Projects of Animal Behavior Class,2001
Mr. Tom Kearney
Mr. Tim Prost
Projects of Animal Behavior
Class,2001
Mr. Tom Kearney
Mr. Tim Prost
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Physical Characteristics |
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| Size * Length * Height (wingspan) * Weight |
46 to 55 inches 3 meters 16 to 24 pounds |
| Coloration/Skin | Mainly black with white under its wings. It has a bare head and the neck is orange and sometimes yellowish or gray. |
| Special Adaptations of Sense Organs | They have sharp claws and bald heads and necks so when they are eating carcasses no feathers would be in the way and get all bloody. |
| Male/female differences | There is no observable difference between them. |
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Habitat |
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| Diet | They are carnivores. They feed on dead red meat and salmon. They never eat anything unless its dead. |
| Habitat Description | They inhabit rugged canyons, gorges, and forested mountains mainly between 985 and 8,860 feet and nest primarily between 2,000 and 4,500 feet. Nesting sites are characterized by extremely steep, rugged terrain with dense brush surrounding high sandstone cliffs. Nests are located in caves, potholes, crevices, and ledges located on rock escarpments. |
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Reproduction |
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| Courtship Behavior | The male stands with his wings out |
| Mating Season | They begin mating February and March every other year. |
| Gestation Period | It takes about 56 to 58 days for an egg to hatch. |
| Litter size | One or two eggs every other year. |
| Weight at Birth (egg) | 280 grams (10 ounces) |
| Age when Young are Independent | They do not become fully independent until they are at least 1 year old. |
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Behavior |
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| Food Gathering Behavior | They never eat anything unless it is dead. |
| Migration Pattern (if applicable) |
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| Social and Territorial Behavior | They are very solitary animals that stay in pairs until one partner is lost and the other partner will find a new mate. |
| Other Behavior | Both the male and female take turns incubating the egg. |
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What caused the California
Condor to be endangered?
Lead poisoning, illegal shooting, power lines, and loss of habitat.
What is the current population of the animal and how does this compare to the past? Today the population is over 160 and in the past the lowest population was 9 and in 1939 the population was 150.
What is the solution to this problem? Clubs have been started to save the condors, captive breeding is helping them reproduce, and laws have been made of going to jail for a year and paying a fine of $500-1,000 for shooting a condor.
What individuals or groups are actively involved in solving this problem? The Peregrine Fund, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the San Diego Zoo.
What are they doing? They have websites and on there it shows what they are doing.
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Description of Zoo Space
Size 150' by 50' by 100' Physical Description of Habitat It has a bridge that runs though the middle of the habitat for people to walk across that is fence encased. It has lots of cliffs and ledges for the condors to perch on. It also has trees and cactus's and sand for the ground. The whole exhibit is encased in netting. Behavioral Enrichments in Habitat There are sets of bones of dead animals that meat will be in so the condors will have to work for their food and try to get the meat out from the middle of the bones. Food and Water Requirements of Habitat It has a stream that runs through the middle of the habitat and food would be put in different places of the habitat so the condor will have to search for it.
Interview of Expert |
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| Name and Position | San Diego Zoo Keepers |
| How real is the zoo setting for the condor? | Did not reply |
| How does the condor interact with other animals? | Did not reply |
| How would you help a wild animal adapt to living in a zoo? | Did not reply |
| What are zoos doing to preserve this endangered animal? | Did not reply |
Useful Web Site |
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| Links to Places in the Wild Where this Animal is Found | |
| Links to Zoos and Organizations that are Working with this Animal | LA Zoo: http://www.lazoo.org/cfacts.htm#range
Penegrine Fund: http://www.peregrinefund.org/condor_factsheet.html |
| Web Site of Person Interviewed | San Diego Zoo: http://www.sandiegozoo.com/special/condor/home.html |
page created by, Grant Barus, a student in Mr. Tom Kearney's and Tim Prost's Animal Behavior Class, Andrew HS, Tinley Park , Ill last updated 05/18/01
