This week the Oregon Zoo’s California condors laid two more eggs, bringing this year’s egg total to four.

One of the new condors at the Oregon Zoo shows off its wingspan. (kgw.com photo/Ore. Zoo)

These endangered birds are producing at a pace that could match or break last year’s record.  In 2007 they laid an all-time best of seven eggs. However, many eggs don’t always mean many chicks. That year only three condors hatched.

The two most recent eggs were laid on March 10. The condors will sit on them until zoo keepers take them to test for fertility. “The eggs will be naturally incubated for 10 to 14 days,” said Shawn St. Michael, zoo assistant curator. “Then they will be pulled, candled, put into an incubator and replaced with dummy eggs.”

When the eggs start to hatch keepers put them back so the chicks hatch under their parents.