Project Description
The Condor’s Shadow
The Condor’s Shadow profiles a bold and feisty condor named Pitahsi and a larger-than-life biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Joseph Brandt. Together they reveal the passion required to reestablish the California condor in a world that defies the bird’s prehistoric origins.
Thirty years after a heroic effort commenced to recover the species with just twenty-two birds remaining on earth we can celebrate this story of endangered species recovery. In spite of this success, the California condor’s future is not quite secure. The film explores how human preferences prevent the largest North American land bird from flying free. The Condor’s Shadow is a moving story of environmental challenge, passionate conservationists, and a beautiful soaring bird.
55 min. – International broadcast distribution by Off The Fence, BV
Website: www.theCondorsShadow.com
During the bi-annual health checks the southern California flock of condors undergoes, each bird must be handled to test their blood for lead contamination.
USFWS biologist Joseph Brandt descends a rock face to access a California condor nest within the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge.
USFWS biologists Joseph Brandt & Josh Felch completing a health check on a mature California condor at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge.
Toxicologist Myra Finkelstein of UC Santa Cruz holds a California condor wing feather while describing her research involving lead contamination in condors. Her work was instrumental in the passage of a California state law to phase out the use of lead ammunition for hunting in California by 2019.
USFWS biologist Blake Massey within a California condor nest performing a health check on a condor chick.
