 California
Condors Go Solar
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| GO Solar Company designed and installed
two solar electric systems deep within the rugged Ventana Wilderness
area of Big Sur California, to provide power for surveillance
cameras, radio transmitters and a telephone repeater. This combination
of high tech equipment allows for remote surveillance of the
condor sanctuary and the ability to transmit images to the refuge
base camp as well as to zoos and schools via the internet. |
California Condor |
| The California Condor
reintroduction program is succeeding in providing a safe and
secure future for this magnificent raptor. With a wingspan of
over nine feet, the California condor soars on thermals and updrafts
for distances over a hundred miles at a time. Condors lay only
one egg each year and by the age of 5 or 6 the bird will be ready
to find a mate, to bond with for life. During the breeding season,
condors search for nest sites in mountains like those of Monterey
County. |
Condors flying the coast of Big
Sur California |
Base Camp Installation
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| The field site and surrounding wilderness
is highly restricted to ensure for unhindered establishment of
a highly endangered species. Joe Burnett, Condor Field Supervisor
for the Ventana Wilderness Society directed this solar powered
surveillance and communication system installation. The installation
involved mounting one system in the condor reintroduction flight
pen area and had to be installed under cover of darkness, so
as not to desensitize its inhabitants. |
Joe digging the hole for the
solar equipment pole |
| The electricity required for the base camp monitoring
equipment is generated by four Siemens SP-75 watt solar panels.
An additional Siemens SM-46 watt panel was mounted to supply
power for a 12 volt light in the bunk house. These systems have
to be reliable and effective and are only accessible by a few
individuals because of the remote and inaccessible location.
As usual a solar Path Finder proved invaluable in determining
the least shaded location for the solar panels. |
Clean quiet solar power |
| Enough electricity is stored to
allow for the continuous and uninterrupted supply of power even
in the event of five days of inclement weather. Two lockable
boxes contain four Concord 100 Amp hour sealed batteries. The
ProStar 30 Amp solar charge controller displays the battery voltage,
solar panel current and load current. All circuits are fused
with DC fuses which are readily available locally. |
Solar battery containers and
controller |
Flight Pen Installation
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| The solar equipment
installed next to the condor flight pen was installed at night,
to avoid human contact with the birds in this area. With the
expected arrival of a new pair of condors from the San Diego
Zoo on 12/18/00, the solar powered radio telemetry video monitoring
system had to be completed before the site was off limits to
humans, otherwise it would have been necessary to delay this
project for a year. When new birds arrive they spend three to
six months in the flight pen for a period of intense physical
and social development. A condor's view from this flight pen
is a view of the breathtaking surrounding steep canyon. The raptor's
natural habitat challenged the agility of the team. The panels,
batteries, aluminum battery container, equipment and tools had
to be carried down to the edge of a cliff in the dark of night.
This was a fun and challenging installation, the team worked
all night, with nothing but flashlights, in the rain on the side
of a slippery hill with a 45-degree slope and temperatures in
the mid 30's. A small telephone pole used to train birds not
to perch on power lines was the best location to mount the solar
equipment. The solar equipment now powers a surveillance camera
and a wireless transmitter. Images from the surveillance camera
are transmitted to the base camp monitoring system. This information
is then transmitted from the base camp to the internet. |
Condor flight pen, actually much
larger than it appears
View from the flight pen at dusk
Wiring panels together before
the hike |
Monitoring condor activity from
the base camp |
Condor base camp power distribution
panel |
One of the flight pen cameras
(top of photo) |
Solar and radio telemetry equipment |
Testimonials:
 Testimonial from
US Congressman Sam Farr
Hi Graham,
I just wanted to drop you a quick e-mail to
say thanks for the great job you did for us and for all of your
help. This project would not have been possible without you.
I especially appreciate the QUALITY of your work. It's nice to
know there are still people like you who take pride in what they
do.
You'll be getting two separate letters of
thanks in the mail in the next few days.
Dave Hadden, Terra Focus 12/19/2000
Hi Graham,
We haven't forgotten about you. Your solar
installation continues to work flawlessly. The Ventana Wilderness
Society condor release crew has used the video monitor for many
months without any problems and has NEVER had any down time for
lack of charge or storage capacity; even after long periods of
overcast. Great installation.
Every time we go up to the site to work, we
are grateful for the very professional, bullet-proof installation
you did for us.
Dave Hadden , Terra Focus 12/17/2001
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The Condor Crew
In the photo starting at left side of table in front and going
back:
Stan Whipp, Dave Greathouse, Graham Owen. Standing in back going
from left to right: Eddie Gonzalez, Marylise Lefevre, Joe Burnett,
Dave Hadden. Seated on right side of table going from front to
back: Dave Monley, Jeff McCall. |
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