Amazing Earthfest

In the 1980s, the historical population of California Condors declined dramatically to just 22 individuals. That’s when the greater California Condor Recovery Program was initiated to save the species from extinction. As of April, 2024, there are approximately 90 condors flying in the rugged canyon country of northern Arizona and southern Utah while the total world population of endangered California Condors numbers more than 550 individuals. More than half of them fly free in Arizona, Utah, California, and Mexico. Even though this is an incredible conservation success story, the recovery still faces challenges in achieving the ultimate goal of a self-sustaining population. 

The primary threat to Condor recovery is poisoning from the ingestion of carcasses that have been shot with lead ammunition. More recently, avian influenza has set recovery in the southwest back at least a decade with the recent loss of 21 birds. The Peregrine Fund continues its work on behalf of the Condor through captive breeding, releases to the wild, monitoring, and addressing the primary threats in to this iconic vulture species. 

Photo Credit: Tim Hauck, Peregrine Fund