More condor BS

[petey]

Funny how this happens at a time when the DFG Commission is considering expanding the lead ammo ban to the entire state.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090314/ap_on_re_us/california_condor;_ylt=AqZtK6GOYu4GxgsWtdbSZwMPLBIF

It could not be determined if the pellets were lead or steel, but the poisoning was most likely caused by the bird ingesting spent lead ammunition in carcasses of animals that had been shot by hunters, Kasielke said.

Condors are carrion-eaters and such poisoning by lead ammunition has long been recognized as a problem. California requires hunters to use only non-lead ammunition in the condors' range. It is also illegal to shoot a condor.

Giant California condors are an endangered species, and the federal government has been working for years to establish breeding populations in the wild.

The ailing condor, a nearly 7-year-old dubbed No. 286, was a dominant member of a flock on the central California coast until late January, when biologists from Pinnacles National Monument and the Ventana Wildlife Society noticed it was suddenly being pushed around by younger birds, the conservation society said.

Biologists tried to capture it because the behavior indicated health problems. They were unsuccessful until March 4, when it appeared wobbly on its feet. Tests showed a potentially fatal lead exposure and the condor was sent to the zoo.

Kasielke said that if the condor survives it would stay at the zoo for several weeks, but could be returned to the wild.

Exactly how long ago the bird was shot could not be determined, she said.

[Gator Monroe]

They will figure out a way to disarm us (Starting with our Great state of California)

[bg]

More..

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/local/Los_Angeles/CBS_2_Los_Angeles/SIG=1253oetnk/**http%3A%2F%2Fcbs2.com%2Flocal%2FCalifornia.condor.LA.2.958894.html

[Shotgun Man]

How do you get pellets "embedded in its flesh" from eating pellet-laden carrion?

It sounds like someone may have taken a shot at the condor, in which case who cares whether the hunter was using lead pellets.

I went down to Mexico and saw scads of condors. They are thriving, even in urban areas. Are these different from the California Condors?

[jamesob]

total b.s. people are running around right now with lead bullets in them and will live out their lives. lead poisoning does not work that fast and is just an excuse.

[BigDogatPlay]

Unable to eat on its own, the condor was under intensive care at the Los Angeles Zoo and its prognosis was guarded, said Susie Kasielke, curator of birds.

I wasn't aware that California Condors had learned to eat on their own. One of the chief reasons that the birds nearly went extinct is that they are downright lazy. Many of the wild populations are being maintained in California only through people putting food out for them.

[Dark&Good]

Condors are going to get extinct anyway, with or without lead. Amen.

[Pvt. Cowboy]

I wonder how many of the scientists trying desperately to bring back the California Condor from near-extinction have those snotty 'Darwin fish' on the backs of their Volvo station wagons?

[oaklander]

I don't know about Condors, but we have a lot of these in Oakland. They are called "ghetto birds." Damn things are everywhere.

[Trench Broom]

[Ford8N]

They are an awesome bird but they are or were going extinct before all of this lead ban science came around. They are a species left over from the last ice age when we had large animals like elephants, ground sloths, grizzlies and tule elk running around. Then about 25,000 years ago humans came over from Asia and wiped out the condor food source. Then the Spanish ranchers and gold rush crowd wiped out the grizzlies and herds of tule elk and antelope. Although for a while, the condor survived on the mission hide ranches. The ranchers didn't ship the meat, they just shipped the hides, no refrigerator's on ships in those days. So the condors lived off of the cow carcases. Also, the seal hunters were wiping out the any seals and otters as a food source. So here we are today. Not much for the bird to eat and to many people for it to ever survive in the wild with out help. I think the lead ban is just another political card to discourage gun ownership and create a generation of people who are scared of firearms. Making it simpler to ban all firearms.

[Can'thavenuthingood]

They are an awesome bird but they are or were going extinct before all of this lead ban science came around. They are a species left over from the last ice age when we had large animals like elephants, ground sloths, grizzlies and tule elk running around. Then about 25,000 years ago humans came over from Asia and wiped out the condor food source. Then the Spanish ranchers and gold rush crowd wiped out the grizzlies and herds of tule elk and antelope. Although for a while, the condor survived on the mission hide ranches. The ranchers didn't ship the meat, they just shipped the hides, no refrigerator's on ships in those days. So the condors lived off of the cow carcases. Also, the seal hunters were wiping out the any seals and otters as a food source. So here we are today. Not much for the bird to eat and to many people for it to ever survive in the wild with out help. I think the lead ban is just another political card to discourage gun ownership and create a generation of people who are scared of firearms. Making it simpler to ban all firearms.

We still need a Calguns Condor coloring book depicting this very story.

Any artistic types among us to draw up a few pages?

Its for the children.

Vick

[Casey]

A buddy of mine got arrested last year for shooting a Cali Condor. At his trial the judge asked why in the world he would want to kill an animal is an endangered species. He explained that times were tough and he was planning on eating the thing. The judge was shocked and asked him if he had actually eaten a Condor before. My buddy told the truth and said yes. Everyone in the courtroom was shocked. The judges curiosity got the best of him and so he asked "What did it taste like".
"Well yer honor",my bud says "It kind of tastes like a mix between Spotted Owl and Bald Eagle."

[deldgeetar]

CA should stop meddling and let evolution take its course. I could have sworn liberals loved that crap?

[scrat]

A buddy of mine got arrested last year for shooting a Cali Condor. At his trial the judge asked why in the world he would want to kill an animal is an endangered species. He explained that times were tough and he was planning on eating the thing. The judge was shocked and asked him if he had actually eaten a Condor before. My buddy told the truth and said yes. Everyone in the courtroom was shocked. The judges curiosity got the best of him and so he asked "What did it taste like".
"Well yer honor",my bud says "It kind of tastes like a mix between Spotted Owl and Bald Eagle."