Iniko (1031) hatched April 25, 2020. Her name means "Born during troubled times" and this girl's story is remarkable!
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By the 1980s, the California Condor was on the brink of extinction. Populations had plummeted due to shooting, poisoning, collisions with power lines, egg collecting, and habitat loss. In 1987, the last wild condor was brought into captivity, joining just 26 others in a desperate effort to save the species. No one knew if these magnificent birds - with wings stretching nearly 10 feet—would ever soar freely again.
As the fate of the species hung in the balance, Ventana Wildlife Society took action. In 1997, we began releasing captive-bred condors along California’s central coast, restoring them to the wild where they belong. Since then, we’ve monitored their growing population, studied their scavenging on marine and terrestrial mammals, and celebrated their success nesting in the wild once more. These magnificent birds are now self-sufficient in most respects, but full recovery of the population is still threatened by lead poisoning. Together with the National Park Service, we continue to manage the central California flock—moving ever closer to our goal of a fully self-sustaining population. |
Continuing the Comeback
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With the success of the captive breeding program - led by the San Diego Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo - attention turned to returning condors to the wild. The first releases began in 1992 at former strongholds in southern California, followed by releases in Arizona near the Grand Canyon in 1996. Monterey County, along California’s central coast, was also part of the condor’s historical range. In fact, Spanish explorer Father Antonio de la Ascensión recorded the earliest known sighting of condors in Monterey Bay in 1602, and the type specimen was collected in Monterey County in 1797.
In 1997, Ventana Wildlife Society began releasing condors on the Big Sur coast, reintroducing these majestic birds to their ancestral home. We are proud to collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Peregrine Fund, National Park Service, Zoological Society of San Diego, Los Angeles Zoo, Oregon Zoo, and most recently Oakland Zoo in re-establishing, monitoring, and managing wild populations of California Condors. Because of these combined efforts - and the partnership with our neighbors at Pinnacles National Monument - the central California population continues to grow. In 2006, a Big Sur condor pair nested in the burned-out cavity of a Coast Redwood, marking the first known nesting attempt in northern California in more than 100 years, and the first ever recorded in a redwood tree. That same year, condors were observed feeding on a gray whale carcass along the Big Sur coast - an event not seen since Lewis and Clark documented condors feeding on a whale near the mouth of the Columbia River in 1805. Although recovery progress has been remarkable, serious challenges remain. Condors feed exclusively on carcasses and are vulnerable to poisoning from contaminants in their food. Lead poisoning - caused by fragments from lead ammunition - remains the greatest threat, despite the statewide ban on lead bullets. To combat this, we provide non-lead food sources, trap and treat condors with high lead levels, and use radio tracking to account for each bird nearly every day. We've also been working with ranchers and hunters in the region since 2012. These efforts have saved many lives and allowed the population to continue growing. Our biologists also monitor nesting sites closely to protect productivity and improve breeding success. We look forward to the day when condors can thrive without management intervention. The long-term goal of the California Condor Recovery Program is to establish two self-sustaining wild populations - one in California and one in Arizona and one captive population, each with at least 150 birds and 15 breeding pairs. While we’re not there yet, the remarkable comeback of the California Condor proves that with dedication, collaboration, and science-based management, recovery is within reach. |
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Timeline
• Prehistory – California Condors range along both coasts from British Columbia to Baja California and from New York to Florida.
• 1602 – First recorded condor sighting by a European, Father Antonio de la Ascension, in Monterey Bay.
• 1805 – Lewis and Clark report sighting a condor, calling it "beautiful buzzard of the Columbia".
• 1939 – National Audubon Society researcher Carl Koford begins landmark field studies. Koford estimates 60-100 condors remain in the wild.
• 1967 – California Condor is included in the first federal list of U.S. endangered species.
• 1975 – California Condor Recovery Team is established and the recovery plan is adopted.
• 1979 – 25-35 California Condors remain in the wild. Cooperative California Condor Conservation Program is formed.
• 1980-1987 – Field investigations and management programs include radio telemetry and captive incubation of wild eggs.
• 1982 – Only 22 California Condors remain in the wild.
• 1983 – First successful hatching for a wild California Condor egg in captivity.
• 1987 – Last wild California Condor taken into captivity. Only 27 condors remain in captive breeding facilities at Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park.
• 1988 – First successful breeding of captive California Condors at the San Diego Zoo.
• 1992 – Two captive-bred California Condors reintroduced into the wild, accompanied by two Andean Condors.
• 1993 – Third California Condor breeding center established at World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho.
• 1994 – Captive California Condors have laid a total of more than 100 eggs.
• 1996 – California Condor population reaches 103, including 13 in the wild. Releases begin in San Luis Obispo County, California, and near the Grand Canyon, Arizona.
• 1997 – Releases begin in Monterey County by Ventana Wildlife Society.
• 1999 – California Condor population reaches 147, including 50 in the wild. The Big Sur flock is documented feeding on sea lion carcasses for the first time.
• 2000 – AC8 is the first of the wild-born birds re-released into the wild.
• 2001 – The Oregon Zoo joins the Recovery Program as the fourth captive breeding partner.
• 2002 – First chick born in the wild successfully fledges in Ventura County. Condors are released in Baja California.
• 2003 – Condors are released at Pinnacles National Monument, San Benito County, California.
• 2004 – AC9, the last condor taken from the wild in 1987 re-released in southern California.
• 2006 – First nesting attempt for the re-introduced flock in Big Sur. The nest fails and eggshell fragments recovered are found to be thin. Condors in this flock observed feeding on a Gray Whale carcass for the first time in over 200 years.
• 2007 – Eggshell thinning research initiated in Big Sur. Wild-laid eggs are switched out with captive-laid eggs and hatched in captivity to maximize nest success.
• 2008 – First chick from a wild-laid egg fledges in the wild in Big Sur and survives, two additional chicks from captive-laid eggs fledge and one survives. The number of free-flying condors exceeds the number in captivity for first time in over 20 years. The use of lead bullets is outlawed in California within condor range.
• 2009 – First nest in San Benito County. In central California, 4 chicks successfully fledge in the wild and survive (one from a wild-laid egg and three from captive-laid eggs).
• 2010 – In central California, two chicks fledge in the wild (one from a wild-laid egg and one from a captive-laid egg). Broken egg discovered in Big Sur with thin eggshell fragments.
• 2011 – Ventana Wildlife Society acquires 80 acres of land referred to as the "Condor Sanctuary". This remote coastal canyon surrounded by the Ventana Wilderness in Big Sur, California is where the reintroduction has taken place since 1997. As of March, the global population is 192 wild and 177 captive birds.
• 2012 – Condors 663, 664, and 665 fledged from nests in the wild in central California. Death of Condor 318 from lead toxicosis; a .22-caliber lead bullet is recovered from the digestive tract of this bird. The global population reaches 231 birds in the wild and 176 in captivity (as of November).
• 2013 – Assembly Bill 711 is passed requiring the use of non-lead ammunition when taking wildlife throughout California. A difficult year for the central California population, due to the deaths of several more condors and reproductive failure at all local nests. The central California population dips to 61 birds, and the global population is 217 birds in the wild and 203 in captivity (as of September).
• 2015 – Ventana Wildlife Society opens new release site at San Simeon to increase condor distribution along the central coast. Central coast population is at 70 birds and the global wild population is approaching 240.
• 2017 – Our first nest by two wild-fledged birds. Young breeders at the age of 8 and 7, this pair is an example of successful recruitment of breeding birds, and growing momentum toward a self-sustainable population.
• 2019 - Condor population in central California reaches 101 birds and total in wild is 302. Safety for All Act implemented requiring face-to-face ammunition purchases.
• 2020 - The Dolan Fire destroys the Big Sur Condor Sanctuary, killing a total of ten free-flying condors plus two chicks, the worst fire-related event in condor history.
• 2021 - Condor population in central California reaches 94 individuals, still below the number in 2019. Total wild population in all locations reaches 337.
• 2023 - the wild population in central California slips further to 91 individuals due to excessive mortality largely caused by lead poisoning and despite ongoing releases of captive-bred condors to the wild.
• 1602 – First recorded condor sighting by a European, Father Antonio de la Ascension, in Monterey Bay.
• 1805 – Lewis and Clark report sighting a condor, calling it "beautiful buzzard of the Columbia".
• 1939 – National Audubon Society researcher Carl Koford begins landmark field studies. Koford estimates 60-100 condors remain in the wild.
• 1967 – California Condor is included in the first federal list of U.S. endangered species.
• 1975 – California Condor Recovery Team is established and the recovery plan is adopted.
• 1979 – 25-35 California Condors remain in the wild. Cooperative California Condor Conservation Program is formed.
• 1980-1987 – Field investigations and management programs include radio telemetry and captive incubation of wild eggs.
• 1982 – Only 22 California Condors remain in the wild.
• 1983 – First successful hatching for a wild California Condor egg in captivity.
• 1987 – Last wild California Condor taken into captivity. Only 27 condors remain in captive breeding facilities at Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park.
• 1988 – First successful breeding of captive California Condors at the San Diego Zoo.
• 1992 – Two captive-bred California Condors reintroduced into the wild, accompanied by two Andean Condors.
• 1993 – Third California Condor breeding center established at World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho.
• 1994 – Captive California Condors have laid a total of more than 100 eggs.
• 1996 – California Condor population reaches 103, including 13 in the wild. Releases begin in San Luis Obispo County, California, and near the Grand Canyon, Arizona.
• 1997 – Releases begin in Monterey County by Ventana Wildlife Society.
• 1999 – California Condor population reaches 147, including 50 in the wild. The Big Sur flock is documented feeding on sea lion carcasses for the first time.
• 2000 – AC8 is the first of the wild-born birds re-released into the wild.
• 2001 – The Oregon Zoo joins the Recovery Program as the fourth captive breeding partner.
• 2002 – First chick born in the wild successfully fledges in Ventura County. Condors are released in Baja California.
• 2003 – Condors are released at Pinnacles National Monument, San Benito County, California.
• 2004 – AC9, the last condor taken from the wild in 1987 re-released in southern California.
• 2006 – First nesting attempt for the re-introduced flock in Big Sur. The nest fails and eggshell fragments recovered are found to be thin. Condors in this flock observed feeding on a Gray Whale carcass for the first time in over 200 years.
• 2007 – Eggshell thinning research initiated in Big Sur. Wild-laid eggs are switched out with captive-laid eggs and hatched in captivity to maximize nest success.
• 2008 – First chick from a wild-laid egg fledges in the wild in Big Sur and survives, two additional chicks from captive-laid eggs fledge and one survives. The number of free-flying condors exceeds the number in captivity for first time in over 20 years. The use of lead bullets is outlawed in California within condor range.
• 2009 – First nest in San Benito County. In central California, 4 chicks successfully fledge in the wild and survive (one from a wild-laid egg and three from captive-laid eggs).
• 2010 – In central California, two chicks fledge in the wild (one from a wild-laid egg and one from a captive-laid egg). Broken egg discovered in Big Sur with thin eggshell fragments.
• 2011 – Ventana Wildlife Society acquires 80 acres of land referred to as the "Condor Sanctuary". This remote coastal canyon surrounded by the Ventana Wilderness in Big Sur, California is where the reintroduction has taken place since 1997. As of March, the global population is 192 wild and 177 captive birds.
• 2012 – Condors 663, 664, and 665 fledged from nests in the wild in central California. Death of Condor 318 from lead toxicosis; a .22-caliber lead bullet is recovered from the digestive tract of this bird. The global population reaches 231 birds in the wild and 176 in captivity (as of November).
• 2013 – Assembly Bill 711 is passed requiring the use of non-lead ammunition when taking wildlife throughout California. A difficult year for the central California population, due to the deaths of several more condors and reproductive failure at all local nests. The central California population dips to 61 birds, and the global population is 217 birds in the wild and 203 in captivity (as of September).
• 2015 – Ventana Wildlife Society opens new release site at San Simeon to increase condor distribution along the central coast. Central coast population is at 70 birds and the global wild population is approaching 240.
• 2017 – Our first nest by two wild-fledged birds. Young breeders at the age of 8 and 7, this pair is an example of successful recruitment of breeding birds, and growing momentum toward a self-sustainable population.
• 2019 - Condor population in central California reaches 101 birds and total in wild is 302. Safety for All Act implemented requiring face-to-face ammunition purchases.
• 2020 - The Dolan Fire destroys the Big Sur Condor Sanctuary, killing a total of ten free-flying condors plus two chicks, the worst fire-related event in condor history.
• 2021 - Condor population in central California reaches 94 individuals, still below the number in 2019. Total wild population in all locations reaches 337.
• 2023 - the wild population in central California slips further to 91 individuals due to excessive mortality largely caused by lead poisoning and despite ongoing releases of captive-bred condors to the wild.
