Crossposted from https://slrpnk.net/post/38555146

Before the Yurok-led reintroduction effort began in 2008, the last free-flying condor in Northern California was documented during the early 1900s in Humboldt County.

From a low of 22 birds in 1989, the California condor population has grown to 607 as of 2025 — with 392 now flying free in the wild, said Williams-Claussen.

the article does a great job of explaining some of the work behind these programmes!

How do they prevent low gene diversity with such a low initial population?

i believe the 22 birds in 1989 might mean 22 in the wild in that area, based on the previous paragraph. and it seems to be a big coordination with zoos etc:

The condors are lured in by food twice a year for health checks. The Northern California Condor Restoration Program receives its young condors from breeding facilities such as the Oregon Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, World Center for Birds of Prey and for the first time this year, the San Diego Zoo, Williams-Claussen said.

Once young condors are about 18 months old, which is how old they are when they leave the nest in the wild, they are transferred from breeding facilities to field pens at release sites in California and Arizona.

Young condors receive aversion training to learn not to land on power poles, engage in flight fitness preparations and learn to socialize with adult “mentor” condors, Williams-Claussen said. After several months of acclimation, they’re released to fly free.

“They have always been in captivity, so we release them singly or in pairs, so we can really make sure that they get their ‘wings up,’ so to speak,” Williams-Claussen said. “We also consistently provide food for them to make sure that they have the resources they need until they can really figure out how to be on their own.”

the person being interviewed there is:

Yurok Wildlife Department Director Tiana Williams-Claussen [...] who has worked for 18 years at the Northern California Condor Restoration Program.