Source: The Tribune
In 2025, six condors from the Central California flock have died, including two from lead poisoning, yet the population is set to rebound with 13 juveniles scheduled for release this fall from San Simeon and Pinnacles National Park, plus five chicks preparing to fledge. These additions could bring the flock to 123 birds, the highest in decades, according to the Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), which aims for 150 by 2029. Since 2015, VWS has released 63 condors from San Simeon and 56 from Big Sur, crucial steps in the species’ recovery after near-extinction in the 1980s.
Threats remain, including predation—two juveniles are suspected to have been killed by a bobcat in 2024—and lead exposure from carrion shot with bullets. Recovery efforts also mark the five-year anniversary of the Dolan Fire, which destroyed VWS’s Big Sur sanctuary and killed 12 condors. Today, 89% of the flock is vaccinated against avian influenza, and live cams track their progress.
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