Condor Comeback

Starred review from May 18, 2020
The California Condor’s stunning and fragile existence swoops into focus in the latest Scientists in the Field title. In 1982, fewer than two dozen California Condors were left in the wild, their numbers decimated by hunting, habitat loss, and poisoning from lead shot in the animal carcasses they eat. A collective effort led by conservationists and zoos is slowly rebuilding the population, but they remain critically endangered. As Montgomery relates this history, she introduces readers to scientists and volunteers, mostly women, working to protect the condor today, including experts at the Los Angeles Zoo, field ornithologists checking each wild bird, toxicologists testing for lead, and a Chumash tribal educator who discusses how “the condor is a spirit helper for the Chumash.” Alongside Strombeck’s crisp photographs, Montgomery details the realities of their work—from thrilling moments such as spotting a baby chick to long observation sessions where not much happens—and has a knack for evocative descriptions (a “bird half the size of a small sofa,” “rustling feathers—like dozens of debutantes in taffeta ballgowns”). Though the condor’s future remains tenuous, Montgomery’s compelling page-turner inspires optimism. Ages 10–12.

June 1, 2020

Gr 5-7-Condors, the largest birds in North America, are in danger. Zoos and condor conservationists are fighting to stop their population numbers in the wild from dwindling and to keep their natural habitats from shrinking. While scavengers might get a bad rap, this book explains the need for condors in the ecosystem, as well as the efforts to save them. Like many of Montgomery's nonfiction titles in the series, this recent entry does an excellent job of incorporating facts and narrative information about an animal not typically covered in stand-alone titles. The engaging call-to-action message is paired with gorgeous photographs that immerse readers in the condors' world. Each chapter describes a different aspect of condor conservation, including the care and upkeep of baby condor chicks and how to train children to be the next generation of conservationists; also found here are many harrowing stories of how scientists have protected these majestic birds. A historic time line of condors, an epilogue about some of the condors featured, a list of what readers can do to save these birds, a bibliography, further reading, and an index are included. VERDICT This worthy addition to elementary and middle school nonfiction collections spotlights the plight of a misunderstood bird.-Molly Dettmann, Norman North H.S., OK

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2020
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* The California condor, a four-foot-tall bird with a wingspan well over nine feet, has lived in North America for 2.6 million years. Declared critically endangered in the 1980s, when their population dwindled to 22, this species of vultures became extinct in the wild. Meanwhile, their numbers gradually began to increase, as zoo-based conservation programs housed and cared for the remaining birds, identified threats to their survival, and began reintroducing them to the wild. Teams of scientists continue to monitor the health of individual birds, checking their progress through observation in the field, tracking devices, video monitoring of nests, and medical check-ups. Montgomery, who wrote the Sibert Award-winning Kakapo Rescue (2010), takes readers along as she meets scientists and researchers and learns about their efforts to identify and mitigate dangers to condors. In one memorable chapter, she holds individual condors during their health exams. Her respect for both the birds and the scientists is evident. Throughout this handsome volume, Strombeck's exceptionally clear, beautifully composed photos show condors in their mountainous habitats, chicks in their nests, and researchers working in their offices and labs, outdoors, and at a local school, where they educate kids about condor conservation. A captivating introduction to the California condor (population, over 450).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2020
Veteran science writer Montgomery provides insight into the work of saving the California condor. This book focuses on Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, director of conservation science at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and her team of wildlife biologists, who have successfully reintroduced the species into the wild. With characteristic enthusiasm for her subject, Montgomery discusses how the zoo cares for condors in captivity, meticulously tracks birds in the wild, and learns from successes and mistakes. Both the passionate text and well-captioned color photos encourage respect for these impressive birds. "What You Can Do" suggestions are appended, as are a timeline, bibliography, related websites, and index.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 15, 2020
A veteran nature writer explores and explains the work in progress of restoring the near-extinct California condor population. Montgomery, no stranger to science in the field, opens her introduction to this ongoing captive breeding program with a visit to the Santa Barbara Zoo. The zoo's director of conservation, Estelle Sandhaus, introduces the writer and her readers to the species and the restoration process. They join ongoing California fieldwork in the form of condor checkups. These birds are still so endangered that wildlife specialists attempt to recapture each condor living in the wild every year, to check on its health and tracking devices. In an immediate, present-tense narrative, the writer describes the details of these checkups and some of the hazards: While holding birds, she was pooped on and bitten. They visit a biologist watching a nest site and see a new fledgling. After readers are thoroughly engaged with the birds, the writer steps back to describe continuing dangers--lead poisoning and microtrash--and the lab work that identifies the problems. She touches on the effects of wildfires in the birds' neighborhoods; visits another nest watch; and talks with a tribal educator with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, who revere the condors and are especially interested in their return. She and Dr. Sandhaus watch a chick webcam and meet third graders who've been studying condors. Close-up and long-range photos enliven every page. Most but not all of the researchers are white; the students are mostly Latinx, and one uses a wheelchair. Hopeful news in the natural world. (timeline, epilogue, what you can do, bibliography, to learn more, index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)

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