SAVING THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR, ONE PARTNERSHIP AT A TIME
TPF Complete Conservation™ Pillar
Nonpartisanship The California Condor’s recovery proves that the hardest conservation battles yield not to politics, but to pragmatic partnerships built on common ground.
When only 22 California Condors remained in the 1980s, extinction seemed inevitable. Today, thanks to your unwavering support, a population soars over Arizona and Utah—a testament to what’s possible when science, dedication, and partnership converge. Since our first condor release in Arizona in 1996, we’ve been working every day to help the population flourish. Our field team has weathered wildfires, responded to disease outbreaks, and rescued birds from devastating storms. We’ve celebrated young birds taking their first flight and mourned losses that reminded us how fragile this recovery remains. Through it all, one threat has persisted above all others: lead poisoning. Our approach is multi-dimensional. We propagate condors for wild release with meticulous care. We manage every wild bird in the Southwest population with boots-on-the-ground vigilance. But we also recognize that releasing condors without addressing the threats they face would be an exercise in futility. So, we co-founded the North American Lead- Free Partnership because saving a species requires addressing manageable threats. For three decades, this model has defined our work. Propagation builds the population. Field teams identify and respond to threats in real time. Threat mitigation addresses root causes. Without all three, progress unravels. A Critical Turning Point For decades, our federal partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and others, have stood alongside us in one of the most ambitious wildlife restoration efforts in North America. Their commitment, expertise, and investment have helped bring the California Condor back from the brink. We are deeply grateful for that partnership and what we have accomplished together.
Beginning in 2026, federal funding that has supported core field operations will be significantly reduced. But the condors’ needs have not changed. The threats they face have not diminished. What gives us confidence in the next chapter is you. Our most steadfast partners understand that conservation is a generational commitment. You’ve stood with us through disease outbreaks, wildfires, and urgent field responses. You’ve made it possible for us to act when a condor needs treatment or protection. We will not walk away from three decades of progress and birds who depend on us. Instead, we’re intensifying our commitment to this work, and we’re asking you to stand with us once again. Your partnership has proven that extinction is preventable when people care enough to act. Together, we’ve defied extinction for thirty years. With your continued partnership, we will ensure California Condors continue to take flight for generations to come. Thank you for making this work possible. Thank you for believing in what we can accomplish together.
We are honored to have been chosen by WECAT to support condor recovery for the next 15 years. It is the perfect example of a public-private partnership for conservation success.
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