Seven Fluffy California Condor Chicks Growing Up Fast

With seven fuzzy chicks now squawking in their nests, it’s been an egg-cellent season for California condor recovery at the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation. The center’s final chick of the season hatched late in the evening on May 14, and is being raised by experienced condor mom Malibu. Malibu is such an attentive parent that she’s barely left the nest box since the chick hatched, according to keepers. Care staff have only caught glimpses of the new arrival, but are keeping a close eye on the nest-cam monitors. “We had more mating pairs than ever this year, which is great news for the future of the condor recovery program,” said Kelli Walker, the zoo’s lead condor keeper. “All seven chicks appear to be healthy and thriving, which should mark a significant step forward in the recovery of this critically endangered species.” The chicks will stay with their parents for at least eight months before moving to the Jonsson Center’s pre-release pens for about another year. Eventually, they will travel to a wild release site to join free-flying condors in California, Arizona or Baja Mexico.