Thriving baby California condor is a ray of hope for the unique species
A California condor hatchling at Liberty Wildlife in Arizona. Condors are among the largest birds in North America, are a crucial part of the ecosystem, and are sacred to many indigenous peoples. Barb Del've/Liberty Wildlife On May 9, a baby California condor hatched at Liberty Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation, education, and conservation organization in Phoenix, Arizona. The hatching is a ray of hope and welcome good news for the struggling species that was only recently brought back from the brink of extinction. Only 22 condors were believed to be alive during the 1980s after a maelstrom of habitat loss, poaching, lead poisoning accidents with power lines, and the insecticide DDT. Currently, about 275 wild birds are cruising the skies about California, Utah, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico, more than 160 are in...