Big Day for a Big Bird

Such ugly beauty. Such awkward grace. Such a fragile behemoth.

The California condor, all of those wonderful contradictions, moved a bit further from extinction Tuesday when three birds were released into the Sespe Wilderness near Fillmore, where the species appeared doomed 14 years ago.

Thanks to an intensive program of breeding in captivity and training to avoid such deadly human hazards as power lines, there is increasing hope that the huge scavenger can thrive on its own.

With a 10-foot wingspan, the California condor is the biggest bird in North America. It remains one of the world’s most imperiled birds--so scarce that disease, poaching and predators could yet wipe it out.

The three birds released this week are but a small addition to the 57 other condors living wild across the West, yet their return to the Los Padres National Forest marks an important milestone. One is an adult female known as Adult Condor 8, or AC-8, removed from this area in 1986 and a prolific egg layer in the breeding program. Scientists set her free with two young condors in the hope that she will serve as a mentor to keep them out of trouble.

About $25 million has been spent on condor recovery efforts, including captive breeding, habitat acquisitions and surveillance.

Is it worth it? Yes.

AC-8 and her young students flexing their wings and soaring is a priceless symbol of what can be accomplished--and a sign that the humans who imperiled these great birds can also rescue them.