The American Association of University Women (AAUW) hosts John McCamman, past coordinator of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to recover the endangered California condor. Please join AAUW for a fascinating slide show presentation on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Miners Inn Roadhouse 140 at 4:30 p.m.  The presentation is free and everyone is invited to attend.

Photo credit: Jon Myatt/USFWS

California condors are a rare and unique species that play a big part in America's natural heritage. Today, condors are on the comeback from the brink of extinction. However, these magnificent birds still face threats that impede their survival and recovery.

The California condor was listed as an endangered species in 1967. The condor population dropped as low as 22 in 1982.  By 1987 California condors were on the verge of extinction with only 27 alive, as the last free flying condor, AC9, was taken from the wild. In 1992, the Service began reintroducing captive-bred condors to the wild to reestablish the population.

The Recovery Program is now in the final phase of recovery, focusing on the creation of self-sustaining populations through an increased emphasis on the captive-breeding and reintroduction of California condors to the wild and the management of that wild population. These efforts combine trying to reduce the threat of lead with actively managing nesting in the wild to increase the number of wild fledged chicks.

The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two geographically distinct self-sustaining populations, each with 150 birds in the wild and at least 15 breeding pairs, with a third population of condors retained in captivity. As the Recovery Program works toward this goal, the number of release sites has grown. There are three active release sites in California, one in Arizona and one in Baja, Mexico. Today there are 404 California condors alive with 235 flying free in California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja.   There are also 169 condors in the captive breeding program.

The (event) is just one of several school and community programs offered by Mariposa AAUW, a branch of the 133-year-old national organization dedicated to advancing equity and lifelong learning for women and girls.

For more information, visit: aauwmariposa.com.