New Wings Over Arizona: Seventeen Condors Begin Their Wild Journey

This past fall brought exciting news for California Condor conservation. Seventeen young condors joined the Arizon–Utah flock from our management facility at the Vermilion Cliffs, their massive wings now soaring through the Arizona skies. 

The 2025 releases kicked off with our 29th Annual California Condor Release public event on September 27. Five condors were scheduled to enter the wild in front of thousands of in-person attendees and livestream viewers, but the birds had other ideas, as only one condor took flight during the event. The other four were more hesitant, and when a thunderstorm rolled in, the team delayed their release. But over the next two days, all five birds eventually departed the release pen.

One of those condors, Condor #1183, struggled during his first day of freedom. Instead of flying up to roost safely in the cliffs overnight as condors should, he ended up on the ground—a dangerous situation because predators like coyotes hunt on the ground at night. Recognizing that 1183 wasn't making safe choices yet, the field team carefully caught him before sunset. 

1183 spent an additional 13 weeks back at the socialization pen, getting more practice before trying again. Released with the final group of 2025, the young condor has been closely monitored, and the team is happy to report he's now making better decisions and staying safe. He's not facing the wilderness alone, either. Wild condors that have lived in the area for years are providing important lessons to the newly released condors on where to find food, safe places to sleep, and how to avoid danger.

Another standout from the 2025 cohort is Condor #1255. Hatched at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in December, he represents an important milestone as the 250th condor hatched at that facility. Even more remarkable is his lineage: his father is Xol-xol, a male condor who was one of the very first birds brought into the captive breeding program in 1982. Xol-xol has now fathered 44 offspring, and his family tree is helping to rebuild the California Condor population, one nestling at a time.

California Condors nearly vanished in the 1980s, when only 22 birds remained. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts like captive breeding and population management, their numbers are slowly growing. Every successful release brings us one step closer to ensuring these magnificent birds soar through our skies for generations to come.