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

The Dolan Fire destroyed the Condor's Big Sur Sanctuary on August 20-21, 2020. ​Through the generosity of our supporters, we have received a total of almost $640,000 in gifts and pledges from more than 1,500 individual donors, many foundations, fellow non-profits, and agencies. Building the Condor's Big Sur Sactuary is underway!

• Target completion date is summer 2022

Release Facility

Field crew bunkhouse

New tractor

Big Sur Condor
​Sanctuary

DESCRIPTION: This 80-acre sanctuary contains woodlands, coastal scrub, and grasslands in a canyon overlooking the rugged Big Sur coastline. Surrounded by Ventana Wilderness, the sanctuary provides ideal habitat for California Condor nesting, roosting, and scavenging.

STATUS: The property was purchased in 2011 with funds provided by the Hind Foundation and William R. Hearst, III, as well as Linda Stevens, Paula Norwood, Robert Stephens, Joyce Harris and Julian and Helga Sands.

HIGHLIGHTS: Ventana Wildlife Society released Bald Eagles here in the 1980s in a successful bid to re-establish a breeding population in central California. The sanctuary is now the site of California Condor releases and Ventana Wildlife Society’s research and management efforts aimed at the full recovery of condors in the wild.

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San Simeon Condor
Sanctuary

DESCRIPTION:  This property has coastal scrub habitat, mixed conifers, oak woodland, and an understory of grasses and shrubs as well as several natural springs.  ​

STATUS: Located on private property, not open to the public. 

HIGHLIGHTS: In 2016, a condor pair began nesting near the San Simeon Sanctuary, extending the breeding distribution of the species along the central coast. After the Dolan Fire resulted in the loss of approximately 10% of the central California population in 2020, we released nine captive-bred condors at the San Simeon Sanctuary, a group that helped stabilize the population in subsequent months.

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​Lake Nacimiento Bald Eagle Sanctuary

DESCRIPTION: 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.

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 Ventana Wildlife Society recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land over which the condor flies, and the enduring relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories such as the Esselen in Big Sur and the Salinan in San Simeon and Lake Nacimiento, where our wildlife sanctuaries exist today.  

We're proud to protect these properties as sanctuaries for condors, eagles, and other native wildlife. ​
​They are not open to the general public.