Condor found dead at Pinnacles

It's a sad day. One of the newly released condors at Pinnacles has been found dead, lying on its back in a field. The juvenile bird had been feeding and roosting normally since it took its first flight into freedom less than a month ago. They don't have any clues as to why the bird died, but presumably they'll find something out in the autopsy.

So hats off and a moment of silence. These birds may not have any ecological value, but they are symbolic for our wilderness. When one of them dies, it's a step in the wrong direction.