Feasibility of California Condor recovery in northern California, USA: Contaminants in surrogate Turkey Vultures and Common Ravens

ABSTRACT Areas of northern California, USA, have been identified as quality habitat for an expanded California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Recovery Program. Nonetheless, lead poisoning continues to complicate California Condor recovery efforts within their current range and threatens the viability of future propagules. Therefore, background levels of lead and other contaminants should be assessed as part of a feasibility analysis to determine the efficacy of expanding the Recovery Program into northern California. A California-wide ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting, scheduled to go into effect in 2019, coupled with hunter outreach programs aimed at reducing the use of lead ammunition, may present new opportunities for California Condor recovery in this region. As such, we captured and studied 2 surrogate species, Common Ravens (Corvus corax) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), in coastal and near-coastal habitats of northern California to examine relationships between contaminant (lead,...