California Condor #286 aka "Pinns"

Condor #161 aka "Matriarch" Condor #167 aka "Kingpin" Condor #168 aka "Beak Boy" Condor # 171, aka "Traveler" Condor #190, aka "Slope Slug" Condor #192 aka "Purist" Condor #194, aka "Whalewatcher" Condor #199, aka "The Great One" Condor #204, aka "Amigo" Condor #208 aka "Solo" Condor #209 aka "Shadow" Condor #219 aka "The Rock" Condor #222 aka "Cosmo" Condor #231 aka "Wild1" Condor #236 aka "Tiny" Condor #242 aka "Red" Condor #251 aka "Crush" Condor #286 aka "Pinns" Condor #294 aka "Late Bloomer" Condor #298 aka "Plain Jane" Condor #303 aka "Lucia" Condor #311 aka "Loner" Condor #318 aka "Benito" Condor #375 aka "Survivor" Condor # 444, aka: "Ventana" Condor #470 aka "Fuego" Condor #477 aka "Phoenix" Condor #499 aka "Gypsy" Condor #501 aka "Spirit" Condor #538 aka "Miracle" Condor #567 aka "McWay" Condor #574 aka "Nomad" More profiles of Pinnacles Condors

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Hatchday: May 16th, 2002 Hatch location San Diego Wild Animal Park Sex: Male Current Status: Deceased May 11, 2009 due to Lead Poisoning. Offspring: none Current location: Big Sur, CA

Known as "Pinns", Condor 286 was captured in March 2009 after biologists noticed he was suffering from the lethal effects of lead poisoning. Pinns was sent to LA Zoo for treatment, but veterinarians were not able to save him in time. Pinns will be remembered for his leadership at Pinnacles and for establishing the first nesting territory in that region in over 100 years.

Pinns and his cohort were released at Pinnacles National Monument - the first release at that site. But in their first spring, biologists noticed that several condors were perching on power poles. Power poles pose a huge safety risk for large birds. If a condor touches both metal posts at either end of the crosspiece simultaneously, then a huge amount of electricity would travel through them, electrocuting them instantly.

The condors at Pinnacles who were the "ringleaders" and perched frequently on crosspieces were permanently returned to captivity. Pinns was a follower - perching on crosspieces only after other condors were already there - so it was decided that he could have another chance in the wild. He was released the second time in Big Sur as we hoped that a new environment would encourage him to avoid his old dangerous patterns. We are happy to say that he has never been seen perched on a crosspiece since his Big Sur release. It is a bit sad that he is most remembered for his past mistakes, but we are happy to see him following a healthy path now.
Note: Pinns deceased in May 2009 due to lead poisoning.

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