Ventana Wildlife Society protects and conserves habitats across the Central Coast. From wild releases to capturing injured birds, these critical sanctuaries ensure that the condors and other native wildlife are protected in perpetuity. Caring for critically endangered condors and their habitats through these sanctuaries is made possible through the lasting legacy of our generous donors. Learn more about our Legacy Society.
Big Sur Condor Sanctuary - Rebuild Updates
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We need your help to finish the rebuilding of our Big Sur Condor Sanctuary. Once complete, our staff, visiting researchers, collaborators, donors and others will now have a destination like no other in the conservation backcountry. Despite being remote, a Starlink connection facilitates research and keeps our condor crew safe.
It has been five years since the Dolan Fire wiped out our facilities and not only have building costs gone way up since then but we also need to finish the interior of the structure, furnish it, and install state-of-the-art technology to support condor recovery operations and to provide amazing experiences for all to visit. As of February 2025, just $65,000 more is needed to completely finish the infrastructure, buildings and operational equipment to complete the rebuilding of the Condor Sanctuary in Big Sur.
The Dolan Fire destroyed the Condor's Big Sur Sanctuary . . . In August of 2020, we watched as the Dolan Fire moved through the Condor Sanctuary in Big Sur destroying all structures in its wake, including our Condor Release Facility. Though catastrophic at the time, we chose to keep our eye on the future and focus on the creation of a new and improved version of this critically needed structure. We wish to thank major donors Vinod Khosla, William Hearst III, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Hind Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Santa Cruz Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Monterey County Fire Relief Fund, Robert & Florence Slinger Fund, and the 1,500+ individuals who are making this rebuild possible! We also thank Madrone Industries and Black Tail Engineering for providing generous discounts to their work during construction. Vertical Divider
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Big Sur Condor
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San Simeon Condor
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Lake Nacimiento Bald Eagle SanctuaryDESCRIPTION: This sanctuary protects 80 acres of open woodland and shoreline along Lake Nacimiento in northern San Luis Obispo County. Tall pines and close proximity to the lake provide excellent nesting and feeding habitat for Bald Eagles.
STATUS: We purchased the property in 2006 to protect nesting eagles, thanks to Bill and Sally Irving, who generously donated the majority of the land's value as a gift, and Cal and Letty French, who provided the funding to cover the cash portion of the purchase. HIGHLIGHTS: In 1995, a Bald Eagle pair began nesting at the sanctuary, becoming one of the first in the recovered central California population to breed. Vertical Divider
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Ventana Wildlife Society recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land over which the condor flies, and where a few of our wildlife sanctuaries exist today. We also recognize the enduring relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories such as the Rumsen Ohlone in Carmel Valley, Esselen in Big Sur and the Salinan in San Simeon and Lake Nacimiento.
We're proud to protect these properties as sanctuaries for condors, eagles, and other native wildlife for
generations to come and for the benefit of all. They are not open to the general public, however.
We're proud to protect these properties as sanctuaries for condors, eagles, and other native wildlife for
generations to come and for the benefit of all. They are not open to the general public, however.
