Condor Day at Sisters Middle School

Last Friday morning was Condor Day for Rob Jensen's sixth grade biology class and other classes at Sisters Middle School. David Moen, condor biologist for the Oregon Zoo, presented a special educational program to more than 60 enthusiastic students that lasted most of the morning.

Moen outlined the trouble the condors faced in the '60s when there were only 22 of them left in a tiny area of southern California. Prior to the coming of pioneers to western America, condors ranged all the way from Mexico to the southern limits of the Northwest Territory.

As the pioneers settled into raising cattle, planting crops, harvesting trees, mining, and changing the once-wild places to more domesticated land, condor numbers began a slow, steady decline.

"Shooting drastically reduced condor numbers - just because they were the biggest thing in the sky" said Moen, "and poisoned carcasses put out for wolves, coyotes and bear took a heavy toll on condor numbers as well."

Moen also pointed out the importance of condors to the native people's cultural welfare. In several Northwest nations, condors were given credit for controlling and predicting the weather, abundance of food, and for caring for the spirits of departed warriors and tribal members. Elders of several Pacific Northwest nations knew the condor as "Grandfather Buzzard," and "Thunderbird of the Columbia River."

Remaining giant redwoods of the Yurok Nation in California have suitable condor-nesting hollows over 300 feet above the ground, and because condors still hold an important place in the Yurok people's cultural beliefs, they are seeking ways to buy their land back and create a condor refuge.

The students were amazed to learn that if condors are not shot, poisoned, or come into contact with the condor's worst enemy - lead remains in gut piles of deer and elk left behind by hunters - the ancient birds can live to the ripe old age of over 70 years.

Moen clarified the issue of lead-poisoning, demonstrating in detail how lead spreads all through game animals when shot, and is consumed not only by scavengers, but hawks, eagles and people eating the contaminated meat.

During the question-and answer segment of the lecture, students' answers gave Moen plenty of evidence that they are aware of the needs of wildlife, especially raptors and scavengers, such as eagles, condors and turkey vultures. Several of the students presented in-depth answers to questions Moen posed about such subjects as web-of-life, ecological interactions and prey availability.

At the end of the slide program, Moen left the students with the image of condors once again soaring over the crest of the Three

Sisters.