How a Tribe Brought Back its Sacred California Condors
In a historic moment in May 2022, two California condors spread their massive wings and soared over Yurok tribal lands in Northern California - the first time these sacred birds had done so in over a century.
The release marked the culmination of a 16-year journey led by Tiana Williams, director of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, to return these culturally significant birds to their ancestral territory. For the Yurok people, who have continuously inhabited their homeland in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, the condor is deeply woven into their creation story and spiritual identity.
"Growing up I didn't know anything about condors, and that's the near tragedy," says Williams, reflecting on how the birds' long absence had created a cultural void. "We were so close to completely losing this huge part of ourselves."
The California condor, North America's largest land bird with a wingspan reaching 9.5 feet, once soared from Mexico to Canada. But by 1982, only 22 remained worldwide, decimated by lead poisoning, illegal hunting, and DDT pesticides that prevented successful breeding.
The two released condors, described as "best buds," showed cautious curiosity before taking their historic flight. After several tentative approaches to the trap door, one bird finally took a running leap into the open sky, quickly followed by its companion.
The Yurok Tribe's successful reintroduction program represents more than just wildlife conservation - it symbolizes cultural restoration and the preservation of sacred traditions. Through careful breeding and preparation, the tribe has begun rebuilding a population that once seemed destined for extinction.
Today, these magnificent birds once again circle above Yurok lands, their shadows moving across forests that have awaited their return for generations. For the Yurok people, the condors' homecoming helps heal a century-old wound and strengthens their enduring connection to their ancestral territory.
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