Live Bird Presentation at Turtle Bay

By Larry Jordan on May 3, 2025 in

Barred Owl

Sharon Clay has been the Curator of Animal Programs at Turtle Bay for over fifteen years. During that time she has assembled an incredible showcase of animals that are unable to be released back into the wild. These include several species of birds ranging from the Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Barn Owl to the Yellow-billed Magpie and her long time friend Kinta, the Laughing Kookaburra. Sharon has graciously given us the opportunity to visit her at “The Mill Building” in Turtle Bay to meet these amazing birds, learn all about them and experience them close up, some as they fly across the room! This will be an in-person presentation that you won’t want to miss. Watching it later on YouTube just won’t be the same. This event is free. A donation box will be available. Please consider a donation for this special event!
Park at the monolith adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel at Turtle Bay no later than 6:45 pm to access the gate to enter the park for this 7pm meeting. We will direct you to the Mill Building.

The Great Vulture Crisis

By Larry Jordan on February 4, 2021 in

Black Vulture

Spend the evening getting to know one of the leading bird trainers and educators in the North State. Sharon Clay, Curator of Animal Programs will be taking some time to share her career and some fun experiences while working closely with birds. A couple of her bird ambassadors will be joining the conversation as she discusses bird behavior, training and the current situation with the Great Vulture Crisis. This informal time will be open for questions and conversations about some of these amazing ambassador birds.

Sharon Clay is a professional animal trainer with thirty years of experience. She has trained over 65 species of animals including 50 species of birds. From 1991-1998 Sharon worked at The American Eagle Foundation where she aided in the raising and hacking of over 44 Bald eagles as part of the reintroduction program. She also performed the raptor shows at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. From 1998-2006 Sharon was the Bird Show Manager and head trainer at Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, UT. Since 2007, Sharon Clay has been the Curator of Animal Programs at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, CA where she has re-vamped the animal department, created an educational wildlife show for guests and increased the visibility and awareness of native animals.