Join The Live Release Event Of California Condors On National Public Lands Day!

On Saturday, September 28, the Peregrine Fund and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will celebrate National Public Lands Day by releasing four captive-bred California condors at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. This 28th annual release event will take place at 1 p.m. MDT (Utah time). For those not able to make the trip to the Vermilion Cliffs the release will be live-streamed on The Peregrine Fund’s YouTube channel, offering viewers a chance to witness the release virtually. The condor release marks an important step in the conservation efforts for this endangered species, which has been supported by numerous partners, including federal and state agencies, national parks, and tribal organizations.

The California Condor Recovery Program began in 1996 with the first release of condors at Vermilion Cliffs. After a pause in 2023 due to a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak that killed 21 condors, this year’s release is especially significant. One of the condors to be released, "Milagra," survived despite the loss of her mother to HPAI and is seen as a symbol of hope. She has been raised in captivity and will enter the wild for the first time during the event.

The ongoing recovery efforts have been a collaborative success, involving partners like Arizona Game and Fish, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, and the Navajo Nation. In-person attendees at the event will have the opportunity to meet biologists, learn about condor habitats, and enjoy a festival atmosphere while waiting for the birds to take their first flight.

The California condor population, which once dwindled to just 22 individuals in the 1980s, now stands at over 560 worldwide, with 85 condors living in the wild across northern Arizona and southern Utah. The recovery of the species has been a long and challenging process, but the release of these four birds represents a significant milestone in that journey.

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For those attending, the BLM recommends bringing spotting scopes, sunscreen, water, and layered clothing to prepare for the remote location. The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is accessible by traveling on Highway 89A from Kanab through Fredonia, Arizona, or from Page, Arizona. From Highway 89A, take BLM Road 1065 (this is a dirt road) and continue about three miles. Remember, the event starts at 1:00p.m. Mountain Daylight Time and that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.