Condor Soars Free in Oregon for First Time in 122 Years

For the first time in 122 years, a California condor is soaring through Oregon skies, and conservationists can barely contain their excitement.

B9, a two-year-old condor, recently made history by completing a four-day journey from Orick, California to an area near Medford, Oregon. The young bird covered nearly 380 miles, flying about 100 miles each day as she explored mountains, river corridors, and coastal areas before returning home.

"We have always known that at least one of our condors would eventually travel into Oregon because the state is well within their flight range," said Tiana Williams-Claussen, director of the Yurok Wildlife Department. "We are thrilled it finally happened."

The journey wasn't just impressive for its distance. B9 crossed the northern Trinity Alps and Marble Mountain Wildernesses, spent a night near Cave Junction, and even made a coastal detour to Brookings before heading back on May 16.

Her adventure expanded the condor flock's known range by 25 miles north and 35 miles east. While condors can soar up to 250 miles per day, B9's exploration shows the natural curiosity that young birds bring to conservation efforts.

Why This Inspires

B9 hatched just two years ago at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. She was released into California's redwood region last fall as part of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program, a partnership between the Yurok Tribe and Redwood National and State Parks.

Chris West, the program's manager and a senior biologist who has worked with condors for over two decades, expects B9's pioneering spirit will inspire other young condors. "Young birds explore more extensively than adults," he explained. "I imagine B9 will explore more and take other birds with her."

The success comes on the heels of another milestone this year. Two condors in the program, A0 and A1, established the flock's first nest in a hollowed-out redwood tree cavity. While their egg didn't hatch this time, success rates typically jump dramatically in the second breeding season.

Oregon Zoo director Heidi Rahn captured the moment's significance perfectly: "It's been a dream for many Oregonians to see a California condor soar over our state again, and B9's journey has made that dream real."

The recovery program represents decades of dedication from multiple organizations working to bring California condors back from the brink of extinction. B9's flight proves that with patience, partnership, and Tribal leadership in conservation, even species once thought lost can reclaim their ancestral skies.