Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am
Posts: 12730
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 I am going to post the video of the last few minutes of Iniko on cam up to the fire burning the cables underneath the nest tree. I was watching this live that evening (it was already dark) and all you are able to see is due to the glow and reflections of the fire. The noise you hear is the sound of the actual fire and when they pan to the opening of the nest cavity the whitest areas you see are the actual flames of the fire. Just prior to this captured video by Ventana Wildlife Society, Iniko had been sleeping on the floor of the nest and when they panned to the nest opening you could see and hear the flames moving toward the nest tree, then he/she awoke and I think preened a little, then realizes something is different and eased toward the opening to look out, he turned around and the last thing you see is Iniko flapping his wings and I assume this was done out of fear. It was so heartbreaking to see and although I know we are not suppose to compare to human emotions, I could think of nothing else. To awaken and start on your normal routine and then it slowly dawns on you that something is different and to ease from your bed and pensively walk to the window to see the encroaching fire, but you are too young to escape and alone. The remainder of the video is later in the middle of the night of the sanctuary burning. It is located about one mile from the nest.
 Last minutes of cams till the Dolan Fire burned through the cables of same.
Also in their latest update, the chick they rescued and took to the zoo was one they had not included in the updates and was located on a ridge that the fire would be overtaking soon. Unfortunately, "Kingpin" (Iniko's Dad) has not been found as yet.
Ventana Wildlife Soc Mod • 3 hours ago
September 3, 2020 Update:
Condor Nestling “Iniko” Survives the Dolan Fire and More Good News
We are delighted to share the wonderful news that condor chick “Iniko” #1031 is alive and well! Our field crew was given the green light by fire authorities with the US Forest Service to go into the Dolan Fire burn scar area and view the Redwood nest tree of “Kingpin” #167 and “Redwood Queen” #190.
Photo of Iniko after the fire by the biologists taken on 9/2/2020.
The fire burned just ten feet below the nest cavity, yet “Iniko” survived the fire as observed by Ventana Wildlife Society biologists, Joe Burnett and Darren Gross.
“We were not optimistic as we hiked through the fire’s devastation. To find Iniko alive and well is simply a miracle,” said Burnett.
Redwood Queen was spotted perched in redwood tree near the nest and keeping a close eye on Iniko, which is great news. Unfortunately, KingPin was not seen...the search continues for he and 10 others still missing since the Dolan Fire burned through.
While we are overjoyed to find “Iniko,” there is now a fifth condor chick #1033 directly impacted by the Dolan Fire. We are happy to report that yesterday, #1033 was saved from her nest, where she was in a cliff cavity directly in the path of the advancing Dolan fire line. Working quickly with our longtime partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Pinnacles National Park, the VWS-Pinnacles field team heroically saved chick #1033. Chick #1033, age 4 months, has been relying on only her father, “Puff Daddy” #219, as her mother “Wild 1” 231 disappeared last May. Ventana Wildlife Society biologist Stephanie Herrera safely delivered chick #1033 to her new temporary home at the Los Angeles Zoo where she will spend the next year until ready to be released back into the wild and reunited with her flock.
We are still missing 11 condors, including two chicks and nine adults/sub-adults. The Dolan Fire has burned over 31,000 acres and is currently 40% contained. As the Dolan Fire rages on, help us rebuild the Condor’s Big Sur Sanctuary. Our goal is to raise $500,000 to continue our work restoring this magnificent species.
We will continue to post updates on our homepage as we determine the fate of these missing condors to keep you all informed. Thank you all for your concern, support, and well-wishes.
And here is a photo of "Puff Daddy" by Tim Huntington that I could not resist on May 24, 2018:
And Tim's words: "California condor #219 "Puff Daddy" showing how he got his nickname earlier today in Big Sur." 
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Iniko survived Dolan Fire!! 
Gabby returned to the Hamlet this evening!! Samson returned the evening of August 15th!! Harriet and M15 haven't even had their vacay yet as E15 is still there tonight ...