Condor Comeback

Scientists in the Field

by Sy Montgomery, Tianne Strombeck (Illustrator)

Sy Montgomery turns to the story of California condors and the scientists who have fought against their extinction in this installment in the Scientists in the Field series.
 
In April of 1987 the last wild California condor was captured and taken to live in captivity like the other twenty-six remaining birds of its kind. Many thought that the days were over of of this remarkable, distinguished bird that had roamed the skies of North and Central American for thousands of years.
 
Sy Montgomery details the efforts of scientists, volunteers, and everyday citizens to get California condors back in the wild. In particular, Montgomery profiles employees at the Santa Barbara Zoo who have worked to raise abandoned chicks, nurse sick birds back to health, and conduct research that can support legislation to ban what is probably the largest threat to the existence of the wild condor: lead bullets.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Birds, Animals, Childrens, Conservation, History

96 pages, Hardcover

Published July 28, 2020

About the author

Part Indiana Jones, part Emily Dickinson, as the Boston Globe describes her, Sy Montgomery is an author, naturalist, documentary scriptwriter, and radio commentator who has traveled to some of the worlds most remote wildernesses for her work. She has worked in a pit crawling with 18,000 snakes in Manitoba, been hunted by a tiger in India, swum with pink dolphins in the Amazon, and been undressed by an orangutan in Borneo. She is the author of 13 award-winning books, including her national best-selling memoir, The Good Good Pig. Montgomery lives in Hancock, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the doorstep of extinction!

I found this story about the Condor on the edge of extinction and the fight for its survival fascinating. The data presented paints a revealing picture. My problem I guess is with the book's presentation. I just wanted grander pictures of Condors soaring and sweeping. I wanted to feel the Condor more. To be fair I did have my awareness awakened by the evidence and the feelings expressed.
Such as through Montgomery's prose, "Condors don’t just traverse heaven; they dwell there." Wow! That's a wonderful image provoking line to sit with.
Parts were absolutely fascinating, other areas, detailing the research process were dryer and didn't hold my interest that well. I suspect this would be of more interest to those who want a hands on look at the methodology employed by conservationists to bring the Condor back from the edge of extinction. I didn't know that "once they were found in western skies from Canada to Mexico." I also found out what the greatest threat to Condors has been. That was a appalling.
I was not enamored with the book's layout. Although huge plus points include the index and that the print is a good size, especially for younger readers. The timeline detailing factors affecting the Condors' decline is excellent. Supported by an extensive bibliography and useful websites do make this book a great research tool.
All together, this is an informative readable source for young people, and adults, about these giant birds.

A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book ARC via NetGalley

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner from Scientis in the Field.

There is no safe level of lead for condors, children, or anything else really... if you hunt, use copper or other non-lead bullets. Don't litter, whether it's bottle caps or other micro-trash bits that condors find interesting, or plastic bags that sea turtles mistake for jellyfish, or even granola bar wrappers that my dad kept finding on the wilderness hiking trails.

I do wish the book had mentioned the Grand Canyon condors. Know that they're recovering, too, but of course still need protection.

I found the bits about mentors & mentees, adults & chicks, fascinating. Condors can live for several decades, outliving partners and remarrying, teaching younglings the culture of the flock, etc. So cool.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since today is Earth Day, it is fitting to write my reaction to finishing this book. The first time I went to the Grand Canyon nearly twenty years ago I saw Condors. It is an experience I have never forgotten. They are magnificent birds. I remember learning then a bit about their near extinction and the effort to save them. In this book, Sy Montgomery nicely tells that story and makes a plea for additional steps that can help ensure a healthy Condor population. She also writes about her experience helping with a health check event. She even held a Condor in her lap--getting bitten in the process. I recommend this brief book for anyone interested in wildlife. I even more recommend that you support the banning of lead-based ammunition and pick up garbage (especially plastic micro trash like bottle caps) when out for a walk. Montgomery explains how deadly both are to these wonderful birds and wildlife in general.

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love reading books by Sy Montgomery. She immerses herself in the research of the best scientists studying her subject matter. This book is no exception. She goes to the field in southern California where she joins the zoologists and students who are working to bring the California Condor back from the brink of extinction. This book is fabulous because it teaches the readers the science and hard work going on in the field.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say Montgomery gives an excellent account of the steps that are being take to bring the condor back from the brink of extinction. I love that she conveys the beauty of this animal that many folks don't see. Thanks to Netgalley for my review e-copy (including photos!).

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic nonfic book for older animal-loving kids. Very readable nonfic with lots of photos, sources, and an index. Thank you to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in the Scientists in the Field series by NH own Sy Montgomery. After getting to a low of 24 individuals, the California condor has been revived and now numbers over 450. Two things really endanger this species: the lead in bullets and small bits of trash called microtrash. The condor are very sensitive to lead poisoning. Parents bring microtrash back to the nest for chicks to play with, but the chicks swallow it and it gets stuck in their crops or stomachs, leading to starvation.

The State of CA has outlawed lead bullets, but the scientists are lobbying for all states to outlaw both lead bullets and the use of lead in fishing tackle. The problem of microtrash can be solved by using less plastic, not littering, and picking up trash when you see it.

The pictures in this book are simply amazing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history of the condor which will give you an appreciation of an important species.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sy Montgomery shadows scientists on the frontlines of helping Californian condors come back from the brink of extinction. She learns a lot of the hazards that the condors still face, and the active role scientists play in keeping the birds healthy as much as possible.

Lead poisoning and choking on microplastics are huge factors in condor health and so the book spends a lot of time on that. Condor knowledge has come a long way in the past 20 years, and it is interesting to find out what scientists have discovered by keeping such a close eye on the birds for such a long period of time. A very interesting look at efforts to save a species from the brink of extinction, and I like that there are super practical, easy ways mentioned for young people to help save the animals around them.

Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. Deaths of birds due to a variety of reasons are mentioned.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is also an entry in the "Scientists in the Field" series. Montgomery tags along with scientists as they observe California condors in the wild. They observe in a couple of ways: they hike out close to where condors nest and view them through a telescope; or they watch the nests, in which cameras have been placed, on computer monitors. A lot of information on condors is shared, including how scientists have worked to increase their numbers, what they do to help the population grow, and how they educate the public about condors. The book concludes with a list of ways people can help, a bibliography, a list of websites, and an index. Excellent book about this bird species.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for all ages. Very interesting history of the California Condor and its return from near extinction. I was lucky enough to see the last condors in the wild before they were captured for the captive breeding program. Amazing what commitment the scientists have shown. The book is easy to read, informative, and has great photos. I definitely recommend this book, everyone will learn something about these magnificent creatures.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the picture-book size and layout makes this seem like it's for younger readers, the content is appropriate for upper grade school and higher. I enjoyed it for myself, although a few sections did seem geared toward independent younger readers.

Very informative. Highly recommended for fans of the author.

[Michale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb, as always. I particularly liked the fact that these condors were not anthropomorphized with names, which, to me, always seems to infantilize animals. The practice of referring to these birds by numbers rather than cute names demonstrates respect of their separate-ness. As such, their wild, natural dignity remains both unconquered and untamed.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scientists in the Field series has never let me down. This is another stellar entry into the series. Of course it helps that I think vultures are pretty cool birds, but to find out more about the condor and the conservation efforts helping in its comeback is really interesting. These scientists risk life and limb to study these birds. Amazing!

[Brenda Kahn]

Ever since I viewed a wildlife program about condors as a teen in the 1970s, they've had a piece of my heart. This entry in the consistently excellent Scientist in the Field series is filled with stunning photos of the majestic, misunderstood birds and the scientists who work hard to study and protect them. Highly recommended.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the efforts to remove the California Condor from the endangered species list. From a low of 26 in 1987, there are now over 400 of these magnificent birds. Beautiful photos and of course, Sy does a great job telling the story. I was lucky enough to see several on a trip to the Grand Canyon a few years back.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montgomery does another great job showing the problem, the problem solvers, and the need. The birds were not quite as cute as the bears, but they are still majestic. Saving the Condors goes back to my youth, so it's a bit discouraging to see how precarious their existence still is, and the pervasive problem of lead, especially from bullets.

[Robin Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about the study and conservation of the critically endangered California Condor. The author and photographer follow the biologists both at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and out in the field in "Condor Country" areas within Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, both in Southern California.
Every existing CC is numbered with a tag on their wing, and all have telemetry and GPS satellite transmitters, so they can be tracked and monitored.
The book begins describing the CC. A very large bird- 4 feet tall, that has a large wingspan and can fly 55mph and up to 15,000 feet.
In 1982, there were only 22 left, and by 1987 were officially extinct in the wild. Now, there are more than 450 *according to Wikipedia, there are now 488*. About 1/3 live in zoos, and the rest live in the wild in California, Arizona, Utah, and Mexico. The numbers grow slowly because they don't become mature until about 6 or 7 years old, and they only lay one egg at a time. Condor recovery has attempted to increase breeding by removing the egg, prompting the couple to produce another 2nd egg.
Chapter 1 describes how an older Condor mentors a younger one, and that they are very social and smart birds. They are scavengers and not killers. They have different personalities.
The biggest killer of the condors is lead poisoning from bullets in the carcasses they eat. Microtrash can also injure and kill the babies.
Chapter 2 discusses the biologists sharing updates on the condors, which are fledging, which might be mating, etc. It mentions some interesting facts, such as their feet are really black but are white because they are covered in their excrement, and that they can shoot their vomit as a weapon against predators.
Chapter 3 discusses how the biologists conduct health checks on the condors which were lured into a flight pen. There, one by one, they draw blood and check each bird, and check if they need any transmitter changes. They check the blood for lead levels. It describes how a Condor is held.
Chapter 4 describes the biologists observing the condors in the wild, at Bitter Creek Refuge. They look at the known nests, and look for, find, and observe a juvenile that recently fledged, and look for and observe other condors. Sy and the photographer accompanied Erin Arnold, Santa Barbara zoo's Condor nest biologist, and Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, Santa Barbara zoo's director of conservation science, a condor expert who studied their nesting behaviors. She also collects and interprets data about them.
Chapter 5 describes Sy's visit to the environmental toxicology lab at UC Santa Cruz, where scientist Myra Finklestein does research. She analyzes blood samples and feathers from the condors to see if they have lead in them. The blood shows a history of a few weeks, and the feathers 3 months. Then they can track where the birds have been. Myra uses technology/machines to see if the samples are lead and to determine the source. It's usually from bullets, but occasionally is from paint or fishing tackle. Her lab proved that lead from bullets was the leading cause of death of condors which led to California's law banning lead ammunition, the only ban in the country (as of writing this book). Lead also kills other wildlife and is harmful to humans too, especially kids and babies. It's been found to effect the brain decreasing intelligence. Since the law passed, the number of condors treated went from 50 birds down to 7.
The LA zoo does all the vet care of the condors. They are treated by removing lead via surgery, inducing vomiting, or cleansing their blood of the toxins. Mike Clark, the zoo Condor expert, explains how the rescue mission began by bringing the last 22 birds there and the San Diego zoo in 1987. Over the years they learned how best to raise the birds and release back to the wild. They figured out that they need mentors or parents, and need to be conditioned to stay off deadly power wires/poles. They also monitor all the nests with cams, and check on them frequently. If a baby is ill, it's brought in for treatment. The zoo has a tamed Condor named Dolly that spends time in the office, and can't fly because of an injured wing.
In Chapter 6, Sy goes with Erin and a volunteer to look for nesting parents and a 2mo baby in Hopper Canyon. They start at Hopper Ranch, the Condor crews headquarters, drive to Condor Ridge, then hike to Snag Ridge observation point where they observe for 2 hours, and while they hear the signal of the Condor dad, unfortunately they see no condors.
Erin gives the history of the Condor family and some facts: they have no voice box (called a syrinx) and don't sing like other birds, they hiss and grunt. Babies are fuzzy gray with an orange head and get feathers at 3 months old. At 4 months old their head turns black, until about age 5-6 when they mature and their head turns orange and pink.
Chapter 7-
Describes condors and vultures in culture and history.
Most cultures revere the Condor, such as native American tribes, ancient Scythians, Germanic Goths, and Ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians hieroglyph for "mother" is a vulture, because they are such excellent mothers. Some Native American cultures, such as the Chumash, say it has special powers, and use it in their prayers and medicine. Some cultures incorporate it into their funeral ceremonies, offering the flesh of their dead to vultures, so they can be taken up to heaven. This is called a sky burial.
Interestingly, the Jewish culture said they were an unclean abomination, and Darwin hated them! Also, African poachers hate them because they alert game wardens.
The 1st Saturday in September is Vulture Awareness Day.
Chapter 8-
Describes watching a nest cam live to monitor the babies.
Chapter 9-
About educating children about the Condor. Kids at Mountain Vista Elementary school in Fillmore, CA learn about condors and other birds of prey, and Clean up trash.
The book ends with a timeline, update, and information about what you can do to help, and urls for websites and Condor cams.
I highly recommend this book for kids and adults. I learned a lot! There is a lot of information and wonderful photos. These are unique birds, fortunately they have come back from extinction in the wild, from 22 left to now almost 500 birds. We now know the reasons for their demise is mainly lead poisoning and microtrash. Hopefully, more states, or even better, a national ban on lead bullets and fishing gear is enacted asap.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit, when I started this book I was like "Ho hum" but after awhile I couldn't put it down.
I think Condor's are fascinating .
I enjoyed looking at the zoo cams of Condor's DANG! They are REALLY BIG!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by condors ever since I heard about them as a child. Good info and illustrations in the book. It was kept at a level middle grade could understand without being condescending.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What interesting birds!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and empowering story of saving a nearly extinct bird.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The picture on the cover is not…prepossessing. The hairless, wrinkled head rests over a spiky feathered ruff. It’s like catching your bald, hirsute octogenarian grandpa naked in the tub. Gahh.

But that’s just the first impression. These scavengers are social avians. They’re clean, preening their feathers with the same care of cats licking their fur. They’re dedicated parents. The breath of a healthy condor smells like a fresh, raw carrot instead of the expected rot of eating decaying meat. They limit the spread of disease by devouring carrion, the rotting carcasses that might cause contagion. They’re not killers that will carry off your children or pester livestock, contrary to ill-educated nay-sayers. They’re also majestic creatures, with an impressive nearly 10-foot wingspan that enables them to glide for miles without once flapping their wings.

So they’re vital to the ecosystem and there are conservationists determined to see that they are taken off the critically endangered list (look it up). These are folks who dedicate their lives and careers to seeing that these birds are healthy, breeding and thriving. The book functions as a scientific treatise, history lesson, naturalist log, cautionary tale and an adventure story.

The book concludes with an index, an epilogue about some of the individual birds that were monitored by observers and a guide to people about what they can do to preserve these majestic beasts. It will make a fine addition to the library of your little budding conservationist.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to the California Condo (coming back from being critical endangered). Montgomery examines why they became endangered (lead poisoning being the leading cause), steps to ensure their comeback, their importance to the ecosystem, and their cultural importance to First Nations/indigenous Americans.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appealing nonfiction, good for upper elementary and middle school. In addition to facts about condors, the short articles offer a realistic look at the day to day work of conservation scientists and the impact of human behaviors on condor populations.

[Jim D'Ambrosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of the Scientists in the Field series. I can't get enough of these.

And California condors, of course. The photographs are stunning, and appealing. I want to hang with condors. And Sy Montgomery, and all friends of condors.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all of the "Scientists in the Field" series, but this one felt personal - she visits UC Santa Cruz! But also, I have vivid memories growing up at the LA Zoo, visiting the exhibit about the Condor Comeback and learning about the Condor rehabilitation at LA Zoo Camp.

[John Fetzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and advocating

The California condor is an ugly scavenger bird. People both like and dislike them. This adds to the likelihood of liking them. A nice and quick read with many photos. Lots of information and interesting stories.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great information, but it might be too long for the casual reader or someone not wiring a report.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one by Sy Montgomery! Interesting insider information about scientists who raise the wild condors in order to increase the population.