California Today

Young Condor's Historic Flight Marks Milestone for Northern California Restoration Program

01 June 2026 14:25

A two-year-old female condor named B9 has made history by completing a 380-mile round-trip flight from Orick, California, to near Medford, Oregon, becoming the first condor to fly free in Oregon since 1904. - B9, hatched in April 2024 at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho, was released into the redwood region last fall.

- Her journey began on May 12, 2026, and included stops near Redding, the Trinity Alps, and Cave Junction, before returning to the NCCRP facility on May 16. - The flight expanded the flock's range by 25 miles north and 35 miles east, with B9 covering nearly 100 miles per day.

- This is the second major milestone for the NCCRP in 2026, following the establishment of the flock's first nest earlier this year, though that egg failed. The Yurok Tribe and partner organizations celebrate this achievement as a significant step for condor recovery in the region.

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EugeneOrickMedfordwildlifeconservationenvironment