The first pair of breeding-age California Condors ever to be released into the wild will be released on December 7, 2000 at the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona. They will join 15 young condors already flying free in the Grand Canyon area.
The pair of condors to be released were flown on November 8 from the captive breeding program at The Peregrine Funds World Center for Birds of Prey. In addition, another pair of breeding age condors, eight young condors, and one condor that was previously released and brought back into captivity due to his attraction to humans were flown to the release site. Since arriving they have been acclimating to the area while being housed in two flight pens atop the Vermilion Cliffs and establishing a social order among themselves. The new condors are being regularly visited by the 15 wild condors roosting in the area. These additional condors are tentatively scheduled to be released on December 13 and December 29.
Biologists are anxious to observe the mated pairs and hope that they will be reproductive role models for the younger condors
