Notes from the Field

Notes from the Field: Scott Scherbinski
October 19, 2008, Meeting with Ranchers

We have spent the last week traveling to a few small villages around Paileman, talking with local ranchers about the condor project and some of the issue facing wildlife. As we approach each ranch house we are always greeted by the families with a smile, a handshake and “Pase. Pase.”, inviting us into their homes, then, “Tome mate?”, to invite us to share in mate. On our first stop we talk with Senor Curiqueo, who showed us petroglyphs on the cliffs above his house and invited us to return for dinner and a place to sleep. We continued on and met with other families with equal generosity. The majority of people we talked with had never met any of us before although many knew of the condor project. All were interested in the condors and wished the project well. They were concerned about the potentially poisoning of condors and were very interested in alternative methods to reduce the risks of condors feeding on laced carcasses.

As we pulled up to another ranch several girls played out front. They greeted us with the customary kiss on the cheek and directed us behind the house where family and neighbors were separating a cow from the herd for slaughter. With the cow lassoed, it was dragging one of the men toward a hillside as two other men chased behind trying to get another lasso on the cow. Walter, Marcelo and myself immediately jumped in to help stop the animal before the rancher was drug through the brush. After a few minutes, we were all breathing heavy and exchanged smiles as the cow was finally on the ground and ready for slaughter. We were invited to stay for a meal and spent the afternoon discussing the project and their concerns as ranchers.

Our next stop was at the home of Pepo. We met him earlier on the road where he told us the story of seeing condors in the mountains when he was younger and of recently having one of the released condors fly low enough over him to hear the wind in its feathers. Again we were generously invited into his home for mate and given fresh meat for our dinner.

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.