The California condor's wings spread to 9 1/2 feet, which makes it the largest bird of prey in North America. It is also the heaviest, since it can weigh up to 30 pounds. Unfortunately, this magnificent bird holds another record, a sad one. It is the bird of prey that most likely to disappear from the face of the earth. In 1850, the condor could be found all along the coast of California and Oregon. But 100 years later, there were no more than 60 of them left. Although they have been protected by law since then, their number dwindled to 27 in 1978. In 1987, the last three wild specimens were captured for a breeding program. This program has been successful and the number of condors in captivity is growing slowly. Soon it is hoped that some can be reintroduced in the wild.