California condor
The largest land bird in North America, California condors were nearly killed off by the late 20th century. When their numbers were down to just 27, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured the remaining individuals and focused on breeding them.
Over 1,000 chicks have since hatched. Last year, in a truly miraculous finding, researchers found that two condors had been hatched via parthenogenesis—in other words, virgin births. Scientists aren’t quite sure why it happened, but it was exciting news nonetheless.
