LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Special guest Tiana Williams-Claussen will talk about reintroducing California condors to their historical Northern California and Pacific Northwest range at Redbud Audubon’s Zoom program on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.

The Yurok Tribe in Northern California has been preparing over 14 years to bring condors, this nation’s largest bird, home to a historic part of its range after a century-long absence.

Not only will this restore an apex species into the region’s ecological systems, but it will promote the Yurok Tribe’s reconnection to this amazing creature that is sacred to the tribe and has great cultural importance.

Williams-Claussen, director of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, will briefly introduce the incredible Prey-go-neesh — the California condor — and describe the traditions guiding the Yurok Tribe's efforts to bring condors back to the tribal ancestral territory.

She will explain the tribe’s step-by-step progress over 14 years to develop collaborative partnerships with the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Ventana Wildlife Society, multiple zoos and local hunters.

With the necessary facilities construction nearing completion, the tribe hopes to release the first four condors this spring. In closing her talk, she will describe the Yurok Tribe’s approach for reintegrating condors once they are released.

Williams-Claussen is a Yurok tribal member from the village of Wehl-kwew and was raised in Yurok ancestral territory.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University, after which she returned to serve her tribe. She was instrumental in the formation of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department in 2008 and currently serves as department director.
Her native upbringing and formal education combine to allow her to bridge the gap between Yurok traditional understandings of the world and those rooted in Western science. She is working toward a cohesive, well-informed approach to holistic ecosystem management.

To register for this fascinating presentation, go to www.redbudaudubon.org and click on the registration link on the homepage of the website. The link to join the presentation will be sent to you the day of the program. In order to secure your spot, please register by Wednesday, Feb. 16.