by Bethany M. Dunbar copyright the Chronicle, 8-22-2012 BIG SUR,
California — In 1987, there were just 27 California condors left
in the world. The last wild bird was taken into captivity — a
highly controversial move to try to keep the species in
existence. Two years later my daughter was born. Katie Ann
Dunbar always had a fascination with dragons, and that seems to
have translated into a scientific interest in birds. Armed with
a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology, she helped with bobolinks
in Vermont and falcons and other raptors in California. Those
experiences led her to Big Sur, where she is working to help
condors make it on their own. Despite all our human efforts, the
birds are still extremely rare — due mostly to problems created
for them by people. Fragments of lead bullets are their biggest
threat. Another problem is plastic trash scraps and bottle caps.
There are currently about 400 condors in the world, half of them
in captivity. The captive breeding program is working, and
condors have been re