Four new California condors are flying in Arizona skies today, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The birds were released today at the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument near the Grand Canyon, a popular site for the release of captive-bred birds because of its suitable thermals and wild condor population.
California condors are the largest birds in North America, but their numbers were devastated largely because of DDT in the 1970s and 1980s, with only 22 birds remaining in 1982. They still face numerous threats, including lead poisoning and habitat destruction, but populations are gradually growing with the help of captive breeding programs. Today there are more than 180 condors flying free.
To learn more about the California Condor Recovery Program and birds released in Arizona, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
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Birding / Wild Birds
