Two condors quietly attempt a comeback humans nearly erased
Turns out, when you stop poisoning and shooting a species for a while, it might just try to exist again.
After more than a century of humans doing their absolute best to wipe them out, California condors in Northern California may finally be attempting the radical act of reproducing in the wild again.
The team hasn’t visually confirmed the existence of an egg. But the movements of the male bird and his mate indicate they are taking turns guarding a nest deep in the forest of Redwood National and State Parks, and incubating its precious contents
If they’re right, and the egg hatches, the chick will be the first of its species to be born and raised in the wild in Northern California in about 130 years.
It’s a huge milestone for the Yurok Tribe, which has been working with federal and state officials for 17 years to reintroduce the birds to the region after European colonists drove the species to the brink of extinction.
“Two birds doing what they do and making this next generation of wild birds for the region is just — it’s incredible,” said West, who manages the Northern California Condor Restoration Program.
Turns out, when you stop poisoning and shooting a species for a while, it might just try to exist again.
Getting them back required more than just leaving them alone. There was an extensive captive breeding program.
Nature finds a way…