How a Native Tribe is Saving Condors

The Yurok Tribe, whose ancestral lands are in northwestern California, has always had a deep connection with nature. The Tribe’s people believe their purpose is to protect and keep the planet healthy. “We are world renewal, or fix-the-Earth, people,” says Tiana Williams-Claussen, a member of the Yurok Tribe. So it’s no wonder the Tribe is working to revive a species that holds great significance to the Yurok and the local environment: the California condor.

Condors, known as prey-go-neesh to the Yurok, are the largest bird in North America. Their wingspans can stretch nearly 3 meters (10 feet) wide. These giant scavengers act like a flying sanitation crew. They soar over the landscape, using their excellent eyesight to spot carrion, or dead animals, to eat. By removing carcasses, condors help prevent the spread of disease and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem—a community of organisms interacting with each other and their physical surroundings.

The Yurok Tribe has always had a deep connection with nature. The Tribe’s ancestral lands are in northwestern California. Its people believe their purpose is to protect the planet and keep it healthy. “We are world renewal, or fix-the-Earth, people,” says Tiana Williams-Claussen, a member of the Yurok Tribe. So the Tribe is working to bring back the California condor. This species holds great meaning for the Yurok and the local environment.

Condors are the largest bird in North America. The Yurok call them prey-go-neesh. The birds’ wingspans can reach nearly 3 meters (10 feet) wide. These giant scavengers act like a flying sanitation crew. As they soar over the landscape, they use their excellent eyesight to spot carrion. Then they eat these dead animals. When condors remove carcasses, they help prevent the spread of disease. They also recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. That’s a community of organisms along with their physical surroundings.

Because prey-go-neesh help renew Earth, they are sacred to the Yurok. But the birds have faced many threats since settlers began arriving in California in the 1800s. A hundred years later, condors were all but wiped out from their historical range, says Williams-Claussen (see Changing Range). Along with being a Yurok Tribe member, she’s also the director of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program. It’s a collaboration between the Yurok, scientists, and government agencies to bring condors back to the Pacific Northwest. In doing so, they hope to restore the cultural and ecological bonds between the Yurok people, prey-go-neesh, and their land.

Prey-go-neesh help renew Earth, so they are sacred to the Yurok. But the birds have faced many threats. Settlers began arriving in California in the 1800s. A hundred years later, condors were almost gone from their historical range, says Williams-Claussen (see Changing Range). She is both a Yurok Tribe member and the director of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program. The Yurok, scientists, and government agencies are working together in this program. Their goal is to bring condors back to the Pacific Northwest. They hope this will restore the cultural and ecological bonds between the Yurok people, prey-go-neesh, and their land.

The California gold rush (1848-1855) drew settlers from around the world to the Western United States in search of riches. The land, though, had long been home to many Indigenous tribes, including the Yurok. Conflicts resulted in 75 percent of the Yurok Tribe being killed, while many others were enslaved or forcibly removed from their lands. As settlers continued to arrive, their behaviors led to the deaths of condors. For instance, to protect their cattle herds from predators, ranchers and farmers would leave out poisoned carcasses. The tainted meat, meant for bears and wolves, would kill condors instead.

The California gold rush (1848-1855) drew settlers from around the world. They came to the western United States in search of riches. But many Indigenous tribes already lived on the land. That included the Yurok. Conflicts killed 75 percent of the Yurok Tribe. Many others were enslaved or forced from their lands. As more settlers arrived, their actions led to the deaths of condors. For example, ranchers and farmers wanted to protect their cattle herds from predators. So they left out poisoned carcasses. The poisoned meat was meant for bears and wolves, but it killed condors too.

By the early 1960s, only about 60 condors remained in the wild. Conservationists needed to act fast, or the birds would disappear. In 1967, the California condor was one of the first species to be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The act made it illegal to harm condors and directed federal agencies to protect them.

In 1972, DDT was banned from global use. It was a win for condors, but their population still struggled to rebound. That’s in part because it takes a long time for the birds to reproduce. “Condors have lifelong pair bonds,” says Williams-Claussen. A male and a female will stay together for life and raise only one chick every year or two. It takes six years for young condors to then grow to reproductive age.

In 1979, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created the California Condor Recovery Program to monitor and help increase the birds’ population. But the combination of a high death rate and slow reproduction continued to drive condors toward extinction, explains Williams-Claussen. “In 1987, all of the remaining wild birds were brought into captivity,” says Williams-Claussen. “They were down to just 22 free-flying individuals.” The team planned to breed the condors and release the offspring. But with so few eggs laid per year, this was no easy task. In 1992, six condors raised in captivity were released into the wild in Southern California. Since then, the population in the state has slowly grown.

By the early 1960s, only about 60 condors remained in the wild. Conservationists needed to act fast, or the birds would disappear. In 1967, the California condor was listed as endangered. It was one of the first species to be included under the Endangered Species Act. This act made it illegal to harm condors. It also directed federal agencies to protect them.

In 1972, DDT was banned from global use. It was a win for condors. But their population still struggled to come back. One reason is that condors take a long time to reproduce. “Condors have lifelong pair bonds,” says Williams-Claussen. A male and a female stay together for life. They raise only one chick every year or two. Then the chick must grow old enough to reproduce. That takes six years.

In 1979, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created the California Condor Recovery Program. The purpose was to monitor and help increase the birds’ population. But the condors’ high death rate and slow reproduction continued to drive them toward extinction, explains Williams-Claussen. “In 1987, all of the remaining wild birds were brought into captivity,” says Williams-Claussen. “They were down to just 22 free-flying individuals.” The team planned to breed the condors and release the offspring. But this wasn’t easy, because so few eggs were laid each year. In 1992, six condors were released into the wild in Southern California. They had been raised in captivity. Since then, the population in the state has slowly grown.

CONDOR CAM: Click here to see the YurokTribe's live condor feed.

CONDOR CAM: Click here to see the YurokTribe's live condor feed.