Young California Condor Makes History With First Oregon Flight in More Than 120 Years

A young California condor made history by becoming the first free-flying bird of her species to fly into Oregon in just four days.

The California condor’s remarkable flight to Oregon marks the bird’s sighting in the state in more than 120 years.

B9, a two-year-old California condor from the Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP), recently completed a momentous 380-mile journey from Orick in Northern California to an area near Medford, Oregon, the Yurok Tribe shared in a social media post on June 1.

B9 was the first condor to soar into the state since 1904, according to the Yurok Tribe.

She completed around 100 miles each day on her venture into Oregon, conservationists said.

Remarkable Voyage

B9’s journey began on May 12, traveling to within 12 miles of Redding, California, before crossing both the Northern Trinity Alps and Marble Mountain Wildernesses, according to the Yurok Tribe.

She then reached the northernmost point of her voyage within eight miles of Medford, Oregon.

During her return flight, she spent one night near Cave Junction before going down the Smith River corridor, making a detour to Brookings, Oregon, on the coast.

She finally returned to the NCCRP facility on May 16, according to the Yurok Tribe.

She soared a total of 80 miles in Oregon, expanding the NCCRP flock’s range by 25 miles north and 35 miles east.

Condors can fly up to 250 miles per day.

Hatched on April 3, 2024, at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho, B9 (studbook 1268) was released into the redwood region last fall, according to the Yurok Tribe.

“We have always known that at least one of our condors would eventually travel into Oregon because the state is well within their flight range,” said Yurok Wildlife Department Director Tiana Williams-Claussen.

The last wild condor in Oregon was seen in the city of Drain between Eugene and Roseburg in 1904, according to the Yurok Tribe.

Young birds, like B9, usually fly more extensively than adults, preferring to stay within a home range that they establish during their juvenile stage.

Exploratory Flight

B9’s flight could have been an exploratory flight to see what is around her, conservationists said.

After they fledge, wild-born juvenile condors join other young condors and teach each other their parents’ territories before settling on a home range, explained Chris West, NCCRP manager and Yurok Wildlife Department senior biologist.

“By that time, a young bird will have covered a large geographic area. I imagine B9 will explore more and take other birds with her,” West added.

Recovery Efforts

The Yurok Tribe began releasing condors in Northern California a few years ago.

One of the largest birds in North America, California condors are a critically endangered scavenger species. Since 1992, captive-bred condors have been released at only five locations in western North America, including Pinnacles National Park (California), Big Sur (California), Hopper Mountain Wildlife Refuge Complex (California), and Baja California (Mexico).

The young bird’s flight into Oregon reflects the dedication of the species’ care and reintroduction, marking a significant milestone for the condor’s recovery effort, said Leonel Arguello, National Park Service superintendent for Redwood National & State Parks.

Prior to the NCCRP’s reintroduction initiatives, a free-flying condor was last observed in Northern California during the early 1900s in Humboldt County, according to the Yurok Tribe.

This marks the NCCRP’s second milestone this year.

Earlier this year, condors A0 and A1 established the flock’s first nest and deposited an egg in a cavity atop a redwood tree. Although the egg failed to hatch, as is usually the case with new condor parents, conservationists are slightly hopeful that the pair may produce another egg this year.

The California Condor Recovery Program is an international multi-entity effort, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to recover the endangered California condor.

The NCCRP is a partnership between the Yurok Tribe and Redwood National and State Parks.