Multiple Condors wreak Havoc at California Woman’s Home

The giant condors of California (USA) are rare, but not in the Cinda Mickols house. Between 15 and 20 of these gigantic birds have fallen in love with the house in the city of Tehachapi and caused some damage.

Mickols’ daughter Seana Quintero of San Francisco began posting photos of the rowdy and disorderly guests on Twitter.

Quintero told the San Francisco Chronicle that the birds arrived at his mother’s house last weekend. Condors have damaged a tub cover, decorative flags, and garden ornaments. They have thrown plants, scratched railings and left excrement everywhere.

“She’s definitely frustrated, but she’s also in awe, and she knows it’s an unusual experience.”Quintero pointed out in reference to his mother.

The Federal Fish and Wildlife Service, which runs a program to save species from extinction, responded via Twitter. The agency noted that the house is located in a historic condor habitat, and recommended some harmless actions to Mickols such as yelling, clapping or spraying water.

California condor droppings are left strewn on a porch after a flock of rare and endangered birds took over the deck over the weekend in Tehachapi, California. About 15 to 20 of the endangered giant birds have recently fallen in love with the house in Tehachapi and made a big mess. (Photo: Cinda Mickols via Globe Live Media) (Cinda Mickols /)

“It is not uncommon to see large congregations of condors in certain high urbanized areas such as the region where this incident is recorded, especially when they feed.” Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Pam Bierce said in an email. “Unfortunately, they sometimes perceive houses and terraces as suitable places to perch”.

California condors rest on Cinda Mickols’ porch as a flock of rare and endangered birds took over their deck over the weekend in Tehachapi, California. About 15 to 20 of the endangered giant birds have recently fallen in love with the house in Tehachapi and have made quite a mess. (Photo: Cinda Mickols via Globe Live Media) (Cinda Mickols /)

The condors of California almost disappeared in the 1980s and the few remaining of them were captured and placed in zoos to be raised in captivity. A few hundred are already in the wild.

As condors recolonize parts of their historic habitat, interactions between people and these “curious, intelligent and social” birds may increase, Bierce noted.