A living link to the Ice Age and a rare but important North American bird, the population of the California condor dwindled to only 22 by 1987, the same year they were taken into captivity for breeding. The condor has a current population of only about 349. Increased use of poisonous pesticides, poaching, fewer food sources and accidental ingestion of man-made materials like bottle caps, wire and leaded bullets decimated this species.
