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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature:  Endangered Birds


There are a number of different endangered animals in the state of California. These species are identified at both a federal and state level. Identifying endangered animals focuses efforts to maintain the integrity of the natural world. To this end, the federal and state governments have instituted a number of laws enforced throughout California. The state has a particular challenge beyond many others in that it must maintain a strong balance within its diverse ecosystems.

Endangered animals are those species that are in danger of going extinct. Their reproductive rates are lower than their mortality rates over long periods of time, so their numbers are diminishing. The reasons for this are varied, but lately, very often involves a loss of habitat as people encroach on their living areas. When a species is listed as endangered or threatened, it is not a death sentence.
The California condor is endnagered and protected by law Many animals, like the bald eagle and the American alligator, were on the brink of extinction and are now recovering. Many species, however, will not recover, and could be lost forever. Throughout time, animal species have been going extinct (long before people evolved); paleontologists estimate that well over 90 percent of all plant and animal species that ever existed have gone extinct.

California has 309 different species listed as endangered animals, the most of any state next to Hawaii. 303 of these species are found within the state, while six listed animals are not. Three species, such as the Canadian lynx, are considered endangered by other states, but not California. Examples of endangered California animals include the short-tailed albatross, the Mount Hermon June beetle, the Shasta crayfish, the Fresno kangaroo rat, the blunt-nose leopard lizard, the northern spotted owl, the chinook California coastal salmon, the leatherback sea turtle, the San Francisco garter snake and the humpback whale. There are currently 33 species and subspecies of birds listed as either threatened or endangered by the State of California or the federal government.
 The California Condor is one of the rarest of all North American birds and one of the rarest birds in the world. In fact, during the first half of the century there were only 60 individual condors. Now there is less than 40 despite the conservation efforts that are put forth by biologists and other American authorities. Today the California Condor's range is limited to a small region that is north of Los Angeles. Soaring at speeds of 35-40 miles per hour the California Condor cleaned carrion from roads, ranches and beaches.

There is absolutely no record of these magnificent birds attacking a living animal, however they were routinely shot, mostly by farmers and ranchers. Also California Condors were being exterminated by lead poisoning. However, zoologists are trying to change the condor's upcoming fate. Molloko is the first ever captive condor that was bred in captivity in history, born in April, 1988 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Its future lies in the hands of captive breeding and when it gets older, reintroduction to the wild. Hopefully Molloko's story will help educate the public.
the american eagle is coming back but is still endangered in California The California Condor is about 3-4 feet in length and varies in weight from 20-30 pounds. The California condor has a huge wingspan which is about 9-10 and a half feet. When nesting they nest in cracks of rocks and lay only one egg. This bird's plumage is black with a tint of blue metallic reflections. It has white bars underneath its wing. Many people are unaware that the bald eagle nests in California. At one time they bred throughout much of the state, near the coast and on the Channel Islands in southern California, and across much of the central and northern part of the state. By 1981, only 58 pairs were found to be nesting in California, all from about Butte County northward.

Except for the California condor, the bald eagle is the largest raptor, or bird of prey, in California, with a wingspread of up to 8 feet. The dark brownish-black adults with white head and tail are easily identified at a distance. The plumage of immature bald eagles is mostly brown and they may have irregular white or buff patches. Immature birds with the patches are sometimes referred to as pinto-colored eagles.
The California Spotted Owl is about 17.5 inches long and has a wingspan from 37 to 44 inches. It is nicknamed the Hoot owl because if its call. It is rare to see one of these owls in the wild as they prefer the deepest parts of a dense fir forest. The California Spotted Owl enjoys preening, which means trimming or dressing its feathers with its beak.

This subspecies of the Spotted Owl is found in Sierra Nevada and the Southern Coast ranges. Sadly, its population is has been declining annually by 10% throughout the 1990’s, and is in danger of extinction. A petition was filed to have the California Spotted Owl listed as an endangered species, but after a year-long study the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided that the owl does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The California Spotted Owl enjoys snacking on mice, rats, and small songbirds. The California Spotted Owl's only natural enemy is the Great-Horned Owl. This is good since the Spotted Owl had very limited offensive capabilities. These birds lay their eggs on whatever surface is available at the time. They lay two to four eggs each year between March and mid-May. The California Spotted Owl lives as long as 17 years, although the survival rate for the young is quite low.
 
 
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