CONDOR RELEASE IN ARIZONA POSTPONED.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Nine adolescent California condors will have to wait a little longer before they get to fly across northern Arizona's skies. A lawsuit and drought conditions "Drought Conditions" is episode 126 of The West Wing. Plot Senator Rafferty, a new presidential candidate garnered much media attention with a ground-breaking speech about health care. have pushed back the July 10 date for releasing the endangered birds in the Vermilion Cliffs The Vermilion Cliffs are the second "step" up in the five-step Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau. Reddish or vermilion-colored cliffs are found along U.S. Highway 89 and U.S. Highway 89A near Kanab, Utah (and near Navajo Bridge in Arizona). area 50 miles north of the Grand Canyon, said Robert Mesta, condor program manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A suit filed last month by San Juan County, Utah San Juan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. In area it is the largest county in the state. In 2000 its population was 14,413; by 2005 the population has been estimated to have decreased to 14,104. , seeks an injunction blocking their release. Among other things, the San Juan County San Juan County is the name of four counties in the United States:
Mesta said the final environmental decision will be completed and published in the Federal Register within two weeks. However, the lawsuit has taxed condor program resources and could eventually result in an injunction. Mesta said the earliest the condors could be released is in late July but that the suit could delay the release until next winter or beyond. Even if the litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. is resolved soon, Mesta said the condor release could be delayed until the end of the summer because of the severe drought gripping northern Arizona, even though the birds can handle high temperatures and dry conditions. ``It just puts an additional stress on them. Our goal is to eliminate as much stress as possible,'' Mesta said. ``One way or another, we'll have a release.'' Right now, the nine adolescent condors are at an ideal age for release, but Mesta said there's no problem if they age a little more. He said 16 chicks were born this year that will be ready for release in the winter. ``If this thing drags on until next winter, we may look at releasing younger birds or some combination of younger birds and older birds,'' Mesta said. The condor, with its 10-foot wingspan, is the largest flying bird in North America. Captive breeding captive breeding mating programs designed for use with animals kept in captivity. See also hand mating. efforts have increased the population to more than 100 from only 21 in 1982. Some birds have been introduced into the wild in California, but none so far has been released in Arizona. |
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