Captain's Log, Day 226: Recently, Ernesto announced that we would be going on an eight hour road trip to the northern Ecuadorian Andes, with the goal of attending a Condor Care and Maintenance workshop near Latacunga. In attendance would be the Centro de Rescate Ilitio, where three rescued condors are currently being housed, and more wild ones visit--Fondo Tueri of the University of San Francisco in Quito, the Grupo de Conservación del Cóndor en Ecuador, members of the Environmental Ministry, Jocotoco, and The Peregrine Fund: the biggest players in Ecuadorian avian conservation. Holding court would be Dr.Andres Ortega, likely Ecuador's best-known wildlife vet participating in country-wide conservation efforts. And...En esta entrada, para el beneficio de mis colegas ecuatorianos, yo voy a traducir todos mis subtítulos a lo mejor de mi capacidad. Poco a poco, no?
A little over two months ago, Bioparque Amaru received a financial boost from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This support is meant to jumpstart the zoo's capacity to participate in Andean Condor conservation on a national, and eventually international, scale. The Aviary has been looking to re-start an Andean Condor breeding program, and now has four Andean Condors in its care. They also have plans to expand their current "Condor Court" exhibit in the future, with hopes of being able to eventually send Condor chicks to Ecuador to be released into the wild.
Hace casi dos meses, Bioparque Amaru ganó el apoyo financiero del Aviario Nacional en Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Este apoyo está destinado a ampliar la capacidad del zoológico de participar en la conservación del cóndor andino en niveles nacionales, y con exito y compromiso, niveles internacionales. El Aviario ha estado buscando para volver a un programa de reproducción del Cóndor Andino, y ahora tiene cuatro cóndores andinos en su cuidado. El Aviario también tiene planes de ampliar su exposición corriente "Cóndor Corte" para el futuro, con la esperanza de enviar las crias de los cóndores a Ecuador para liberación.
Visit the pages of the Peregrine Fund, Jocotoco, and my previous Condor post below to learn more about Condor Conservation in Ecuador.
Help the Peregrine Fund Conserve Andean Condors in South America
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| Comenzamos nuestra travesía a Latacunga en la niebla de la montaña. |
We began our drive to Latacunga in quite a bit of mountain fog.
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| Se aclaró medida que nos acercábamos a Riobamba... |
It cleared up a bit as we approached Riobamba...
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| ...y vimos una atardecer cheverisimo. |
The sunset speaks for itself.
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| Lamentablemente, las nubes de la mañana siguiente nos impidieron ver Chimborazo, que se dice es el punto más cercano al sol en el mundo. |
Unfortunately, the next morning's clouds kept us from seeing Chimborazo as we continued our drive, which is said to be the closest point on the earth to the sun due to it's ecuatorial proximity and the curve of the earth as an oblate spheroid. I'm trying really hard not to use translational apps for this post, so excuse me if I don't translate oblate spheroid into Spanish.
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| La historia era la misma para Cotopaxi. |
Silly clouds, hiding all the cool volcanoes from us. We couldn't see Cotopaxi ever. Latacunga is in the Cotopaxi province of Ecuador, for those of you unfamiliar. We were only an hour and a half or so from Quito at our final destination.
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| Pasamos por Latacunga y fuimos manejando--mira esos 4x4s!!--en el salvaje para llegar a Centro de Rescate Ilitio, donde estaba el taller. Un viaje para biólogos del campo reales, cierto. |
We drove down some pretty wild roads to arrive at Centro de Rescate Ilitio, where the workshop was. Definitely a trip for field biologists only...luckily they all came in their 4x4s.
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| La propiedad de Ilitio, propiedad de Sebastián Kohn y su familia, es una reserva privada de casi cinco mil hectáreas a los pies del Cotopaxi. Albergan venados rescatados, ocelotes, osos de anteojos ... y cóndores andinos. |
The property of Ilitio spans over five thousand hectares, which is roughly nineteen square miles. The property is not only host to rescued and recovering Condors, but also ocelots, deer, and Andean Bears...
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| Aqui, nos obsequiaron con chocolate caliente delicioso y presentaciones sobre los cóndores de Dr.Andres Ortega. |
...and delicious hot chocolate to go with our Condor presentations by Dr.Andres Ortega.
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| Algunos datos sobre la historia de actividades de conservación y monitoreo de cóndores en Ecuador. |
Some facts about the history of Condor conservation and monitoring in Ecuador.
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| Se han hecho investigaciones ocurriendo desde mediados de los noventas relativas a las estrategias de reproducción y sitios nidificación favorecidos de cóndores andinos en Ecuador. Ecuador no es el único país para monitorear sus cóndores, ya sea: Argentina, Chile, Colombia y Perú han tenido programas de investigación y conservación en niveles nacionales e internacionales, tambien. |
There have been studies going on since the mid-nineties concerning the reproductive strategies and favored nesting sites of Andean Condors in Ecuador. Ecuador is not the only country to monitor their condors, either: Argentina, Chile, Columbia, and Peru have had research and conservation programs on national and international levels as well.
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| La clinica de fauna silvestre en USFQ, Tueri, ha contribuido mucho a 'medicine conservación' - los veterinarios que trabajan con cóndores en las clínicas y en el campo. Estos veteranos son necesarios para las prácticas exitosas de salud en el manejo de este especie. |
The wildlife clinic of University of San Fransisco in Quito, Tueri, has contributed a lot to conservation medicine for Andean Condors: vets working both in clinics with captive and rescued condors, and in the field with wild condors. In managing endangered species such as the Condor, such vets are key in ensuring successful health and management practices for the birds.
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| El entrenamiento y la enseñanza de los biólogos, los ciudadanos y los trabajadores gubernamentales de medio ambiente sobre el manejo de los cóndores en peligro de extincion es una oportunidad de crecer el poder de conservación del grupo de Conservación Cóndor. |
The Condor Conservation group has taken the initiative to train and teach biologists, citizens, and governmental environment workers about the management of the endangered condor is an opportunity to grow the conservation power of the group in the country.
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| Un censo nacional de Cóndores se logró entre 2008 y 2009. Ahora, el grupo de conservación del cóndor, hecho con la primera estimación de poblacion tentativa, está investigando los omportamientos de anidación, alimentación, y durmiendo en cóndores con la ayuda de cóndores radio-marcados y liberados. Su objetivo es liberar a doce cóndores rescatados en los próximos tres años. |
A national census of condor populations in Ecuador was accomplished between
2008 and 2009. Now, the condor conservation group is attempting to gather important data about nesting, feeding, and sleeping behaviors of radio-tagged and released condors. They aim to release twelve rescued condors over the next three years.
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| Con el aumento fuerza en el grupo de condor conservación nacional, los biólogos conservacionistas ecuatorianos y ornitólogos pudieron trabajar sus conexiones con el Fondo Peregrino traer algunas tecnologías y directores del proyecto de conservación del cóndor de California a Ecuador. A través de los esfuerzos de la Peregrine Fund, el primer cóndor ser etiquetado con la radio para monitorear los movimientos despues de la liberación fue liberado el año pasado. |
With growing strength in the nationally-based conservation group, Ecuadorian conservation biologists and ornithologists were able to work their connections with the Peregrine Fund to bring some technologies and directors of the California Condor conservation project to Ecuador. Through the efforts of the Peregrine Fund, the first condor to be radio-tagged to monitor movements post-release was liberated last year.
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| El director del programa de conservación neotropical del Fondo Peregrine en suramerica, Dr.Hernan Vargas, demostrando los métodos para el etiquetado RFID y etiquetada de las alas del proyecto cóndor de california. |
Dr. Hernan Vargas, director of neotropical conservation programs for the Peregrine Fund in South America, demonstrating the methods of radio- and wing-tagging condors modeled off the California Condor conservation project.
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| Fotos del proyectos sobre la conservacion de los condores en Argentina. |
Photos from the Condor Conservation project in Argentina.
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| Fotos viejas de la captura de los cóndores a caballo. |
Dr.Ortega was sent pictures from an old book by an acquaintance depicting how condors used to be hunted and caught.
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| Redes especializadas con acolchado para una mayor seguridad para los cóndores y los captores en el proceso de contención. |
Specialized nets used for birds as large as the condor, which ensure safety for both the bird and the captors during the capture and restraint processes.
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| Grupos que estan trabajando para un futuro mejor para los cóndores andinos en su hábitat nativo. |
The groups working towards a better future for Andean Condors in their natural habitat.
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| Mirando por la ventana a los otros animales antes de la demostración de la técnica de captura y mantenimiento de Condores en Ilitio. |
Looking out the windows at far-off Andean Bear refuges and other animals at Ilitio before the workshop demonstrations on condor handling and maintenance.
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| Después de las lecciones en teoría, nos fuimos al campo para poner nuestro nuevo conocimiento a la práctica. |
After the lessons in theory, we went to the field to put our new knowledge to practice.
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| El grupo de conservacion de los condores quería hacer monitoreo rutinario en dos de los cóndores en el Centro de Rescate ilitio, y con la ayuda de Doctores Ortega, Medina, y mas, lo convirtió en una oportunidad de enseñanza para el resto de nosotros. |
The Condor Conservation Group turned necessary routine checkups of the condors in Centro de Rescate Ilitio into a teaching opportunity for the rest of us. Dr.s Ortega and Medina presided.
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| Los dos cóndores estaban muy aisladas, con vistas a las montañas y el campo. |
The condor enclosures were far away from human eyes at Ilitio; only the mountains and fields surrounding them. We had to walk through the forest to get there.
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| Tuvimos que caminar a través del bosque para llegar. |
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| El recinto para el cóndor macho rescatado Inti--significa 'sol' en Kichwa--y un otra hembra juvenil. |
The enclosure for the rescued male condor 'Inti' and a juvenile female. Inti means 'sun' in Quechua.
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| Ernesto y Edwin: Bioparque Amaru involucrado en los esfuerzos nacionales de conservación del cóndor. |
Ernesto and Edwin! Bioparque Amaru getting involved in national condor conservation efforts.
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| Sebastian Kohn dijo al grupo que los cóndores silvestres a veces visitan los cóndores en la recuperación de la propiedad. Increíble. |
Sebastian Kohn, another biologist, told the group that they have seen wild Condors visiting the enclosures on Ilitio before. Incredible.
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| Sebastian Kohn. |
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| Sebastian Kohn...y Inti. |
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| Demostración de cómo capturar y mantener un cóndor con seguridad. |
Lessons on Condor restraint.
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| Siguiendo la dirección de los ornitólogos, biólogos y veterinarios que trabajaban con los cóndores en el campo, Inti fue retirado rápidamente de la red y restringido para una extracción de sangre y ultrasonido. |
Following the directions of the ornithologists, biologists, and veterinarians that work with condors in the field, Inti was quickly out of the net and restrained for a blood draw and ultrasound.
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| Ernesto con la máquina de ultrasonido portable. |
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| Dr.Diego Medina. |
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| ...examinando el buche, los sacos aéreos, los pulmones y otros órganos vitales |
Examining the crop, air sacs, lungs, and other vital organs.
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| Todo hecho! Un poco sol al fin de los examenes para Inti. Una ave magnífica. |
All done. Inti even got a little bit of sun after we finished our exams and training...what a magnificent bird.
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| Todos los asistentes de la taller en Ilitio. |
All of the attendees of the workshop in Ilitio.
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| Más allá de todo lo que hemos aprendido acerca del manejo de cóndor en teoría y práctica... |
At the end of the day, more than anything we learned about the theory or practice of Condor management...
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| ...era qué cantidad de una diferencia de un grupo comprometido de personas apasionadas puede hacer en la conservación. |
...was what a difference a group of committed, passionate people can make in the conservation of a species.
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| Es inspirado a ver cómo todos ellos eran reacios a abandonar el bosque despues de un dia de trabajo, tambien. |
It's imspiring to see how reluctant they all are to leave the forest after a day of work, too.
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| Ellos entienden la importancia de la conservación de la totalidad, y la necesidad de preservar las maravillas naturales de la educación de las personas, y, que es mas importante, la vida de la fauna. |
They understand the importance of conserving the whole, and the necessity to preserve the world's natural marvels for the wildlife and the education and awe of the people.
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| Ellos nunca tienen la naturaleza por sentado. Siempre están enraptured y fascinados... |
They don't take nature for granted for a single minute. They're always enraptured, endlessly fascinated...
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| ...y admirablemente informado acerca de cómo todo está conectado. |
...and admirably informed about how it's all connected.
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| El tipo de gente que no pueden siquiera esperar hasta el fin de almuerzo de ver las imágenes de un puma en una grabación cámara trampa son los que quiero a cargo de la protección de nuestro planeta. |
The kind of people who can't even wait until lunch is over to look at the pictures of a puma on a camera trap recording are the ones I want in charge of the protection of our planet.
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| Cual es bueno, porque son ellos los que guardan las especies como el cóndor, y los hábitats nativos que pertenecen. Los científicos y veterinarios de Ecuador están fortaleciendo su red de conservación del cóndor y el país con cada semana que pasa ...Los zoologicos de Quito, Baños, Cuenca están mejorando sus instalaciones y conexiones de conservación como más apoyo llega desde fuentes nacionales e internacionales ... |
Which is good, because it is they who guard species like the condor, and native habitats to which those species belong. The scientists and veterinarians Ecuador are strengthening their network of conservation of the condor and the country with each passing week: The Quito, Baños, and Cuenca Zoos are improving their facilities and conservation connections as more support arrives from national and international sources...
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| Por ejemplo: Ernesto está usando sus poderes creativos para crear una impresionante exhibición de Condor en Amaru. Aqui es un modelo de un vulcan: una plataforma para dar charlas sobre ecología Ecuador, y mostrar ecologia de vulcanes. |
For example: Ernesto is using his creative powers at Amaru to create an impressive area around the new Condor exhibit at Amaru. This is a model volcano made from land extracted from the condor exhibit excavation, including plans for a platform on which to give talks about Ecuadorian and volcano ecology.
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| Trasladamos a los avestruces para construir la excibicion nueva. |
We had to move the ostriches to make room for the new condor facility!
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| ...no parece que se preocupan. |
They don't appear to be too bothered by the change.
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| Senderos nuevos, y mas importante, una nueva carretera de acceso para facilitar la extracción de los animales para los procedimientos veterinarios. |
New trails, and MORE importantly, a new access road leading from the upper zoo gate to all the big cat and new condor exhibits. This will decrease our transport time considerably when we need to get animals up to the clinic for vet procedures or checkups.
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| La vista de Cuenca desde el vulcan de Ernesto. Que un mirador! |
The trails above the condor exhibit and volcano provide quite the spectacular view!
Sobre la exhibicion nueva para Condores en Amaru...
"We have used $5500 of the funds from the donation of the Aviary for the condor exhibit thus far to excavate the cliff face which will be the part mainly viewed by the public, as well as creating road access to the maintenance area behind the exhibit. We therefore have a remaining balance of $4500 to move forward with construction of the mesh structure that will cover the whole exhibit. The entire surface of the aviary is 30x30m, 900m^2, with an isolation/management area of 60m^2. There are three or four alcoves included in the current structure, higher up from the public and tucked behind earthen walls in the exhibit, that may serve for nesting areas.
We are also very happy that we got support from the local company Tugalt: nearly $ 7,000 in metal structures. This is the reason we could extend the project to make the aviary larger; and how we could accomplish the tractor excavation of a larger condor area. Because we have excavated an already existing dirt wall, we will be able to plant native plants, add pond or water areas, leave rocky outcrops for thecondors to perch on, and generally create very natural habitat for the condor exhibit."
Estamos avanzando y subiendo más a nuestros objetivos de apoyo a la conservación.
More updates to come on progress in Condor conservation in Ecuador soon,
because we should all be working towards creating a future for the rest of the life on our shared earth.
Más actualizaciones sobre los avances en la conservación del Cóndor en Ecuador pronto, porque todos deberíamos estar trabajando hacia la creación de un futuro para el resto de la vida en nuestro mundo.
Cheers y saludos hasta la proxima vez,
Nikki Becich para el Aviario Nacional y Zoologico Bioparque Amaru
P.S.-If you're interested in helping fund our efforts through a donation, here's a repost of a way you can fund us through the National Aviary. A little goes a long way down here, and we would love to be able to have a NEST CAM for the Condors like Pittsburgh has recently had for their Hays Bald Eagles!
If you're interested in supporting the National Aviary's Condor Conservation Efforts, keep reading!
With your help, I would like to significantly increase our support of Condor conservation efforts. The National Aviary and Bioparque Amaru would like to keep wild sightings of Andean Condors possible for future generations of Andean adventurers, and conserve the majesty of the nation's icon for centuries to come. There are three main aspects of our important project:
- In Pittsburgh, the National Aviary has committed to significantly upgrade Condor Court to allow for proper space to breed their four Andean Condors. Any young produced at the National Aviary will be released into the wild.
- In Ecuador, they are ready to build the first national breeding facility for as many as four pairs of Andean Condors. These innovative enclosures will incorporate available native habitat in Bioparque Amaru to provide a variety of nest sites, secure areas for zoo caretakers, treatment areas for administering healthcare to the birds, and separate enclosures for juvenile offspring.
- Development of a release site in Cajas National Park near Cuenca is necessary. Made possible by a long history of work in Cajas by Dr. Steven Latta, the Aviary’s Director of Conservation and Field Research, releasing birds in Ecuador which were born and raised in Ecuador is an economical approach to conservation while also investing in excellent locally-based partner organizations. In addition, we plan to use satellite and radio-telemetry to track and monitor the released birds to better guide our reintroduction program.
Thank you for considering my request to support this project. For your records, the National Aviary’s tax identification number is 26-1667146, and donations can be made on the website atwww.aviary.org, by entering Bioparque Amaru in the comments field.
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