A rare Andean Condor chick that hatched at the National Aviary Friday has died.
The aviary said it determined the chick had not survived after observing “abnormal parenting behavior” by the male condor, Lurch, on Sunday morning, officials said in a statement.
“It is normal parenting behavior for the male and female to take turns brooding and feeding the chick in the nest. That behavior had been observed regularly and consistently with the parents over the first two days,” spokeswoman Robin Weber said.
“Then abruptly, the male condor removed the chick from the nest,” she said. “Removing the chick from the nest is abnormal behavior, and, unfortunately, the chick did not survive.”
It had been the first Andean Condor chick to hatch at the aviary since 2007, and had been the only one to hatch this year at an Association of Zoos & Aquariums accredited zoo in North America.
Andean Condors are the largest birds in the world that can fly and have a wingspan of about 10 feet. They nest on cliffs and typically lay one egg a year.
The female condor at the aviary, Lianni, has produced four previous chicks. Three were released into the wild in Colombia to help boost their wild populations, and the other lives in a conservation center in Florida.
The aviary said the first 48 hours after hatching are critical as both parents and chicks establish their instinctual care behaviors and routines.
“Our animal care and veterinary teams have been monitoring the parents and the chick very closely throughout this time,” the aviary said in its statement. “Both parents and the chick were exhibiting normal behaviors and had optimal conditions for success. This outcome was very unfortunate and unpredictable but is not uncommon during this delicate stage.”
The aviary’s Andean Condor breeding program is part of a global effort to save Andean Condors, which are threatened throughout much of their range and critically endangered in Ecuador.
“The entire staff of the National Aviary is deeply saddened, but we remain hopeful for the future of our condor breeding program,” the aviary said.
