First Condor Born in Pinnacles National Monument in Over a Century!

This spring, for the first time in over 100 years, a California condor was born in the wild. Born to parents released from a breeding program in 2004 the condor babe is being cared for in a cave 2,600 feet off the ground in Pinnacles National Monument. If it's parents are successful in rearing their newborn, the young condor could take it's first flight as soon as early October. If this chick survives it will mark a huge milestone for California condor recovery efforts.

  

Condor  nesting it's egg at Pinnacles

Image: John Maio/ National Park Service

During the early 1800's the California condor occupied mountains along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to northern Baja California. By the 1980's the condor's situation was dismal. The population had declined to less than 20 birds. These remaining birds were captured for captive breeding programs. Today there are 180 California condors in the wild due to the continued efforts of conservationists and captive breeding programs.

In celebration of this joyous occasion ESPP hatched a condor of it's own, courtesy of artist Barnaby Whitfield.
100% of the proceeds from the sale of this print will support California condor restoration.

You can view images of the Pinnacles condors on the park's Condor Cam.