California condor #289 keeps a watchful eye on its nest as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists check the fertility of its egg. Photograph by Joseph Brandt, found on the USFWS’ Flickr.
California condors take a long time to begin breeding. Condors reach sexual maturity at 5-6 years of age. Oftentimes, males will establish a territory and then begin looking for a mate and courting. Some condors find a mate and breed as soon as they are mature whereas others breed for the first time when they are older (8-15 years).
