Majestic California Condors Make Historic Aerial Tour in the East Bay

The other five birds, a mix of juveniles and young adults, are known for undertaking ambitious exploratory flightsPhoto byLoïc MermilliodonUnsplash

On August 18, 2024, a remarkable event unfolded as seven California condors embarked on a three-hour flight across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, showcasing their expanding range in the East Bay. The journey began around noon, with the condors leaving their roost site south of Ohlone Regional Wilderness.

Soaring over Pleasanton, Sunol, and Dublin, the condors ventured further west than ever recorded in the East Bay, reaching notable landmarks such as Mount Diablo's Pine Canyon and Lime Ridge Open Space near Clayton. This marked the furthest north the birds have flown in Contra Costa County. Their flight path circled Mount Diablo before they settled for the night in the mountains near Lake Del Valle.

This year’s group included two condors—#1021 and #943—that made similar flights the previous year, which was the first flock in Contra Costa County in a century. The other five birds, a mix of juveniles and young adults, are known for undertaking ambitious exploratory flights, as older condors tend to stay closer to their nesting territories.