10/13/07 American Bird Conservancy

(Washington, D.C., October 13, 2007) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation today intended to protect the endangered California Condor. There have been 276 documented cases of lead poisoning of California Condors since 2000, and a dozen deaths possibly linked to lead. Only 127 of the birds currently fly free in the wild, 70 of them in California.

"We very much appreciate that Gov. Schwarzenegger chose to do what's right for the California Condor by signing this bill into law," said Dr. Michael Fry, American Bird Conservancy's Director of Conservation Advocacy. "Gov. Schwarzenegger is very pro-hunting and pro-gun rights. His signing this bill is a confirmation that this law is not anti-gun - it is an anti-lead measure. Non-toxic, lead-free ammunition is widely available, and hunters are able to obtain ammunition that will not poison condors if they eat bullet fragments left in carcasses in the field."

The California Senate and Assembly recently passed and now Gov. Schwarzenegger has signed into law the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act (Assembly Bill 821, proposed by Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara), an historic protection measure for the condors. The act mandates non-toxic bullets for big-game hunting in condor habitat, and will significantly reduced the risk of lead poisoning of condors in California.

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American Bird Conservancy is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement. ABC is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected; that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat. ABC is a membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.