ST. GEORGE — After clawing their way back from the brink of extinction, California condors face a new threat — the bird flu — with 20 found dead since the end of March.
On March 9, a California condor from the Arizona-Utah flock, which The Peregrine Fund manages, began to exhibit signs of illness. She was found deceased below her nest less than two weeks later, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Initially, crews suspected she died of lead poisoning. However, researchers confirmed the H5N1 strain of bird flu was the condor’s cause of death after sending her body to Oregon for a necropsy and sample analysis, the release states.
This result was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Service Laboratory on March 30. And by April 4, three birds in northern Arizona reportedly had succumbed to the illness.
The USFWS began publicly reporting all deceased condors — one of the rarest birds in the world — found on or after March 30 “to be as transparent as possible to the public and stakeholders about the potential extent of this outbreak.” Once necropsies and preliminary tests are complete, confirmed cases will be reported as such.
As of April 17, 20 Arizona-Utah condors have died, with 10 confirmed cases of bird flu. Eight birds were captured to receive supportive care, with four dying shortly after. The remaining four are still in care but appear to be improving.
Before the outbreak, the region’s population consisted of approximately 116 birds, according to a Facebook post shared by The Peregrine Fund.
Bird flu experts, veterinarians, and tribal, state and federal partners are coordinating their efforts and taking preemptive steps to address the “unfolding threat,” the release states.
The Peregrine Fund and the Southwest Condor Working Group are monitoring the flock to identify symptomatic animals and transport ill birds to Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix, Arizona, for care.
Trapping typically occurs in large pens baited with calf carcasses, but the current process is “much trickier” as social interaction among the birds is being discouraged. So crews will capture compromised animals with hand nets or those that enter a pen alone, The Peregrine Fund’s Director of Brand and Communications Jane Naillon wrote in an email quoting Tim Hauck, the Arizona Condor Reintroduction Program’s director.
Once caught, sick condors receive supportive care consisting of food and subcutaneous fluids, Hauck said.
“They tend to come in very dehydrated and hungry,” he said. “Imagine having a severe case of the flu and no one to take care of you. We are there to give the chicken soup if you will … It does seem to be working if a bird is not too far gone when they are brought in, but we don’t have any definitive results that we can share as yet.”
The flock’s home range consists of areas throughout northern Arizona and Southern Utah, including Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument and the Kaibab Plateau. Thus far, bird flu has not been detected in condors located in California or Baja California, Mexico, the release states.
As of last week, none of the infected birds were located in Utah. While “there is always a risk that the disease will move,” there are protocols in place for an immediate response, Naillon wrote.
Additionally, the USFWS expects exposure risk to rise as birds travel north to breed during their spring migration. Bird flu has been detected in wild and domestic animals across the continental United States. The disease spreads through “bird-to-bird contact, environmental contamination with fecal material and via exposed clothing, shoes and vehicles,” according to the release.
While humans can contract the virus, it is considered a low-risk health concern by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Among the world’s largest, rarest birds
California condors are North America’s largest land birds, typically weighing approximately 20 pounds with wingspans of 9.5 feet, according to the National Park Service. The scavengers provide a “critical ecological service,” preventing disease outbreaks by consuming animal carcasses, which can be vectors for disease transmission among humans, wildlife and livestock. This process also releases nutrients that are beneficial to plants and insects.
“Because of their far-ranging movements, longevity, slow reproduction and sensitivity to toxins and pollution, condors are strong indicators of ecological health on the open landscapes they inhabit,” the service writes. “As members of a high-profile endangered species, condors serve as the proverbial ‘canaries in a coal mine,’ drawing attention to toxins and pollutants that affect many other species of birds, mammals and wildlife.”
Multiple stressors, including lead poisoning, poaching and habitat degradation, took a “deadly toll” on California condors, reducing the world’s population to 22 by 1987, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Through captive-breeding programs and other conservation measures, the number of birds increased to approximately 500.
Still recovering, California condors are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Condors mature slowly and it can take up to eight years before they begin to reproduce, Chris Parish, The Peregrine Fund’s president and CEO said in Naillon’s email. Because the birds produce an average of one chick per year, the population’s replacement rate is low, increasing the virus’ impact on efforts to conserve the species.
“This will change recovery as we know it,” he said. “We will need to double down on causes of mortality that we can control … and be better prepared with hopeful vaccines and greater infrastructure to respond to events like this in the future.”
Ways to help
The Peregrine Fund is collecting donations to support their team on the ground and provide additional resources, Naillon said. Funds will go toward equipment, condor medical assessments and treatments, and field crews to monitor and recover the animals, among other uses.
Symptoms of bird flu include appearing dull or unresponsive, lethargy, incoordination, holding the head in an unusual position or walking in circles, according to the news release.
“If you see condors, please observe from a distance,” the release states. “Stress can be harmful to birds exhibiting symptoms of compromised health. Please be respectful and limit human disturbance when encountering these birds on public lands.”
To limit the virus’ spread, people should wash their hands after working or playing outside, prevent contact between domestic birds and their wild counterparts, and avoid feeding, handling or approaching sick animals or their droppings. Additionally, individuals, families and pets should remain a safe distance from wildlife and “leave young animals alone,” according to the release.
“Often, the parent animals are close by and will return for their young,” the release states. “For guidance on orphaned or injured wild birds, please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center, state wildlife agency or local land management agency.”
Dead wild birds in Arizona and Utah can be reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 866-536-7593. Carcasses found in Utah can also be reported to local Division of Wildlife Resources offices.
Additionally, individuals who observe a bird appearing to be ill in Arizona or Utah should contact The Peregrin Fund via email or call 928-352-8551.
This is a developing story.
Photo Gallery
A California Condor at the Condor Ridge exhibit of the San Diego Wild Animal Park, San Diego, California, Dec. 11, 2006 | Photo courtesy of Chuck Szmurlo/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. George News A juvenile condor pictured at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, California, Nov. 23, 2011 | Photo courtesy of Scott Flaherty/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. George News A condor pictured at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, California, Nov. 16, 2011 | Photo courtesy of Scott Flaherty/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. George News California Condor perching on the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Nancy Julian/National Park Service, St. George News A condor spreads its wings, California, 2000 | Photo courtesy of Scott Frier Nikon/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. George News Two condors preening, location unspecified, Aug. 17, 2011 | Photo courtesy of William H. Majoros, CC BY-SA 3.0 California condors, the rarest bird in North American, are occasionally spotted in Zion National Park, Utah, June 23, 2004 | Photo courtesy of Rebecca Alfafara/National Park Service, St. George News
California condor at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Michael Quinn/National Park Service, St. George News
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