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Portland, OR - Ewauna, a young, Oregon Zoo-reared California condor, took to the open skies recently at a release site in California's Pinnacles National Monument, joining 22 other wild condor residents in the 26,000-acre park. Zoo officials expect condors Yak'Mo and Kalak-ala also will be released in the coming weeks at sites in Southern California and the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona, respectively.

Ewauna (No. 481), Yak'Mo (No. 496) and Kalak-ala (No. 487), all female, were hatched and raised at the zoo before being transferred this summer to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho, in preparation for their release.

All of the wild releases are "soft releases," meaning that the birds are allowed to exit the flight pens at their discretion. Once a condor enters the outer holding area of its pen, the inner door closes and triggers the outer door to open, allowing the bird to fly free.

"With every successful release, we're another step closer to seeing condors fly free through Northwest skies," said Shawn St. Michael, condor curator. "One day, Oregonians may again see what Lewis and Clark saw when they traveled along the Columbia River more than 200 years ago."

The California Condor Recovery Program began reintroducing birds to the wild in 1992, and thanks to continued efforts from its recovery partners, there are now more than 160 condors flying free in California, Arizona and Mexico.

"These monumental strides give us great hope for the survival of this species," St. Michael added.

Condors, the largest land birds in North America, have wingspans of up to 10 feet and weigh 18 to 30 pounds. They are highly intelligent and inquisitive, often engaging in play. Their range extended across much of North America during the Pleistocene Era, which ended about 10,000 years ago. By 1940, that range had been reduced to the coastal mountains of Southern California, and in 1967 condors were added to the first federal list of endangered species. In 1987, the 17 condors remaining in the wild were brought into captivity and a captive-breeding program was developed.

The Oregon Zoo's condor recovery efforts take place at the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, located in rural Clackamas County on Metro-owned open space. The remoteness of the facility minimizes the exposure of young condors to people, increasing the chances for captive-hatched birds to survive and breed in the wild.

The center is currently home to 38 condors and has produced 23 fertile eggs since it was established in 2004. Of the 23 eggs hatched in Oregon, 19 chicks have survived; two eggs were sent to other facilities for hatching.

In 2001, the Oregon Zoo became the third zoo in the nation to join the California Condor Recovery Program. California condor captive-breeding programs are also operated at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey. The Oregon Zoo was the recipient of the Wildlife Society's Conservation Award for creating the nation's fourth California condor breeding facility in April 2005.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $10.50 (ages 12-64), $9 for seniors (65 and up), $7.50 for children (ages 3-11) and free for those 2 and younger; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.

Caption: Oregon Zoo condor No. 340 made his first wild flight Sept. 17, 2005, at the Pinnacles National Monument in San Benito, Calif. Photo by Martin Jimenez/The Sunday Pinnacle pool photographer.

WAHOOOOO!!!!! 

 :mbanana:   :clap:   :thumbsup:   :bravo:   :flowers: