For Immediate UseContact: Garrison Frost
February 28, 2008(323) 951-9620

Santa Barbara, CA – Audubon California today will honor Santa Barbara Assemblyman Pedro Nava and three others for their efforts to protect and restore the California Condor. Nava recently pushed through important legislation that creates vital new protections for the California Condor, ensuring the continued recovery of one of the state’s signature species from the brink of extinction.

“With AB 821, Assemblyman Nava told the rest of the world that California is not going to stand by and watch this glorious bird fall back to the brink of extinction,” said Glenn Olson, executive director of Audubon California. “Through his advocacy, he raised awareness of the Condor’s plight to new levels and returned California to the forefront of the conservation movement.”

The Ridley-Tree Condor Conservation Act (AB 821), authored by Nava, effectively bans the use of lead ammunition in areas inhabited by the California Condor. Condors frequently feed on animal carcasses left behind by hunters, and ingest dangerously high levels of lead from ammunition. It is estimated that roughly 30 Condors have perished in this manner in the last 10 years.

“The Condor is an integral part of California’s natural heritage,” said Nava, whose legislation was approved by the Legislature in September of 2007, and signed by the governor in October. “I am deeply thankful to Audubon California not only for this recognition, but also for all of the work it put into assuring passage of this vital legislation.”

Audubon California also will honor the husband-wife team of Noel and Helen Snyder. In the early 1980s, Noel Snyder was chosen as co-leader of the initial Condor Recovery Team jointly established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Audubon Society. Both biologists, Noel and Helen have co-authored several books on birds, including Condors and North American raptors.

Janet Hamber will also be honored for her longtime service to Condor conservation. Also a trained biologist, Hamber first joined the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum’s Condor efforts in the mid-1970s and has been involved in field work ever since. Working as a volunteer since the 1980s, Hamber’s many hours in the field have been invaluable to the overall recovery effort.

“The California Condor’s recovery over the last two decades is directly the result of the hard work and dedication of people like Noel and Helen Snyder, and Jan Hamber,” said Olson. “We owe these people a great debt of thanks.”

The California Condor population dwindled to fewer than two dozen birds in the mid-1980s. Thanks to a strong recovery program fueled by the passion of people like the Snyders and Hamber, the population has grown to nearly 300. The Condor has once again become a free-soaring bird over the canyons of Southern California, the Southwester United States and Baja, Mexico.

About Audubon California

Audubon California is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of Audubon. This relationship links Audubon California to a national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engaging millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation.

More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.