A Peek Into The Future!

Yesterday we promised to show you what Dorothy had to look forward to in a few years.

Here's a photo of Laurel, a female who was in our care for several years as part of the Andean Condor Species Survival Program (SSP).  Reintroduction programs, using captive-bred Andean Condors, which release birds hatched in North American zoos into the wild to bolster populations, have been introduced in Argentina, Venezuela, and Colombia.  The World Bird Sanctuary, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Zoo, was a part of that program.  

Contrary to the usual rule among birds of prey, the female is smaller than the male.  The Andean Condor's wingspan ranges from 274 to 310 cm (9 to 10 ft.)  It reaches up to 11 to 15 kg. (24 to 33 lbs.) for males and 7.5 to 11 kg (16 to 24 lbs.) for females.

The female lays one to two bluish-white eggs every second year.  If the chick or egg is lost or removed, another egg is laid to take it's place.  Researchers and breeders take advantage of this behavior to double the reproductive rate by taking the first egg away for hand-rearing, causing the parents to lay a second egg which they are usually allowed to raise.  

Check back tomorrow to see the male half of this handsome pair!