🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Both condor parents share incubation duties for nearly two months.
California condors lay only one egg per breeding attempt, typically inside exposed cliff cavities. Severe storms, heavy rainfall, or temperature extremes can threaten egg viability or chick survival. Because pairs often breed only every other year, losing one nesting attempt carries significant demographic consequences. Climate variability adds uncertainty to already fragile recovery efforts. Nest sites must balance isolation with protection from environmental stress. Monitoring teams sometimes assess nests remotely to minimize disturbance while tracking risks. Weather now joins toxins and habitat loss as a compounding threat.
💥 Impact (click to read)
In a species with delayed maturity and minimal clutch size, environmental volatility magnifies risk. A storm that would be minor for prolific birds can be catastrophic for condors. Each failed nest delays population growth by years. Climate shifts may alter precipitation patterns in condor range. Recovery models must now incorporate atmospheric unpredictability.
The condor's slow life history strategy evolved in relatively stable climatic conditions. Accelerating weather extremes test the limits of that strategy. A single weather event can erase years of parental investment. Conservation planning increasingly integrates climate projections alongside toxicology and habitat management. The future of this Ice Age survivor now hinges partly on 21st-century weather dynamics.
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