In Northern California, a male condor’s unusual stillness prompted concerns among conservationists, who thought the worst was happening. However, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. According to Chris West, a wildlife biologist with the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, the male condor was actually diligently incubating an egg when the alert was triggered.
Although the presence of the egg has not been visually confirmed, the movements of the male condor and its mate strongly suggest that they are taking turns watching over a nest hidden deep within the forests of Redwood National and State Parks and caring for the precious contents inside. If their suspicions are correct and the egg successfully hatches, it will mark the first time in approximately 130 years that a chick of this species is born and raised in the wild in Northern California.
The Yurok Tribe has been collaborating with federal and state authorities for nearly two decades to reintroduce condors to the area following their near-extinction due to the actions of European settlers. The upcoming birth of a wild condor chick represents a significant achievement for the tribe and the Northern California Condor Restoration Program overseen by Chris West.
The region’s first wild mating pair, A0 and A1, offer hope for the species’ recovery. These majestic California condors, once plentiful along the western coast from British Columbia to Mexico, faced severe threats such as poaching, habitat destruction, and lead poisoning. With only about 20 condors remaining in the wild in the 1980s, extensive conservation efforts, including captive breeding and re-wilding programs, have increased their population to 392 today.
The female condor, A0, known as Ney-gem’ ‘Ne-chween-kah in Yurok, which translates to “she carries our prayers,” was bred at the Oregon Zoo. Her partner, A1, named Hlow Hoo-letl or “at least I fly!,” hatched at the World Center for Birds of Prey. The bond between the two was first observed by West’s team last year, as they frequently wandered off together, a behavior uncommon among social condors.
Condors typically lay only one egg per year. While previous attempts at breeding between Hlow Hoo-letl and Ney-gem’ ‘Ne-chween-kah didn’t result in offspring, this year has shown promise. The pair has secluded themselves in a remote area, taking turns to leave for food. West believes their movements strongly suggest the presence of an egg, a common method used by scientists to monitor nests in secluded areas.
Despite being inexperienced parents, West remains optimistic about the potential hatching of the egg, emphasizing that it is a learning process for the condor pair. The father’s initial absences from the nest raised concerns, but he has since improved his dedication to nesting duties. The biologist stresses that even if this breeding attempt fails, the birds will persevere and try again in the future, demonstrating resilience in their conservation journey.