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California Condor Reintroduction

At the turn of the century, the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) population began to plummet after decades of wanton shooting and poisoning. In 1987, the last wild condor was taken into captivity to join 26 others. Successful captive breeding dramatically increases the population size of this endangered species. Since 1995 the wild population of condors has dramatically increased, thanks to the efforts of all Recovery Program participants. For the latest information download the pdf file California Condor Population Size and Distribution. Lead Exposure continues to be a threat to wild condors. To learn more about this problem and how you can help, please see Lead Exposure.

Learn more about the Life History of the California Condor, learn some Cool Condor Facts, and visit the Photo Gallery below to get better acquainted with these magnificent birds. See the Condor Video page for video footage of condors flying and feeding on a deer carcass.

Visit Condor Critter-Cam.

2007 Bald Eagle and California Condor Annual Report coming soon.

Links to other sources of information about condors:

• Lead poisoning eyed as threat to California condor - Article in USA Today, Oct. 23, 2006.
• California Condors featured on Bay Nature on the Air - One of a series of short programs based on 500stories in Bay Nature magazine. It includes a short video about the condors and the VWS condor restoration program.
• Condor killed by power line - Monterey County Herald news story, July 7, 2006
  (Correction to above article: Three power-line related condor deaths have occurred in Big Sur, not seven as indicated in the article. Since 1995 there have been seven power-line related condor deaths in California and Arizona combined.)
• Scavenger Hunt - Scientists catch and test the condors that ate squirrels shot with lead-based bullets - Monterey County Weekly news story, June 29, 2006
• Pecking Order - Condor gets lesson upon release - Monterey County Herald news story about June 4, 2006 condor release.
• Condors Make a Meal of Beached Gray Whale - May 25, 2006 Monterey County Weekly Feature Story
• Condor Nest Spotted in Big Sur - March 2006 KTVU news story with video
• Seal rookeries could provide a reliable food source for endangered California condors, study finds - November 2005 article from PNAS.
• A conversation with primatologist Jane Goodall on KQED in October 2005, in which she discussed the condor program.

Links to videos featuring California Condors in Big Sur:

Redwood tree nesting Condors are Condors Male 167 and Female 190


California Condor in a Redwood tree nest


California Condor in a Redwood tree nest, part two


California Condor in a Redwood tree next, part three

Cliff nesting Condors are Condors Male 168 and Female 208


California Condor nest in cliff

California Condor nest in cliff, part two