California condors are a critically endangered species with an "Experimental / Non-essential"(aka 10[j]) population established on the UT/AZ border. This population has seen slow growth toward recovery, with Utah providing excellent breeding and fledging habitat in recent years. But every single individual remains crucial to the long-term viability of the species (Walters et al. 2010). In 2023, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) decimated the flock, killing 21 individuals in just 3 weeks (23% of the population). During the HPAI event, eight sick condors were captured still alive in the field; four survived. All four survivors were GPS trackable, which allowed crews to capture condors during early stages of HPAI, allowing for full recovery and eventual release. The value of having GPS tags deployed is significant and in many cases has directly resulted in saving the life of a condor. Many individuals are still lead-poisoned each year - the primary threat to condors (Chesley et al 2009) - and also need direct intervention. Since 2019, an average of 78% of the UT/AZ population tested positive for high lead levels (19% acutely, The Peregrine Fund, Annual Summary, 9/2023), which still compares poorly to the national average of 50% lead poisoning (2019 California Condor Population Status). Less than half the remaining wild free-flyings birds in the UT/AZ population currently have working satellite telemetry; 57 birds still need GPS units. 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. GPS transmitters are especially valuable in revealing the exact locations of condor activity both in real time for trapping and nesting activity, and in retrospect for habitat use and locating potential sources of lead. 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 voluntary programs like ours will be biologically effective. Utah's increasingly successful program has closed on this 85% goal after 11 years continuous effort; AZ's more structured 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 non-match Federal funding dwindles. Remaining Federal funding sources all require non-federal match (3:1). Raising match is an annual challenge for the program that consistently limits our ability to address lead poisoning. 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 will use ESMF funds to leverage non-federal match by buying GPS transmitters and collecting crucial satellite telemetry movement data. We will use one-time ESMF funds to buy 20 telemetry units, use donated conservation funds from the TA to pay the monthly satellite-download fees (for up to 5 years, the transmitter lifespan), and use TPF staff time, facilities, and permits to trap condors, deploy the units and use the data to manage our population. In combination, these expenditures not only provide us with the data needed to manage and keep recovering the species, but also the non-federal match needed to subsidize the cultural transition of Utah hunters to non-lead ammunition. 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 20 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 (i.e., Wildlife Tracker) for immediate use by field biologists.

Primarily Zion hunt Unit, but statewide

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.

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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 20 condors will be equipped with solar-powered 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 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 sick, injured condors, and 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 years to evaluate opportunities for cooperative research and monitoring. We are also initiating a vaccination campaign using the newly developed HPAI vaccine for all free-flying birds. Finally, we have initiated a direct outreach campaign to local sportsman's groups using the results from our recent human-dimensions study to better speak to hunter motivations and find effective and durable messaging to solidify our progress and incentivize more hunters to voluntarily adopt non-lead ammunition.

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