This condor couple may be tending to first egg in Northern California in a century

"GPS-tracked behavior suggests a pair of condors are tending to an egg in a redwood tree in Humboldt County. It marks the first time the large vultures have nested in the Pacific Northwest for more than 100 years. Condors were brought back from the brink of extinction in the early 1980s through captive breeding programs."

"Condors vanished from the state's North Coast after the arrival of European settlers, who killed other animals with lead bullets and strychnine - poisoning the raptors that feed on carrion. Others shot the bald vultures, whose wings can span 9½ feet and who can live more than 50 years. By 1982, there were only 22 condors left in the world."

"The pair believed to be nesting in Yurok country were captive born and released in 2022, as part of the first group reintroduced in that region. The pair, formally known as A1 and A0, are the oldest birds from their release cohort at nearly 7 years old - and the only ones old enough to reproduce."

California condors, massive vultures with wingspans up to 9.5 feet, have returned to nest in Humboldt County's Redwood National Park after more than a century absence. GPS tracking indicates a pair named Ney-gem' 'Ne-chweenkah' and 'Hlow Hoo-let' are tending an egg in a redwood tree. These captive-bred birds were released in 2022 as part of regional reintroduction efforts. Condors nearly went extinct due to lead ammunition poisoning, strychnine, and hunting by European settlers. By 1982, only 22 remained worldwide. All wild condors were captured for breeding programs, successfully preventing extinction. The nesting pair represents the oldest birds from their release cohort at nearly seven years old.

Read at Los Angeles Times