Seven fluffy chicks hatched last month at the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, marking the beginning of what looks to be another outstanding year in the effort to save this critically endangered species.

“It’s been an incredible season so far,” said Travis Koons, who oversees the zoo’s bird populations and northwest species recovery efforts. “All seven chicks are eating well and growing stronger every day. They’re just little fuzzballs now, but in a year or two they’ll be spreading some enormous wings and soaring through the open sky.”

Since late January, condors at the Jonsson Center have been laying the groundwork for species recovery one egg at a time. Several other fertile eggs have been laid this year and more chicks are expected soon. With scarcely more than 500 California condors left in the world, each new chick is vitally important, Koons said.

The chicks will stay with their parents for at least eight months before moving to pre-release pens for about a year. Eventually, they will travel to a wild release site to join free-flying condors in California and Arizona.