4 Bold Condors Return to the Wild

Four California condors that spent most of their first year of life in captivity in Ventura County were released to the wild Tuesday in a remote corner of Los Padres National Forest.

The release of two males and two female condors at Castle Crags, in eastern San Luis Obispo County, brings the total number of free-flying condors to 17, the largest number of the endangered species living in the wild since the early 1980s.

Project director Mark Weitzel said the birds were the boldest he has released under the California Condor Recovery Program.

When their traveling box was opened Tuesday morning, the birds hopped out immediately. Usually they are far more timid, he said.

“They were out within a minute,” Weitzel said. “They were probably one of the most active sets of birds we have had. It couldn’t have gone better.”

The birds, all less than 1 year old, are still developing flight skills and won’t travel far from their release spot initially, he said. When they do, they will be monitored by radio collars.

Before their release, the birds spent months in a facility at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, about 10 miles north of Fillmore.

Since 1992, four condors reintroduced to the wild have been electrocuted by power lines. Another died after eating antifreeze. To keep the naturally curious creatures away from such dangers, they have undergone human aversion therapy.