A Southwest Conservation Experience and the Status of California Condor Conservation

Abstract

The objective of this Senior Integrated Project was to gain a better understanding of careers in conservation by gaining firsthand experience doing physical field work, and by conducting academic research on conservation more broadly. For my experiential SIP, I went to Arizona to work for the American Conservation Experience (ACE), where I had the opportunity to work alongside and gain career insight and new skills from experienced professionals in the field of land management and conservation. The work I did took place on federal lands, specifically Coconino National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park. In doing this work, I happened to witness the critically endangered California condors in the wild. I was quite moved by these encounters, which inspired me to conduct my literature review on the anthropogenic threats faced by California condors, and how conservation efforts are bringing this species back from the brink of extinction and putting them on a trajectory of growth. Having gained this new experience and knowledge, it has become clearer to me how rewarding and impactful conservation work can be.