In early May 2025, our director Mike Clark headed to northern California to lend a hand at the inspiring Yurok Condor Release Project. It was a busy and incredibly productive trip!

Mike spent his time conducting hands-on training for the Yurok team in the delicate art of safely handling condors. This was a unique opportunity, as the entire wild flock had been temporarily gathered for routine wing tag and transmitter updates. This meant plenty of practice for everyone on essential hand-netting and restraint techniques.

Image 1 & 3: Mike Clark training handlers. Image 2: Mike demonstrating how to safely spread the wing of a condor for feather sampling

Beyond the training, the trip also contributed to vital research. Many of the condors provided feather samples for an ongoing study that tracks lead exposure in their wild diet, adding crucial data to a growing body of knowledge. It’s a key part of understanding and protecting these magnificent birds. You can see a quick overview of this important work here: 

And the support didn’t stop there. Local veterinarians were also on site, working alongside the team to perform health checks, administer West Nile Virus and HPAI vaccinations, and collect blood samples for lab analysis.

All in all, it was a truly impactful three days of collaboration, skill-building, and dedication to the future of the California Condor. It’s inspiring to see such focused efforts in bringing these incredible birds back to their native skies.

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Michael Clark

Founder & Director

California Condor Alliance