Seven chicks and counting: Zoo welcomes first California condor chicks of 2026

Recovery efforts are off to an eggcellent start at zoo's wildlife conservation center

Seven fluffy California condor chicks have hatched over the past week at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, marking the beginning of what looks to be another outstanding year in the effort to save this critically endangered species.

"Things are looking great for the season so far," said Nicole LaGreco, who oversees the zoo's condor recovery efforts. "All seven chicks are eating and sleeping well in their nests. They're tiny now, but they're already growing quickly and learning from their parents."

Since late January, condors at the Jonsson Center have been laying the groundwork for species recovery one egg at a time. Several other fertile eggs have been laid this year, and more chicks are expected soon. With only about 600 California condors left in the world, each new chick is vitally important, LaGreco said.

The chicks will stay with their parents for at least eight months before moving to pre-release pens for about a year. Eventually, they will travel to a wild release site to join free-flying condors in California and Arizona.

The California condor was one of the original animals included on the 1973 Endangered Species Act and is classified as critically endangered. In 1982, only 22 remained in the wild and by 1987, the last condors were brought into human care in an attempt to save the species from extinction. Thanks to recovery programs like the Oregon Zoo's, the world's California condor population now totals around 600 birds, most of which are flying free.

The Oregon Zoo's recovery efforts take place at the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, located in rural Clackamas County on Metro-owned open land. The remoteness of the facility minimizes the exposure of young condors to people, increasing their chances to survive and breed in the wild.

Upgrades and new equipment at the Jonsson Center have been made possible through continued support from Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the Avangrid Foundation, and donations to the Oregon Zoo Foundation, which supports the zoo's efforts in advancing animal well-being, species recovery work and conservation education.

More than 140 chicks have hatched at the Jonsson Center since 2003, and more than 100 Oregon Zoo-reared birds have gone out to field pens for release. Several eggs laid by Oregon Zoo condors have been placed in wild nests to hatch.