The Majestic Return of the California Condor What is the California condor? The California condor скачать в хорошем качестве

The Majestic Return of the California Condor What is the California condor? The California condor

What is the California condor? The California condor is the largest flying bird in North America. Its wings may stretch nearly 10 feet from tip to tip. When in flight, this huge bird glides on air currents to soar as high as a dizzying 15,000 feet. Condors were sacred birds to the Native Americans who lived in the open spaces of the U.S. West. The captive breeding of this critically endangered species is one of the most well known efforts to revive an animal on the verge of extinction. Habitat Fossil records show that the birds once occupied an expansive range that extended as far east as Florida and New York. They now only live in a fraction of that range—perhaps because of the loss of the great prehistoric herds that formerly roamed the continent before Europeans arrived. Condors can now primarily be found in central southern California deserts, where they roost on rocky cliffs. There are also populations in Arizona, Utah, and Mexico. Diet and behavior Like other vultures, condors are scavengers that feast on the carcasses of large mammals, such as cattle and deer. When a big meal is available, the birds may gorge themselves so much that they must rest for several hours before flying again. Condors may fly dozens of miles a day in search of food, but they spend most of their time preening, sunning, and grooming in their roost. Threats to survival California condors have been in decline about as long as European settlements began to spread across North America. These birds have been on the U.S. endangered species list since 1967 and were near extinction when their captive-breeding program began. Lead poisoning was a major culprit: Condors were accidentally ingesting fragments of lead-based ammunition as they scavenged on carcasses of hunted animals. Condors also contend with the spread of pesticides, which thins their already-fragile egg shells, as well as illegal egg collection. #california condor,condor,the incredible return of california #condors,california condor size,california condor facts,california,california condor bird,california condors,california condor documentary,california condor (organism classification),california condors in the wild,true facts about the california condor,california condor youtube,california condor #national geographic,california condor video,california condor #attack,california condor #flying california condor,condor,california condors,california condor bird,california condor size,california condor documentary,california condors in the wild,california condor facts,california condor flying,california condor release,california condor (organism classification),is the andean condor bigger than the california condor?,california,california condor live cam,california condor wingspan,condors,is the california condor the thunderbird?