A condor perches in a Pinnacles pen in this file photo. The monument staff is set to attempt another release Tuesday of two more after an earlier release Nov. 6.
A recent condor release at the Pinnacles National Monument went "smoothly and as expected," according to condor program manager Daniel George.
Two California condors were released and two more are scheduled for release Tuesday morning. That would bring the number of the endangered birds in the wild to levels not seen in many decades, George said.
The release took place Nov. 6 when the two condors walked out onto the platform, looked around and "took short flights at first," he said.
"But then by the end of the day, they had soared up and then glided down into the nearby valley," he said.
Condors are scavengers, and a concern when releasing into the wild is whether they can locate their own food. The released birds, however, found food "within three days and began perching with other free flying birds," George said, adding that the birds seem to be making a smooth transition.
"We will be gearing up (Tuesday) at the crack of dawn to release a couple more," said the biologist, who noted that with each new release, condor numbers in the Gabilan Mountains reach a "new milestone."
If the release is successful today, a total of 19 condors would be released from Pinnacles. Combined with the 25 released by the Ventana Wilderness Center in the Big Sur area, there would be 44 free-flying condors in Central California.
"The reintroduction was started in 1997," said George. "Prior to that there were no condors in San Benito County."
In partnership with the Ventana Wildlife Society, Pinnacles has released 17 juvenile condors into the wild, according to its Web site.
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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