3 CONDORS TO BE RELEASED VS

THE VENTANA WILDERNESS SOCIETY WILL RELEASE 3 CALIFORNIA CONDORS ON THURSDAY. THE "SOFT" RELEASE WILL BE HELD AT PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT, WHICH MEANS THE BIRDS ARE FREE TO GO BUT THEY'RE NOT FORCED. THIS METHOD IS USED TO ASSURE EACH BIRD IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE TRANSITION. 2 OF THE BIRDS WILL HAVE A GLOBAL POSITIONING TRANSCEIVER ATTACHED TO THEIR WINGS, ALLOWING SCIENTISTS TO FOLLOW THEIR MOVEMENTS. ADULT CONDORS ARE ABOUT 4 AND A HALF FEET LONG WITH A WING SPAN OF UP TO 10 FEET, ALLOWING THEM TO GLIDE AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. FEMALE CONDORS LAY 1 EGG EVERY OTHER YEAR. RECENTLY 2 PREVIOUSLY RELEASED CONDORS HAD TO BE CAPTURED AND RETRAINED, AFTER THEY WERE DISCOVERED SITTING ON POWER POLES.