Every California Condor Alive Today Descends From Just 27 Birds

In 1987 biologists caught the last wild condor, leaving only 27 of the species alive anywhere, all in captivity.

In 1987, just 27 California condors remained, so the US captured them all; decades later, hundreds are flying free again

The California condor was brought back from the brink after all remaining wild birds were captured in 1987. Captive breeding restored its numbers, but lead poisoning remains a major threat.
Smithsonian Magazine

A Record-Breaking 17 California Condor Chicks Hatched at the L.A. Zoo This Year

A California condor chick rests in a clear container lined with paper at the L.A. Zoo. L.A. Zoo Weighing 17 to 25 pounds and possessing a wingspan of up to 9.5 feet, California condors are the largest ...
AOL

This Endangered Condor Takes Flight Without a Single Flap

Filmed at Big Sur, California, this astonishing clip shows a huge condor taking flight from a high cliff without even flapping its wings! Thanks to a phenomenon called orographic uplift, the airflow ...
KTVZ

20 years on, the first Oregon Zoo-raised condor is flying high at a national park in Central California

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Call it one of those local-bird-makes-good stories: The first California condor to hatch at the Oregon Zoo’s conservation center just turned 20 years old in California's ...
Hosted on MSN

The Andean condor, South America’s giant bird fighting for survival

High above the peaks of South America’s Andes Mountains flies one of the largest birds on Earth. The Andean condor is a remarkable creature known for its enormous wingspan, incredible endurance, and ...
Birds & Blooms on MSN

Birds Flying FAQ: How High Do Birds Fly?

Birds flying inspire awe — but how much do you know about flight? Learn which bird flies highest, which flying bird is heaviest, and more.
AOL

Free-flying condor crosses into Oregon, a first in over 100 years

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A free-flying Condor entered Oregon for the first time in over a century, according to a statement from the Yurok Tribe. Officials said a condor from the Northern California ...