California condors are a critically endangered species with a formal experimental non-essential (10[j]) population established on the UT/AZ border. This population shows slow growth toward recovery, and Utah has seen our second successful breeding and fledging event this past year. But every single individual remains crucial to the long-term viability of the species (Walters et al. 2010). Many individuals are still lead-poisoned each year. In 2019 77% of the UT/AZ population tested positive for high lead levels (19% acutely, The Peregrine Fund, Annual Summary, 9/2019), which compares poorly to the national average of 50% lead poisoning (2019 California Condor Population Status). Model projections (Green et al. 2008) suggest non-lead ammunition voucher programs need to incentivize hunters' consistent use of non-lead ammunition at rates above 85% before non-lead ammunition voucher programs will be biologically effective. Utah's increasingly successful program has closed on this goal after 9 years continuous effort (AZ's program has maintained them for several years now). Even as Utah's voluntary voucher program program nears biological-meaningful participation levels, costs continue to rise and no-match Federal funding dwindles. Available funding requires non-federal match (3:1). Raising this is an annual challenge for the program that limits our ability to address lead poisoning -the primary threat to condors (Chesley et al 2009). Some bird conservation groups hesitate to buy ammunition; many sportsmans groups hesitate to support an endangered species. And even long-time program partners would like to see their funds buy more than just another year of non-lead ammunition. Instead, and in cooperation with our partners the Tracy Aviary (TA) and The Peregrine Fund (TPF), we seek to systematize non-federal match generation by leveraging the collection of crucial satellite telemetry movement data. We propose to use one-time ESMF funds to buy 10 telemetry units, use on-going conservation funds from the TA to pay for the monthly data-download fees (for up to 5 years), and use on-going staff time from TPF to trap condors, deploy the units and use the data as long as they last in the field (up to 5 years). In combination these expenditures will not only provide managers with the data needed to manage and keep recovering the species, but also the non-federal match needed to subsidize the cultural transition of hunters to non-lead ammunition in Utah. These movement data are critical to the daily success of the program. Of the 92 wild free-flyings birds in the UT/AZ population, only 13 had working satellite telemetry as of Sept 2019. Ideally, birds are located, trapped and tested annually, but also on an ad hoc basis to check their health and test their blood-lead levels when suspicious behavioral patterns occur. In 2019 84% (72 individuals) were trapped; 11 individuals had to be taken into immediate veterinary care as a result of lead levels. TPF's field staff intensively uses satellite derived location data to assess the daily health of individuals, to locate foraging areas, to locate roosts, and to track daily, seasonal, and range-extension movements as they occur in near-real time. J. Chesley , P. Reinthal , C. Parish , K. Sullivan , and R. Sieg . 2009. Evidence for the source of lead contamination within the California Condor. Page 265 in Ingestion of Lead from Spent Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans ( R. T. Watson , M. Fuller , M. Pokras , and W. G. Hunt , Eds.). The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho. R. E. Green , W. G. Hunt , C. N. Parish , and I. Newton . 2008. Effectiveness of action to reduce exposure of free-ranging California Condors in Arizona and Utah to lead from spent ammunition. PLoS ONE 312:e4022. J. R. Walters, S. R. Derrickson, D. M. Fry, S. M. Haig, J. M. Marzluff, J. M. Wunderle Jr.. Status of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and Efforts to Achieve Its Recovery. The Auk, 127(4):969-1001 (2010).

1. Contract to purchase 10 solar satellite GPS telemetry units compatible with the program's needs (e.g., Microwave Telemetry Inc 72gm solar satellite GPS patagial-mount units) using one-time ESMF funds. 2. Trap condors in need of telemetry and deploy the units using existing and on-going TPF staff time, facilities, access agreements, funding, and USFWS permits. 3. Contract with the selected satellite company (e.g., ARGOS) for 5-year access to the data stream using on-going TA funds. 3. Automatically download, parse, and error-check the GPS data into a real-time GIS web-map (App) for immediate use by field biologists using proven UDWR technology developed for the "Pelitrak" App and project.

This work is directly in line with needs specified in the original California Condor Recovery Plan (1974) and every update since (https://www.fws.gov/cno/es/CalCondor/CondorResources.html). Specifically, the Southwest Condor Working Group lists the success of the UT and AZ non-lead ammunition programs as essential to creating the environment in which condors may recover. Access to accurate, current movement data is essential to the Plan's implementation at every step.

ESA - TPF has in-hand the required USFWS permits to trap, handle, test, treat, rehabilitate, and release California condors for the UT/AZ 10(j) population (current Breeding Bird Laboratory permit endorsement wait times are projected at 18mo). They also have a complement of trained, experienced, and Breeding Bird Laboratory-permitted staff to mount and deploy patagially-mounted solar satellite GPS telemetry units. NEPA/SHPO - NA - no ground disturbance actions will be taken that would necessitate NEPA or SHPO review (J. Moore, Utah Field Office, pers.com.)

Up to 10 condors will be equipped with solar satellite GPS transmitters mounted on the patagium of each wing (or occasionally on the tail), along with numbered vinyl tags for visual identification of individuals (see Wallace et al. 1994). Transmitters are scheduled to yield hourly position fixes, and contain "mortality sensors" designed to alert biologists when the unit is motionless. We will equip condors released at established hack sites with transmitters, as well as capture free-flying condors in previously constructed "walk-in" traps at the release site to replace failing transmitters and for other purposes, including lead testing. In contrast to conventional VHF transmitters (where field crews of up to 11 individuals on foot and in off-road vehicles tracked signals throughout the day by first situating themselves at vantage points, then following condors and maintaining visual contact when possible), we will fit condors with satellite transmitters designed to yield hourly position fixes to within 50 m during daylight, and deliver these data directly to biologists in the field. Using the TA-enable satellite access, the Utah DWR GIS group will automate a data stream to download, decode, parse, and error-filter location data to our secure custom web-app map, deliverable to any authorized desktop or mobile device. TPF field biologists use location data daily to assess habitat use, sequential movement, and the last position fix of the day ("roost location") for each condor. These data guide the next day's tracking strategy. Missing condors will (occasionally) be sought by means of fixed-wing aircraft. The precise fixes provided by these transmitters lead to the discovery of dead animals that condors feed upon or closely attend. We attempt in all cases to ascertain the cause of death of these animals. As per the Condor Recovery Plan, seasonal changes in condor flock movements will be examined by tabulating roost locations obtained by satellite and conventional telemetry, and by direct observation, and then calculating the percentage of roost sites recorded in each recovery zone segment. We will also test the reliability of roost locations in predicting habitat selection by chronologically sorting the satellite-reported GPS position fixes of individual condors, and randomly selecting 100 midday positions (ca. 1200 h) to compare with those of the last fixes of the day (ca. 2000 h). Prior data suggest condors visit a far greater number of locations than is apparent in the roost data alone. Should telemetry units fail, or telemetered condors require veterinary care, the recovered units will be assessed for their reliability and either re-deployed immediately on a new individual, refurbished and redeployed (for a modest fee, currently $250), or retired if not repairable. M. P. Wallace , M. Fuller , and J. Wiley . 1994. Patagial transmitters for large vultures and condors. Pages 381--387 in Raptor Conservation Today: Proceedings of the IV World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls ( B.-U. Meyburg and R. D. Chancellor , Eds.). World Working Group for Birds of Prey. Pica Press, Shipman, Virginia.

Satellite location data will be used continuously and vetted for accuracy and continuity as described in the Methods section, but no additional on-going monitoring will be required to assure project success.

The Tracy Aviary, Tim Brown, Executive Director The Peregrine Fund, Chris Parrish, Director of Global Conservation Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Russ Norvell, Avian Conservation Program Coordinator Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Buck Ehler, GIS Program Coordinator

We look to intersect Utah's rapidly growing database of big game telemetry and movement data with condor seasonal movements over the coming year in order to evaluate opportunities for cooperative research and monitoring. We are also initiating a human-dimensions study (USU, in discussion) to clearly assess hunter motivations and so find effective and durable messaging to solidify our progress and incentivize more hunters to voluntarily adopt non-lead ammunition.

07/01/2020

06/30/2021

2021

Despite several pandemic-induced complications and delays, this project succeeded in meeting almost all objectives: 1) both Section 6 and P/R federal grants were extended and then amended to allow for partner in-kind and real-dollar match contributions and for telemetry as allowable match categories; 2) draft real dollar and in-kind match agreements for both NGO partners were approved by all respective leadership(s); 3) state sole-source purchasing approval was sought and granted for the purchase of project compatible solar satellite GPS telemetry units (PTTs); and 4) nine PTTs were purchased, crafted, and received before the end of the fiscal year. No PTTs have yet been mounted however due to the delays. Unforeseen complications included state processes transitioning to on-line/tele-work, a PTT price differential from those initially forecast (discount for NGOs not available to the State), DWR and TPF staff changes, a transition to GrantSolutions for federal agreements, and delays in manufacturing due to component availability. In combination, these have delayed planned (and still committed) match expenditures from our project partners.

All nine PTTs have been received, and are awaiting deployment as soon as the agreement language is finalized between The Peregrine Fund, the Tracy Aviary, and the UDWR and the agreements are signed. We hope to have an opportunity to put a PTT on both of 2021's Utah fledglings, and are still working with the Wildlife Migration Initiative to create a live ARGOS-data pipeline into Wildlife Tracker 2.0.

There were a number of unplanned challenges (pandemic, microprocessor availability, changes in federal contracting rules and software, etc.) that underlined the need for excellent partner communication, and trust. That all partners remained engaged despite the uncertainty speaks to our established commitment to the project, and we look forward to capturing future opportunities to get all 44 remaining condors on-air over the agreement performance period (next 5 years). All FY21 ESMF funds allotted to this agreement have been expended; however, the generation of non-federal match in support of the non-lead program has really just begun. The ESMF-purchased PTT units have an expected working life of 3-5 years once deployed, and will continue to literally pay non-federal match dividends for this entire period. While the AZ State Office of the BLM also funded 10 PTTs in 2020 (for up to 32 solar satellite GPS-enabled condors), there remains an unmet need of 44 more solar satellite GPS PTT units. As all our agreements were set up for 5 years, the opportunity to expand and extend this partnership remains available as even smaller amounts of non-federal EOY funds (ESMF or other) become available.