Condors in the Utah-Arizona flock have been stricken with avian flu/Patrick Cone file
Avian flu, which has devastated chicken flocks across the country, has been blamed for the deaths of at least 10 of 20 California condors from the Utah-Arizona flock, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Arizona-Utah condor population moves throughout northern Arizona and southern Utah, using the landscape within Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, the Kaibab Plateau, and surrounding areas, according to the agency. The range for the endangered condor, the largest bird in North America, also includes Pinnacles National Park in central California.
As of this past Monday, 20 condors had been found dead.
"Eight birds were captured and brought in for supportive care. Four of those condors died shortly thereafter and are included in the total of 20 deceased birds," a release from Fish and Wildlife said. "Four condors are still receiving supportive care and have shown improvement."
The outbreak dates at least to early March.
"On March 9, The Peregrine Fund, which manages the Arizona-Utah condor flock, first observed a bird in the wild exhibiting signs of illness, initially suspected to be lead poisoning. Crews continued to monitor this bird and others showing similar behavior. On March 20, they collected the deceased female below her nest, which was the first bird confirmed positive with [Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza]," said Fish and Wildlife.
Potential exposure of HPAI is expected to rise during the spring migration of birds north to their breeding grounds. HPAI has been detected in all U.S. states, except Hawaii, in wild and domestic animals.
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