SOARING THE SKIES: WHERE DO REINTRODUCED CALIFORNIA CONDORS SPEND THEIR TIME?

Jose J Rodriguez Gutierrez ; Cal Poly Humboldt; jjr74@humboldt.edu; Logan Hysen PhD student in Michigan State University, Danial Neyeri PhD student in Texas A&M, Ho-Yi Wan Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, Tiana Williams-Claussen, Wildlife Director, Yurok Tribe

With over 150,000 globally endangered species, conservation can feel daunting. However, efforts like wildlife reintroductions and captive breeding have shown success. The California condor, for example, has grown from 22 individuals to over 300 wild birds across the western U.S. and Baja, Mexico. This study examines how wild condor populations utilize space and how their home ranges vary annually and geographically. Using GPS tracking data, we analyzed home range patterns of condors released in southern and central California over a four-year period through Kernel Density Estimates (KDEs) and Minimum Convex Polygons (MCPs). Results show that while both flocks exhibit high site fidelity and varying annual home ranges, southern California condors maintain significantly larger home ranges, and central California condors spend more time near coastal regions than their southern counterparts. These findings raise important questions about why condors choose certain areas and how environmental factors influence their movements. By embracing curiosity and asking deeper questions about these patterns, we can better understand their behavior and be where the action is—guiding future conservation efforts more effectively.

Poster Session