title: Patterns of mortality in free-ranging California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus).
abstract: We document causes of death in free-ranging California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) from the inception of the reintroduction program in 1992 through December 2009 to identify current and historic mortality factors that might interfere with establishment of self-sustaining populations in the wild. A total of 135 deaths occurred from October 1992 (the first post-release death) through December 2009, from a maximum population-at-risk of 352 birds, for a cumulative crude mortality rate of 38%. A definitive cause of death was determined for 76 of the 98 submitted cases, 70% (53/76) of which were attributed to anthropogenic causes. Trash ingestion was the most important mortality factor in nestlings (proportional mortality rate [PMR] 73%; 8/11), while lead toxicosis was the most important factor in juveniles (PMR 26%; 13/50) and adults (PMR 67%; 10/15). These results demonstrate that the leading causes of death at all California Condor release sites are anthropogenic. The mortality factors thought to be important in the decline of the historic California Condor population, particularly lead poisoning, remain the most important documented mortality factors today. Without effective mitigation, these factors can be expected to have the same effects on the sustainability of the wild populations as they have in the past.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, PO Box 120551, San Diego, California 92112, USA. brideout@sandiegozoo.org
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rideout
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stalis
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papendick
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pessier
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puschner
authors.forename: Myra E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stroud
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petterson
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stringfield
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuba
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grantham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002140:California; D002423:Cause of Death; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D046093:Falconiformes; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead