her "Grandma" because she was the matriarch to half our condor flock. She also carried with her the ancient knowledge of the original wild flock and we hoped to have her pass on that valuable information to the new generation of condors. A sad way to go for such an incredible and beautiful condor. If you any information regarding AC-8's death, please call 916-414-6664 (reward offered).



So...its interesting that information lead to the arrest of the idiot is what you can assume from this. More like deduct since I for one dont like to assume. He didnt take the bird, so I would not classify him as a poacher. The circumstances are still to be seen, and an idiot he still is, Im sure. Bird killer, accidental perhaps even.
It doesnt make it right, and no..it wont bring the bird back but I think the important thing is that people are informed of these birds and their plight, etc. And that he is punished accordingly for what he did. Ignorance does not allow him not to be punished, and it also doesnt give us the right to give him the death penalty either. which is only my opinion BTW.

This is a great topic Piffka, Id like to see more Wildlife over in Wildlife. Perhaps you bird enthusiasts could add some important links to help educate.

Hi Quinn. Y'know, I was going to add this to Wildlife, but because it was only a news story somebody sent me, I put it in General. It's fine if it gets moved.

Funny how condors and other raptors have become important to (some of) us. I was reading an old Scottish farming journal and a huge number of hawks, eagles, etc. were noted down as killed in the course of a year -- hundreds! It was standard practice, apparently, to kill them and be proud of it.