California Condor

The California Condor is North America's largest flying bird. Through extensive conservation the extinction of this bird has been halted. Thousands of years ago this huge bird resided across most of the United States. In the last hundred years or so the population has significantly decreased. In 1979 there were only an estimated 25 to 35 California Condors left in the world. Human interaction has left these birds on the verge of extinction.

California Condors feed mostly on dead animals and have not been known to attack live animals.Today ranchers are encouraged to leave dead animals in the open fields in the effort to provide food for these large birds.

Condors do not breed every year, and do not reach maturity until they are about six years old. This is a significant factor in the conservation efforts of the Condor.

Immediate conservation efforts are probably the sole reason that this bird is not extinct today, the following time line reinforces the need for conservation:

1979: 25 to 35 Condors in the wild; 1 in captivity

1987: the last wild condor was removed and placed into a zoo, now all California Condors reside in two different zoos.

1988:The first baby Condor was hatched in captivity.

1992: The first two captive bread Condors are released into the wild.

1997: There are a total of 133 Condors, 27 in the wild, 16 in California and 11 in Arizona

1999: Total California Condors is 147, with 50 in the wild.