Reproductive behavior in captive California condors (Gymnogyps californianus)

Abstract

From the fall of 1987 to the spring of 1994, data on reproductive behavior were collected on seven different pairs of California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) housed at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Behavioral data were collected from videotaped activities in their flight pens. Behaviors for this report include male and female displays and incomplete and complete copulations. Data on the time it took for females to recycle and lay another egg after egg removal were acquired from the California Condor Studbook. Male display rates were significantly higher than female rates throughout the breeding season. Males began displaying 52–132 days before the start of copulations. Copulations slowly increased from Day ‐51 and peaked ∼ Day ‐8, prior to egg laying. Female display rates were significantly more frequent at the end of the season after the last egg was laid. An average of 26.8 (±3.1 SEM) copulations occurred prior to egg laying. Copulations occurred throughout the day, with the higher mean percentages occurring between 0700 and 0900 hours. After egg removal, the interval between laying of the first and second eggs and between the second and third eggs had a mean of 34.1 (±10.1 SD) days. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Egg size, fertility, hatchability, and chick survivability in captive California condors (Gymnogyps californianus)

“…California condors engage in multiple copulations over many days before oviposition [Harvey et al, 1996]. In spite of observed copulations, four sexually mature males produced 45.0% (9/20) and 40.0% (2/5) of the infertile eggs at the WAP and LAZ, respectively.…”