Thirteen condors will soon call the park home
Seven juvenile condors will be released to the wild at Pinnacles National Monument Saturday, Sept. 17. The birds – six males and one female – will join the seven wild condors already making homes in the area.
“It is finally a reality, California condors are once again free-flying in the Gabilan and Diablo mountains, where this species was absent for 30 years,” said Kelly Sorenson, executive director of Ventana Wilderness Society, which is overseeing the release. “We are well on our way of reaching our overall goal.”
The release is part of a statewide effort to protect the species. In the mid-1980s there were just 22 California condors living in the wild. Today, there are 57, with another 153 living in captive breeding programs. The goal is to have 150 wild birds in the state.
“We are proud to be part of the recovery of this magnificent species,” park superintendent Tom Leatherman said, “and are excited about providing an opportunity for more people to attend the release event.”
The condors are between 16 and 18 months old and were bred at the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Oregon Zoo. They’ve been living in a pen at Pinnacles since the spring.
Six more birds are expected to arrive at Pinnacle during the winter. They will likely be released next year.
Matt King covers Santa Clara County for The Times. Reach him at 847-7240 or mk***@gi************.com.
