For a century, they were gone. But California Condors are making a comeback in these parts of the Bay Area

"The elusive and illustrious California Condor is making a major comeback in the Bay Area, stretching its wings in areas where the continent's largest bird has not been seen for more than a century. In total, the Ventana Wildlife Society a group that traps, breeds and rehabilitates the vultures for release into the wild has tracked 30 different condors that took multiple trips to parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties sometime in the past two years."

"A 6-year-old male condor, known as #996, appears to be leading the flock's exploration into new territory, taking over 60 trips into the East Bay since 2023 as he reaches breeding age and starts looking for grounds to potentially mate in, said Sorenson, who called him a pioneer. The deepest documented trip into the East Bay happened in 2021, when a female condor, #828, flew from Pinnacles National Park east of the Salinas Valley, passed Livermore and made it near Mount Diablo."

Thirty tracked California condors have been recorded making multiple trips into Alameda and Contra Costa counties, marking the first documented presence in the area in over 100 years. Ventana Wildlife Society monitors and rehabilitates the birds and has observed range expansion both north and south. A six-year-old male, #996, has led more than 60 East Bay trips since 2023 as he approaches breeding age and searches for potential mates. A deep-range 2021 trip by female #828 reached near Mount Diablo after departing Pinnacles National Park. Recent evening sightings occurred near Sunol Regional Wilderness.

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