conservationists used breeding programs to keep them wild in captivity and to keep them from growing reliant on humans, they used puppets to feed the chicks. the program is working-- by next year, the population is set to soar past the 400 mark. >> we have saved the species genetically and demographically. >> reporter: michael mace has given most of his career to protect the california condor. he has released more than 1,000 into the wild. he is proud of the bird's progress but... >> the environment still has problems. it has put pressures on the species. >> reporter: pressures like these power lines. they bring power to the air traffic control radar system and cut through a condor flight path. covered by fog, the lines are difficult to see and have