Flock of Critically Endangered Condors ‘Absolutely Trash’ California House
Following near extinction, different programs have successfully brought critically endangered condors back to California. There are only 160 condors in the state and over the weekend, 15 of them “absolutely trashed” the deck of a California woman. It was a rare chance for people to see the largest soaring land bird in North America up close.
Seana Lyn took to Twitter this week to share photos of her mother’s house after a flock of condors settled on the deck. The birds, each donning a large number in order for wildlife officials to track them, stayed on the deck for days, causing damage and knocking things around.
Over the weekend ~15 California condors descended on my moms house and absolutely trashed her deck. They still haven’t left. It sucks but also this is unheard of, there’s only 160 of these birds flying free in the state and a flock of them decided to start a war with my mom 😠pic.twitter.com/bZyHsN58Bk
— Seana Lyn (@SeanaLyn) May 5, 2021
“Over the weekend ~15 California condors descended on my moms house and absolutely trashed her deck,” wrote Lyn on Twitter. “It sucks but also this is unheard of, there’s only 160 of these birds flying free in the state and a flock of them decided to start a war with my mom.”
Photos show the birds on the railing and on top of the roof. The post was met with awe and laughter, along with helpful information from wildlife officials.
“Her home is located in historical condor habitat where natural food sources occur,” responded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. “Unfortunately they sometimes perceive houses and decks as suitable perch locations.”
As of May 5, Flyn had indicated that the birds had left the porch and settled in the trees above, not before noting the insanity of seeing that many critically endangered animals at one time.
“Still wild to me that in my lifetime there went from being about 25 condors left alive to now almost that many descending on my moms house at once,” she wrote. “Makes me wonder if we will start seeing more giant flocks as their numbers rise.”
Many of the condors in California are located near the Pinnacles National Park, where a program has been hatching and releasing them back into the wild. Based on the numbers of the condors in the photos, the house is located somewhere near the Big Sur area.
She does think this is pretty amazing but also the worst. They don’t have to leave her property but leave the house alone. They keep hanging out on her roof and railings messing with stuff and pooping everywhere. Trees are fine but not the house please 🙠pic.twitter.com/QhE9XVERZF
— Seana Lyn (@SeanaLyn) May 5, 2021
Earlier this year, the Yurok Tribe announced it will create a new California condor release facility in Redwood National Park, the northern portion of the species’ historic range. The program will help reintroduce the endangered birds to the coast of Northern California, likely adding to the 160 condors that currently live in the state.
Twitter users could not help but make jokes in the comments of Lyn’s post.
“Just 10% of the local population of these critically endangered animals show up to have an uninvited house party. Incredible,” wrote Twitter user @ploverkid.
“Ah yes, the mighty California Condor, once roaming the lands of North America, scavaging off of Mammoth carcasses, surviving Dire Wolf attacks, now in your back yard breaking things,” wrote @ZacThePaleoNerd.
Although it may have been an inconvenience for Lyn’s mother, she was afforded the rare opportunity to see these endangered animals up close. Pretty darn cool, if you ask me.
