It may not be the most charismatic species, but the endangered
California condor, a bird with an incredible wingspan of nearly
10 feet, has received a lot of attention over the years. After
dropping to a population of just 22 individuals in the early
1980s, captive breeding programs have boosted their numbers to
around 400, with some 200 living in the wild. Even that small
population is extremely high-maintenance, however. All the birds
are tracked by radio or GPS tags, and are frequently caught for
medical examination and treatment. As is the case with most
birds that eat carrion, lead poisoning has long been a concern
for the condors. When large animals are killed by a hunter’s
lead bullet but not harvested, they can become a dangerous meal.
When the birds eat the meat, they can ingest lead particles
along with it. When the condors get their medical checkup, a
blood sample is analyzed for lead. If the levels are dangerously
high, the birds are given treatment. The impact of lead
poisoning on the condor popu