An annual release of the California condor into the wild was held virtually this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, hosted by The Peregrine Fund, was held Saturday, Sept. 25, in Vermillion, Arizona. It was the 26th annual release event.

The huge bird with a wingspan of nine feet is a member of the vulture family. In 1987 the birds were extinct in the wild, but have since been released into parts of Southern Arizona, Utah and the Central Coast of California.

According to Wikipedia, there are currently 518 of the birds in the wild or captivity. They remain on the critically endangered species list.

The livestream event had a picture-in-picture setup with a camera trained on the release pen and  included videos and interviews with the condor biologists and conservationists, according to the National Park Service Arizona. 

The Peregrine Fund ia a nonprofit that seeks to protect birds of prey. The organization's website said its volunteers and biologists began breeding California condors in 1993 at a facility in Boise, Idaho, and began releasing them back into the wild in 1996.

According to the website, the lead found in spent bullets ingested by the birds led to the decline of the species.

In 2020 the Arizona release event was also held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic and attracted 10,000 viewers.

The event was broadcast on the Peregrine Fund's Youtube channel.   

For more information go to www.peregrinfund/org/projects/california-condor.