an endangered species saved

An almost mythical sight when spotted aloft its 10-foot wingspan, the odyssey of the California condor epitomizes man's impact on wilderness. It's an epic of allowing something majestic almost slip away, then loudly answering the mandate to recover it.

Today the condor again casts a wild shadow over the west, buoyed by the updrafts of those who answered the call of preservation.

Many challenges remain for the condor. The Condor's Shadow chronicles how a driven few are working against the odds to help the iconic species fly free once again. More >>

The Condor's Shadow

Featuring
  • Pitahsi entering her nest Pitahsi entering her nest
    Condor 79, "Pitahsi" plays a lead role in the film's narrative
  • Myra Finkelstein Myra Finkelstein, Ph.D.
    Myra's research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, definitively connects the dots between lead ammunition and presistant health
    issues in condors
  • Condor 79 - Pitahsi Condor 79 - Pitahsi
    The oldest free-flying California condor
  • Chandra David, Zookeeper Chandra David, Zookeeper
    At the Los Angeles Zoo with Condor 112
  • Handling condor Handling a condor for a health check
    The ongoing challenge of lead poisoning requires that California condors be trapped and tested routinely
  • 0 Biologist Joseph Brandt
    On rappel into a condor nest within the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
  • Anthony Prieto Anthony Prieto
    A broad range of contributors to the California condor's recovery define the programs success.
  • California condor California condor
    Striking in appearance, the condor predates man's presence in North America
  • 0 Bruce Rideout, DVM, Ph.D.
    Comments in the film on the persistant threat of lead to the condor
  • 1 Biologist Blake Massey
    At the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
  • 2 Sampling Feathers
    Research on environmental contaminents involves collecting feather samples from California condors
  • 4 Pre-release workup at LA Zoo
    Joseph Brandt works with keepers at the Los Angeles
    Zoo to prepare a condor for release into the wild
  • 5 Biologist Geoff Grisdale
    Field workup of a California condor at the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
  • Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
    Southern California release site for the California condor
  • Biologist Joseph Brandt Biologist Joseph Brandt
    Lead field biologist for the Southern California condor program
  • Zookeeper Michael Clark Michael Clark, Zookeeper
    Mike Clark has over twenty years of experience in the care and breeding of the California condor
  • Lead tester readout Lead Testing Device Used in the Field
    The primary source of mortality in California Condors is lead toxicosis
  • Condor Soaring California Condor in Flight
    There's nothing quite like watching condors soar...

Hundreds of individuals have contributed to the recovery of the California condor. Just a few who have a role in the Southern California recovery effort are featured in The Condor's Shadow. They and a feisty condor named "Pitahsi" provide a window into what endangered species recovery looks like for the rarest of North American birds.   
More >>

Official selection of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2013.

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And on the offical blog for the film: OnTheUpdaft

Upcoming Screenings

National Wildlife Refuge Association
When: May 31st 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Where: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ventura Office

Audubon Center at Debs Park
When: June 13th 8:00 PM
Where: 4700 North Griffin Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 221-2255
This is an outdoor screening, dress appropriately!

Benefit Screening for the California Raptor Center at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
When: Sept. 28th, 2013
Where: Mondavi Center, University of California Davis

Additional screening dates and locations are upcoming soon. To inquire about screening The Condor's Shadow in your community please send us a note >>

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California Condor Timeline...
(Click to enlarge)
Infographic with California Condor timeline
   International Wildlife Film Festival    Santa Barbara International Film Festival    San Luis Obispo International Film Festival

What would be the most rewarding end to this would be to see condors using that historic range... And that we were able to ameliorate all of the human cause mortality factors. I think that's probably a pretty simple thing to do. If we could just get individuals to maybe take a little extra effort and try to work on mitigating or eliminating those human cause mortality factors, I think the condors will recover.


Jesse Grantham
Condor Recovery Program