Comments on: Discuss the “Condors vs. Lead Bullets” TV story

By: Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:31:58 +0000

Some good news coming from Pinnacles National Monument east of central California's Salinas Valley- Biologists have announced a mating pair of endangered California condors have nested and laid the first wild condor egg at Pinnacles National Monument in more than 100 years. They should be tending the nest for the next few months and hopefully soon we’ll see the first wild condor born to park.
Last October another Pinnacles pair hatched a fledgling on a neighboring ranch. Unfortunately, the female later died of lead poisoning.
To read more about the nesting love birds, see:
http://magblog.audubon.org/first-condor-egg-100-years-found

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/10/BAV01CD6K6.DTL&tsp=1

http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/condors.htm

By: Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:43:43 +0000

The science is clear. And now the USGS has a very comprehensive report on the effects of lead poisoning in Wild Birds. And for you doubting patriots out there, perhaps seeing a Bald Eagle dead on a metal table, killed by lead poisoning might help your perspective. Read the report and see the photos here:
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/pdfs/lead_poisoning_wild_birds_2009.pdf

By: Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:29:41 +0000

According to news story today, a critically endangered California condor, which was released into the wild in 2003 at Pinnacles National Monument, has died of lead poisoning. The iconic California condor is so endangered, the loss of just one of these birds in monumental. Condor No. 286 died Monday May 11th after Los Angeles zoo officials worked for more than a month to remove lead from his bloodstream. He had lost more than half of his 24-pound body weight. The condor was poisoned by ingesting lead ammunition used by game hunters. According to the report biologists found the bird also had multiple birdshot wounds, although that did not contribute to the poisoning.

For more information see:
http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/condors.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/12/state/n125820D32.DTL&tsp=1

By: Stephen Langpaap

Stephen Langpaap — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:33:18 +0000

The problem that I have with AB821 is it's not about California Condor. It's about ammo cost and control!!!! California can't control GUN'S but can control ammo. All this new law will do,is create a new backyard ammo dealer! The economy has become so inflated, that the average hunter can't afford the cost.It's important also to remember you've divided the state north vs,south.I swear I give the heck UP! Unfortunatly that's the agenda all along isn't it? Stephen Langpaap

By: Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:41:48 +0000

The USGS has distributed a new scientific report detailing the effects of lead on wildlife. In the article they say “Millions of pounds of lead used in hunting, fishing and shooting sports wind up in the environment each year and can threaten or kill wildlife.”

“The most significant hazard to wildlife is through direct ingestion of spent lead shot and bullets, lost fishing sinkers and tackle, and related fragments, or through consumption of wounded or dead prey containing lead shot, bullets or fragments, emphasized USGS contaminants experts Drs. Barnett Rattner and Chris Franson. The two scientists are lead authors of The Wildlife Society (TWS) technical report and co-authors with five other experts of a recent Fisheries article on the same subject.”

To obtain a copy of the technical review report, "Sources and Implications of Lead-Based Ammunition and Fishing Tackle on Natural Resources," visit The Wildlife Society at http://www.wildlife.org. Read more from the American Fisheries Society article on the known and potential impacts of lead in shooting and fishing at: http://www.fisheries.org/afs/docs/fisheries/fisheries_3305.pdf.
"Science is replete with evidence that ingestion of spent ammunition and fishing tackle can kill birds," Rattner said. "The magnitude of poisoning in some species such as waterfowl, eagles, California condors, swans and loons, is daunting. For this reason, on July 1, 2008, the state of California put restrictions on the use of lead ammunition in parts of the range of the endangered California condor because the element poses such a threat to this endangered species."
“Research on lead poisoning related to spent ammunition and lost fishing tackle has been focused on bird species, with at least two studies indicating that the ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl in North America has been successful in reducing lead exposure in waterfowl, the report said. The authors found that upland game — such as doves and quail — and scavenging birds — such as vultures and eagles — continue to be exposed to lead shot, putting some populations (condors in particular) at risk of lead poisoning.”

To read the entire article and listen to a podcast interview with Dr. Barnett Rattner, log on to: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1972

By: Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:08:16 +0000

This week the Ventana Wilderness was one of the many areas of California hit by wildfire. In this rugged area near Big Sur, deep in the back-country, the Ventana Wildlife Society has a special pen to capture and hold rare California Condors in order to test them for things such as lead poisoning. The "Gallery Fire," consumed the road leading to the enclosure and was threatening the condor pen. With no way of reaching the endangered condors, the US Coast Guard was called in to swoop down for the rescue.

Read more about the mission here: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9673610

By: admin

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:55:22 +0000

For an interesting look at the place of the California Condor among the native peoples of the California, log onto:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23527

"Wings of the Spirit"
John W. Foster
Senior State Archaeologist

By: admin

admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:32:43 +0000

Condor lead poisoning news update:

On June 3, 2008 it was reported that seven endangered California condors – about 20 percent of Southern California's population – had recently been found suffering with lead poisoning.

Researchers first discovered the sick birds during random trappings at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge in the San Joaquin Valley. They then sent all the poisoned birds, including a chick and its mother, to the Los Angeles Zoo for treatment, where one of the rare native birds died.

According to the news report, “U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said the Condors were likely poisoned by eating the carcasses of animals that had been shot by hunters.”

On July 1, 2008, it will become illegal for California hunters to possess or fire lead ammunition in Condor Country. To see the full AP articles on this subject, follow the links below:

Endangered condors turning up with lead poisoning

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9468851?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com

Endangered California condors turning up with lead poisoning

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9467264?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com

By: Jay Allen

Jay Allen — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:32:45 +0000

Why can't people in California be allowed to have common sense anymore? Why not just ask the hunters to bury the gut piles or remove them. Is the true hunter actually the one leaving behind all the lead bullets or is it the irresponsible people out with their friends shooting at squirrels or some other bird the cause? I would like to see the studying done on how many adult hunters can't follow a rule when asked.
Sure it doesn't cost a whole lot more to buy the bullets 20%-65% in some cases (depending on type of gun). However it a hassle to have to go out and search for all these new kinds of bullets for all the different kinds of guns we have. What are we supposed to do with the millions of dollars of lead bullets we hunters have accumulated from past years?
There's got to be a better way to handle this problem then discouraging the Californian hunter from hunting in our beautiful state. Believe me there's a lot of other laws to make in California to discourage people from living here!

By: Bob Southard

Bob Southard — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:41:29 +0000

I am a long-time hunter, and I don't understand — or don't have enough information to understand — the NRA outcry about having to switch to copper bullets in the field.

The expense is minimal: so you have to buy one box of all copper bullets ($20 more?). As far as I can tell, a hunter/shooter would be operating about the same as always. You work with your rifle on the range using cheaper bullets, lead bullets in this case, and then finish off your sighting with a few of the more expensive bullets you're actually going to hunt with.

As far as I can tell, possible effects of using copper bullets (as compared to lead) are these: 1) over a large number of shots, accuracy could begin to suffer — to a small degree, a quarter inch at 200 yards? — because of the deposits copper leaves in the rifling of the barrel; 2) you might have to use a lighter bullet, as a copper bullet of the same size as lead obviously weighs less — 165 grain v. 180 grain?; and 3) it is slightly — slightly — harder to clean a rifle after shooting copper.

None of these issues seems compelling at all. What am I missing?