Live Condor Cams
Live California condor nest cams are hosted seasonally by our friends at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. During nesting season, you can check out the live cams and see into the wild world of the California condor. The nest cams are currently offline, but please take a look at the clips below. You can also find information about past condor nest cams here.
Condor Clips
Male Condor Knocks Mate Off Cliff While Displaying
The California Condor pair at Orchard Draw put on a show for us on October 11! After arriving at the nest area together, #328 and #216 moved out toward the rocky edge, whereupon the male (#328) stretched out his wings and began performing a courtship display called the "wing-out" display for the female (#216). He was so enthusiastic that she ran out of room and had to fly off, with him in hot pursuit.
Condor Chick is Greeted With a Meal From Dad
You've got a front row seat to watch the California condor chick's father (#328) make a spectacular arrival from across the valley carrying a meal for the chick. Watch how the chick begs for a meal and receives several regurgitated portions before the male scales the promontory and disappears out of frame.
Condor Nest Guarding
In 2007, the Santa Barbara Zoo and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented a Nest Guarding Program in Southern California with the goal of identifying leading causes of nest failure and increasing the number of wild-fledged chicks. Nest guarding combines monitoring nests using real-time volunteer and staff observations with routine periodic nest entries to detect possible threats. If threats to the nest are detected, they are mitigated with intervention activities (i.e., cleaning microtrash, administering medical treatment) in order to prevent the nest from failing. Since its implementation, the Nest Guarding Program has proven to be effective and has dramatically increased nesting success!
We would like to thank the following conservation partners for their support of the Condor Cam and for their support of the Zoo’s fieldwork with the California condor.
