Notes from the Field

Note from the Field: Scott Scherbinski
October 12, 2008, Peninsula Valdes

For the past several days Ana and I have taken a break from the fieldwork in Sierra Paileman and traveled to the coast. We visited Peninsula Valdes, a provincial reserve that encompasses a wide variety of marine mammals, as well as terrestrial mammals and birds. There are breeding colonies of Southern Elephant Seals, Southern Sea Lions, Magellanic Penguins, Southern Right Whales and Orcas. We stopped by an area favored by Southern Right Whales and saw an amazing number of whales as they approach close to shore. There were so many whales in this area that they were everywhere we looked and they were so close we could hear them vocalize. We also saw several whale carcasses that had washed up on the beach. A scene that reminded me of Big Sur, California where California Condors regularly feed on sea lion and whale carcasses. This seems like an ideal place and only a matter of time before Andean Condors fly here and discover this food source.

We also traveled to Punto Tombo where there is a huge breeding colony of Magellanic Penguins. It was an incredible sight to walk through this semi-arid scrubland and see tens of thousands of penguins walking around and crawling in and out of burrows where they nest.

Traveling up and down the coast, as well through Cordoba and Buenos Aires, I can’t but help to notice how the image of the condor is everywhere. It is used on clothing, there is El Condor bus line, it is used as a street name and as a store name, and by airlines as name for a frequent fliers club. There seems to be a deep appreciation for the condors as a symbol of the country and the beauty of wilderness. It has been a great few days but Ana and I are both anxious to get back to Paileman and to hear how the condors are doing.

Notes from the Field

Notes from the Field: Scott Scherbinski
October 7, 2008, Condor 26 Re-released

Condor 26 was re-released two days ago after being back in the flight pen for a couple of weeks. Time in the flight pen gave her the opportunity to feed and drink and gave the field crew the opportunity to closely monitor her for potential injury or illness. Fortunately she was looking health and strong and Walter released her as Marcelo, Ana and I watched from below, ready to follow her if she chose to fly far from the release area. 26 did fly from area, fortunately not far out over the flat grazing lands as she did initially. But, unfortunately she flew into the territory of a pair of Aguila Moras, or Black Chested Buzzard Eagles. As she flew the eagles repeatedly stooped on her, slamming in to her with open talons and forcing her to land. Once perched on a rock outcropping the eagles continued to stoop and strike her. At one point it appeared as 26 might be knocked off her perch. She was able to tuck in behind a boulder where the eagles could not get to her. As a biologist it is a paradox. On one hand, it is amazing to witness the natural struggle for life and power of these eagles. On the other hand, it is difficult to watch as an animal in which so much time and effort has been placed is in a legitimate struggle for its life. Walter, Marcelo and I watched from below, grimacing and flinching with each pass of the eagles. At this point even if we wanted to intervene there was nothing we could do. Finally, after several passes the eagles relent enough for 26 to escape and fly out of their territory. Incredible.

In addition to keeping an eye on the young condors as they begin to take longer and longer flights, we have also been observing two adult condors in the Voladora. This is a flight pen that has been built into the rock face of a cliff. The hope is that the condors inside will breed and their young will be released with other captive bred condors. This is an impressive pen. Build around a natural cave in the rock to be used as a nest cavity with an open view of the surrounding cliffs. Just looking at the structure you know a great deal of work went into moving materials into place, bolting down the supports and constructing the steel mesh of the walls. When I ask the crew they smile and sigh, as just the thought of the work they put in to this pen is tiring. Walter, Mauricio, and Marcelo built this pen in only three weeks. It is impressive to hear how much they accomplish. In what is becoming routine, I am again impressed with their dedication, hard work and resourcefulness.

In the evening, when we aren’t hiking slabs of carcasses to the tops of the ridgeline for the new released condors to feed on, we take turns cooking dinner. We often stop be the home of the Botana family, who graciously share meals of asado lamb and empanadas. We play jenga and even foosball or as they call it metro gol. Their generosity is amazing and seemingly never ending.

Notes from the Field

Notes from the Field: Scott Scherbinski
September 30, 2008, Field Work

Everyone traveling to Sierra Paileman for the release has returned home, the newest group of birds has been out for just under two weeks and condor 26 was returned to the flight pen one week ago. It is back to the Paileman field crew, Walter, Mauricio, Marcelo, volunteer Ana from Brazil and myself tracking and observing the condors. We have been observing the three young birds as they make their first awkward flights and even more awkward landings. A few of the older condors, including the apparently inseparable duo of 4 and 6, have been passing through to check out and haze the new birds. 26 has fed and is looking strong inside the flight pen. Hopefully we will be able to release her soon.

As we take turns watching the condors and brewing mate, we have time to talk about the challenges of the project. We rehash the series of events that lead to bringing 26 back into captivity and hypothesis about ways to make releasing captive bred condors into the wild more efficient. The crew here has been impressed with the system of scales and cameras we use in California to track the weights of condors in the field. With known weights of these birds it can be easier to assess their health and help to make management decisions. As Denise and Jim have discussed with Luis and Vanessa, this seems like a great opportunity to collaborate and support the project here in Paileman.

When I ask the field crew what aspect of the project they feel is important, they all say “Education.” Here in Argentina, as in California, there are practices that unintentionally affect the condors and other non-target species. Local rancher use highly toxic poisons to control predator population. Unfortunately condors have fed on these laced carcasses and died. It is the same story in California, where we use rifles and, typically, lead ammunition to control predators. Condors feeding on these carcasses risk possible lead poisoning. The crew here talks about educational trips to local schools were they discuss the biology and cultural aspects of the Andean Condor with the students. They also discuss captive breeding efforts and threats to condors in the wild. In addition to this the crew travels through the area talking and working with ranchers to find alternative methods to reduce risks to non-target species. Again, I am amazed to hear how similar these efforts are to our efforts in California and how the crew here accomplishes all of this work. It definitely gives me an appreciation for the crew and resources we have at Pinnacles.

Summary of Pan American Partnership in Condor Restoration

PanAmerican Partnership in Condor Restoration 2009

The giant scavenger with a 9 ½ foot wingspan that once soared over woolly mammoths still exists today, but just barely. In the 1980’s there were only 22 California condors left in the world. Since that time, through dedicated efforts of scientists and citizens, we are at just over 300. The same endangered plight is occurring in South America with cousin, the Andean condor. To share in conservation efforts and raise the profile of these endangered animals across continents, Pinnacles National Monument with counterparts in California and Argentina have formed a PanAmerican Partnership in Condor Restoration.

Thanks to generous grants from the National Park Foundation, San Juan Bautista Rotary Club and Pinnacles Partnership, a National Park Service team of Pinnacles condor biologists and managers went to Argentina in September 2008 to begin the exchange. The Andean condor ranges throughout much of South America. It is a close cousin of the California condor, where conservation strategies between the two condor species are very similar from both a biological and cultural perspective.

Accomplishments of the recent visit included:
1. Established a condor biologist exchange to share innovative technology and conservation methods. Pinnacles condor biologist Scott Scherbinski spent 6 weeks working intensively with the Argentine condor program.

Immediate benefits to the California program include using an innovative script developed by Argentine biologists that applies Google Earth to present the distribution and range of condors over time. This works well using the data collected from condors with wing mounted GPS transmitters. Other benefits include experiencing first hand the impressive close cultural connections in the Argentine program where local ranching communities and indigenous groups are key supporters and advocates for condor conservation. We are using this model to increase our efforts in this realm. For example, the Amah Mutsun tribe was a prominent participant in the November 2008 condor release ceremony - performing songs and stories about the cultural significance of the condor.


Pinnacles biologists identified ways in which the Argentina program could benefit from our methods. The first priority is to install a remotely triggered camera pointed at scale with a perch so that the Andean condors’ weight can be measured non-invasively. Our partners from the Ventana Wildlife Society will assist in making this purchase possible.

We are also providing a comprehensive literature review to a condor researcher at the University of Cordoba in Argentina.

2. Preparing a Memorandum of Agreement with a “sister park” Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito in the Argentine province of Cordoba. The 5 year agreement outlines commonalities between our parks and a desire to collaborate in condor related issues, but also in general park operations such as visitor services, trails, fire management, invasive species control and law enforcement.

3. Creating a tangible product of our partnership - a customized reusable bag with project logo and partners listed that acts as both a walking billboard from proud supporters and a project fundraiser. The bag also supports the ethic to lessen the use of disposable plastic bags - a chronic threat to wildlife around the world.

Goals of the PanAmerican Partnership in 2009:
1. Enable Argentine counterparts to tour California program. Bring one biologist and one park manager to California in 2009.

Measureable outcomes in 2009 include:
a) identify additional collaborative benefits.
b) receive Google Earth script from Fundacion Bioandina and apply to Pinnacles distribution data.
c) receive guidance from Fundacion Bioandina in improving the cultural aspects of condor reintroduction through closer connections to the ranching and indigenous communities (for example, we were provided some key contacts in North America to help us foster this effort in the indigenous community).
d) submit a joint grant proposal to address the major threat on both continents - secondary poisoning.
e) gain interest from a major periodical to highlight this PanAmerican effort.
f) finalize Memorandum of Agreement with Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito.
g) provide a remote camera and scale to the Argentina condor program (Fundacion Bioandina).
h) produce customized reuseable bag and find vendors for its distribution and sale in the United States and Argentina.

Trabajo de campo tras la liberación de 4 condoritos

English Version

After the 4 juvenile condors were released on September 18, the hard work and excitement really began!. Scott and Jim really enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside the hard-working and dedicated field biologists with BioAndina, including Walter, Mauricio, Marcelo, Luis, and Vanesa. They were all an inspiration to us, and we are eager to bring back some of their ideas and techniques to aply to the California Condor program in the US.

One of the newly released birds, #26 had difficulty returning to the hills where the flight pen was located due to the presence of strong winds blowing her in the opposite direction. After following her for 3 days, she was almost 15 km away from the flight pen and due to the flat terrain, it appeared that she would be unable to make the flight back on her own. So we tracked her using the radiotelemetry transmitter she was wearing and caught up with her around 11 at night standing in creosote bushes out in the flats. After sneaking up as close as we could, we made a mad running dash towards her, and Walter managed to grab her body, while Scott grabbed a wing. I put my jacket over her head and we then were able to safely restrain her so we could make the 2 kilometer walk back to the truck, where the transport kennel was waiting. Then we brought her back to the flight pen so that she could rest up and eat and drink before letting her free again.

Version Espanol

Después de los 4 cóndores juveniles fueron liberados el 18 de septiembre, el trabajo duro y la emoción comenzaron de veras!. Scott y Jim disfrutaron de la oportunidad de trabajar juntos con los trabajosos y dedicados biólogos de BioAndina, Walter, Mauricio, Marcelo, Luis y Vanesa. Ellos nos inspiraron a todos, y estamos dispuestos a llevar algunos de sus ideas y técnicas a California para aplicarlos al programa del condor californiano.

Uno de pichones recien-liberados, # 26, tuvo dificultad en regresar a las colinas, donde esta ubicado la jaula de aprendizaje de vuelo, debido a la presencia de fuertes vientos que soplaban en contra. Después de seguirla por 3 días, ella estaba casi 15 km de distancia del vuelo de la jaula de aprendizaje de vuelo. Debido al terreno plano, parecía que ella era incapaz de regresar por su cuenta. Por lo tanto, la seguimos por radiotelemetry utilizando el transmisor que llevaba y nos encontramos con ella cerca de las 11 en la noche. Ella estaba parada en el medio de unos arbustos creosotos. Después de acercarnos a ella tan cerca como podiamos, corrimos como locos hacia ella, y Walter logro agarrarla por su cuerpo mientras Scott agarro a su ala. Puse mi chaqueta encima de su cabeza y asi pudimos restringirla mientras caminabamos los 2 kilometros a la camioneta con la jaula de transporte. La trajimos de vuelta a la jaula de aprendizaje de vuelo para que pudiera descansar y comer y beber antes liberarla otra vez.

Mas fotitos (More photos)

English Version:
Friends: Our Condor Release Ceremony for 7 condor juveniles is fast approaching (November 1). Scott will be returning to California in three days and we are looking forward to hearing his good news about his time in Sierra Paileman, Patagonia Argentina. I received heart felt well wishes via email from indigenous leaders / supporters of the Andean condor program:

From Nelson Marcelo Diaz Altamirano from Peru
First in Quechua:
YAU CUNTUR MALLCU
PAHUAYLLA PAHUARISHCANQUI
TAHUANTINSUYUMAN
CAUSAINIYKU WILLARIMUY

In English:
Great and powerful spirit of the mountains
you who fly and are flying
to the four corners of the universe
carry this, our true message of brotherhood

From Tayta Ullpu Quechua de la Nacion Qolla
I want to express my sincere desires for freedom for the the Californian Condor, as for the Kunturi del Tawantinsuyu. May the the spirit of the condors give us sufficient strength to understand and honor these sacred birds like the original peoples of every land. Our hearts are and will be with them forever when it is understood that the sacred is respected, protected, and recognized, together with our guardians of space and time. A hug from Argentina for this release. May there be many more.

[The photos depicting children from Sierra Paileman and the young condors were taken by Heinz Plengue].

Version Espanol
Amigos:

Nuestra ceremonia de liberacion para 7 condoritos esta por llegar (1 de Noviembre). Scott regresa a California en tres dias, y estamos esperando para noticias buenas sobre su estadia en Sierra Paileman, Patagonia Argentina. Recibi mensajes lindas por email de lideres indigenas /amigos de la programa condor andina para nosotros:

Por NELSON MARCELO DIAZ ALTAMIRANO de Peru (primero en la idioma Quechua)

YAU CUNTUR MALLCU
PAHUAYLLA PAHUARISHCANQUI
TAHUANTINSUYUMAN
CAUSAINIYKU WILLARIMUY

gran y poderoso espiritu de las montañas
tu que vuelas y estas volando
a las cuatro esquinas del universo
lleva este nuestro verdadero mensaje de confraternidad
__________________________________________
Por Tayta Ullpu Quechua de la Nacion Qolla

Quiero expresar mis mas sinceros deseos de libertad para los Còndores de California
como tambien para el Kunturi del Tawantinsuyu, Que el espìritu de los Condores nos den la fuerza suficiente para entender y honrar a estas aves Sagradas como Pueblos Originarios de cada Confederacion.
Nuestros corazones estan y estaran con ellos por siempre cuando haya entendimiento
que lo sagrado se respeta, se protege, y se lo reconoce junto anuestros Guardianes del tiempo Espacio.
Un abrazo desde Argentina para esta liberaciòn ojalá que sean muchos mas.

____________________________________________

Las fotitos de los ninos de Sierra Paileman y de los condoritos: por Heinz Plengue.

8 Octubre 2008

Version Espanol (See below for English version): La mayoria del equipo ya regreso a California. Scott recien salio del lugar de trabajo en Paileman y me mando el siguiente mensaje (redactado por mi):

Mi tiempo en Paileman ha sido increible: asado con un campesino local, la compra de una vaca muerta para alimentar a los condores, el re-soltar al condor numero 26 (el viento la volo muy lejos del lugar donde la soltamos), y nidos de aguilamora. Me quedo aqui la mayoria de mi tiempo en Argentina, y regreso a Buenos Aires el 21 o 22 de Octubre. Salgo de Buenos Aires el 24. Este domingo regreso al lugar de trabajo en Paileman con un profesor de Rio Negro que nos acompana para dar una charla en la escuela local y con los vecinos. Tambien existe la posibilidad de visitar el lugar en el suroeste donde estan la mayoria de los condores. Deafortunadamente, no voy a poder regresar a Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito. Le voy a mandar un mail a German para avisarlo. Cuando regreso a Buenos Aires a fin de mes, voy a intentar parar en La Plata para visitar el zoologico y el proyecto de condor alla.

Esto es una experiencia increible. -- Scott Scherbinski

Estamos empezando a escribir un acuerdo para establecer una relacion de parque hermana con Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito. Cuando tenemos un borrador, se lo mandamos a APN y a Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito para que lo revisan. Se han generado muchos ideas. Como proximo paso, tenemos que buscar financiamiento para poder traer por lo menos un profesional de Argentina a Pinnacles en 2009. Pinnacles Partnership y los clubes locales de Rotary Internacional ya estan viendo como pueden ayudarnos.

El equipo de Pinnacles esta preparando para soltar condors cerca de la entrada este del Parque el 1 de Noviembre. Este evento ha generado bastante interes y esperamos a unos 500 personas para el evento. Como recien regresamos de una ceremonia parecida en Paileman, quedamos inspirados hacer un puente entre las dos ceremonias. Durante la ceremonia en Paileman, Luis Jacome (el director del programa de conservacion andina argentina) dijo que las entidades variadas trabajando juntas -demuestra que cada uno de nosotros tiene un papel importante en la conservacion de vida silvestre y lo conservacion de habitat. Cada uno de nosotros contribuye al esfuerzo como si fueramos plumas en un condor. Hay plumas blancas, plumas negras, plumas grandes y plumas pequenas. Sin respecto al color o tamano, cada uno tiene juega un rol para que el condor pueda volar.-

El programa de Conservacion Andina Argentina y el programa de Recuperacion del Condor Californiano demuestran la necesidad (y los exitos) de en enfoque colaborativo en cuanto a los especies en peligro de extinguirse. Como las plumas en el ala de un condor, todos nosotros tenemos un papel en salvar estos especies magnificos.

Un puente muy fuerte entre las dos ceremonias es a traves de los chicos de Sierra Paileman y los chicos de las escuelas rurales cerca de Pinnacles National Monument. Para la ceremonia en Paileman, los chicos habian hecho plumas de papel con sus deseos escritos atras, como -espero que todos los condores esten libres- y -espero que los condores dejan de morir envenenados-. Con plumas verdaderas, se subieron al la Meseta y se elevaron las plumas al cielo, para simbolizar al condor como mensajero entre la tierra y el cielo. Mientras tanto, los adultos recibieron a las plumas de papel para elevarlos al cielo y guardarlos (ver foto abajo).

Cuando soltamos a los condores en Pinnacles, vamos a tener algunas plumas papeles de Argentina con los deseos de los estudiantes. Tambien vamos a tener plumas de papel de nuestros estudiantes de las escuelas rurales y de los vecinos de Pinnacles. Si quieren participar, pueden mandar plumas de papel a: Denise Louie; 5000 Highway 146; Paicines, California 95043 USA

English Version
Most of the Team is now back in California, meanwhile Scott just came out of the field in Sierra Paileman for a couple of days and sent me this message (with minor edits made by me):

"My time in Paileman has been incredible, asado with a local rancher, the purchase of a dead cow for condor food, re-release of condor 26 (she had been blown by wind currents too far away from the release site), and aguila mora nests. I will remain at Paileman for the remainder of my time here and return to Buenos Aires on October 21st or 22nd. I fly out on the 24th. On Sunday, I return back to the field when a teacher from Rio Negro will join us and talk at the school and with the local neighbors. There is also potential to visit the site in the southwest where the majority of the condors now spend their time. Unfortunately, I will not be able to return back to Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito. I will be sure to email German (chief ranger) and let him know. On my way back to Buenos Aires, I will also try to stop in La Plata and visit the zoo and condor project there briefly.

This is an incredible experience." ---- Scott Scherbinski

We are now starting to draft a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a sister park relationship with Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito, for feedback from both the Argentina National Park Administration and P.N. Quebrada del Condorito. Many ideas are being generated. Our next step is for our partners to secure sufficient resources to bring at least one Argentine partner to California in 2009. Our partners, Pinnacles Partnership and local California Rotary Clubs, are already talking about how they can help.

The Pinnacles Team is now preparing for our condor release at the east entrance of Pinnacles National Monument on November 1. The word is getting out and we are expecting more than 500 spectators. Having just returned from the Andean condor release ceremony in Sierra Paileman, we are inspired to bridge the two ceremonies. At the ceremony in Sierra Paileman, Luis Jacome - Director of the Argentine Andean Conservation Project, spoke about the many entities working together "demonstrates that each of us has an important role to play in wildlife and habitat conservation; each one of us contributes to a larger goal as if we were feathers on a condor. There are white feathers and black feathers, big feathers and small feathers, yet regardless of color or form, each feather has a role to play in order to allow the condor to fly again.”

The Andean Condor Conservation Project and the California Condor Recovery Program demonstrate the need for (and success from) collaborative approaches to endangered species conservation. Like feathers on a condor, we all have a role to play as partners in the survival of these magnificent species.

One bridge is through the children of Sierra Paileman and those in the rural schools surrounding Pinnacles. At the Sierra Paileman ceremony, school children had made condor feathers with wishes written on the back such as, "I wish all the condors to be free." and "I wish no more condors will die of poisoning." With real feathers, the Paileman school children hiked to the top of the mesa and lifted the feathers to the sky - symbolizing the condor as messenger between earth and sky and the delivery of our wishes. Meanwhile, the adults received these paper condor feathers to raise to the sky and then keep them (see photo).

At the Pinnacles release, we will have paper feathers from Argentina with the students' wishes. We will also have paper feathers from our rural school students and community members surrounding Pinnacles. If you would like to send us yours, mail them to: Denise Louie; 5000 Highway 146; Paicines, California 95043 USA.