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274 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 7 California condor "The Great One" (left) and his wild born and fledged juvenile son "Arthur" perch on top of the flight pen at the Ventana Wildlife Society condor sanctuary. The program has helped the condor population grow from 22 to 446. the problem, VWS began distributing free, non-lead ammunition in 2012. That effort, and a captive-bred release program launched 20 years ago in Big Sur, has helped boost the total population from just 22 condors to 446 worldwide. "We've distributed $130,000 worth of ammunition through this pro- gram, and area hunters and ranchers have been willingly making the shift," says Sorenson. "This is the leading reason that condors will survive." Though the organization's Big Sur condor tours are on hold during Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge reconstruction (they'll resume after the bridge's scheduled September reopening), VWS staff members continue collabo- rating with Pinnacles National Park teams to support the birds. The organization also par tners with California State Parks to operate its seasonal Big Sur Discovery Center at Andrew Molera State Park. VWS offers summer-season and school year wilderness camps, nature experiences and other hands-on activities for students ages four through 17, as well. Ventana Wildlife Society further extends its reach with the help of vol- unteers like Tim Huntington, a software engineer and photographer who moved to California about 20 years ago. His interest in condors evolved into a regular volunteer role with VWS. In addition to donating his wildlife images to the organization, Huntington wrote software that helps individuals identify free-flying con- dors and learn about each bird's lineage and release history. That informa- tion is available at condorspotter.com. He also tracks birds and checks nests with VWS naturalists. In 2015 alone, Huntington spent more than 120 days following condors on the Monterey County coast. He shot video footage along the way, and later packaged the clips into a 27-minute film called "The California Condors of Big Sur." The documentary was screened at this year's San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. On September 8, it will be shown dur- ing a VWS event at Carmel's Sunset Center. "The film touches on pecking order, new parents and why condors are