Explanations:

Northern California was once home to a thriving population of California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), before hunting, poaching, and habitat loss drove them to near extinction. Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, however, the condor population has slowly been rebounding, and the species has been successfully reintroduced to several areas of its former range, including Northern California. In 2003, 27 condors were released in Pinnacles National Park, and subsequent releases have brought the population to several dozen individuals. As their numbers continue to grow, the recovery of the California condor offers hope for the future of this iconic species and its continued presence in the skies of Northern California.