These condors may incubate the species’ first wild eggs in Northern California in 130 years

When conservationists in Northern California received a transmitter alert a few months ago that a male condor had remained motionless for several hours, they feared the worst.

Instead, it turned out to be wonderful news.

Chris West, wildlife biologist with the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, said, “He was so well-dependent on an egg and hatching from it.” as it happens Host Nil Koksal.

The team has not confirmed the existence of the egg. But the activities of the male bird and his mate indicate they are taking turns guarding a nest in the forest at Redwood National and State Park, and harvesting its valuable contents.

If they’re right, and the egg hatches, the chick will be the first of its species to be born and raised in the forests of Northern California in nearly 130 years.

It’s a major milestone for the Yurok Tribe, which has been working with federal and state officials for 17 years to reintroduce the birds to the region after European settlers drove the species to the brink of extinction.

“What those two birds are doing and creating the next generation of wild birds for this region is absolutely incredible,” said West, who manages the Northern California Condor Restoration Program.

Meet the region’s first wild mating pair

The California condor, one of the world’s largest flying birds, was once abundant on the West Coast from BC to Mexico. But poaching, habitat loss, and lead poisoning from firearms decimated the species.

In the 1980s, there were only about 20 California condors left in the wild. today – tThanks to extensive conservation, captive breeding and rewilding programs – There are 392.

Only 24 of them live in Northern California, which began issuing condors in 2022.

But a pair of feathered lovers bring hope that those numbers will increase.

The female, A0, was bred at the Oregon Zoo and has been called ne-ratna’ ne-chwin-kah In Yurok, that translates to “She carries our prayers.” His companion, A1, was born at the World Center for Birds of Prey. He is known as Hello Whoo-Letal or “At least I fly!”

West says his team first noticed a spark between the two creatures last year, when they often disappeared together.

“As soon as you see males and females of reproductive age spending time away from the rest of the group, you really become suspicious, because they are very sociable and they hang out in large social groups,” he said.

Condors lay only one egg a year, and they spawn in spurts in between. Hello Whoo-Letal And ne-ratna’ ne-chwin-kah No child was born from this.

But this year, the pair started seeing each other again, and since then both have been hiding in a remote area, only coming out one by one to snack on the dead bodies.

West is convinced that his actions – or lack thereof – indicate the presence of an egg. He says this kind of tracking is a standard way for scientists to monitor nests in remote areas.

He says wild condor breeding has previously been established in central and southern California, Arizona, Utah and Baja, Mexico.

‘Inexperienced parents’

West says they won’t know for another week or two whether the egg hatched successfully. It is possible that this will not happen.

“These are really inexperienced parents,” he said.

In the early days, the father would fly away from the nest for longer periods than advised, presumably enough time for the eggs to cool and lose viability.

“After a few days he really took off and he spent some time in there – up to eight days straight – without getting out. So he’s doing really well now,” West said,

However, no matter what happens, the possibility of eggs is a sign of hope.

“It’s all a learning process for them. And if they fail, they try again next year,” he said. “These birds will get there. It just may take them a while.”