The California Condor is a species in the New World vulture family Cathartidae. Currently (as of 2012), these majestic birds can only be found in the Grand Canyon area and western coastal mountains of California and northern Baja California.
The California Condor is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2015 by BirdLife International. After the removal of all surviving birds into captivity in 1987, an intensive conservation programme involving reintroduction and release of captive-bred birds has led to a tiny but increasing population of this species in the wild. However, the population in the wild remains dependent on intensive conservation management efforts. The species consequently qualifies as Critically Endangered.
We're celebrating Vulture Week because today marks International Vulture Awareness Day! This commemorative day has been celebrated since at least 2009 and aims to highlight the importance of vultures and vulture conservation through education. Why are vultures bald? Read more »
The California Condor has been selected as Audubon California's Bird of the Year for 2011. The endangered species won the title after receiving nearly 35% of the almost 10,000 votes cast in the annual election. The condor beat out the Black Oystercatcher, Western Snowy Plover, Read more »
