California Condor field notes, v1401
Page 189
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus June 29, 1946 N. Cholame, Calif. about 50 yds. N. of calf & 4 buzzards at the calf. The saw-washed away, flushing 2 buzzards, & one condor hurried to the calf. Two more were within about 10' of calf within a few seconds, but 1 remained about 50 yds. away. Six condors were down at 9:57 - but only 2 at calf. At. 10 a.m. there were 6 condors at calf but apparently occasional feeding only, the saw standing 20+' away as if watching. Dan McMillan said his father sett- led here in 1834 & was much interested in wildlife, yet never saw a condor - he had heard of them through wives of Arroyo Grande, however. 10:15 - still 6 at calf tho perhaps only 1 or 2 feeding; we atop calf, 4 saw looking on still, & 2± ravens + 4± turkey vultures near calf on ground. 10:27 - no change. We drove to a spot about 1 mile SE of cance & at 10:34 saw 1 adult take off- this one circled, feet down, & seemed about to settle near W. edge of the flat at 10:38. Of remaining 5, at least 2 adults & 1 imm... Occasionally a buzzard or raven flopped out of the brush & landed a few feet away, or a condor ran out a few feet & returned; or one threw wings up & flapped about. 10:45, 5 condors observing carcass, 3 buzzards standing 100+' away, & the saw watching from 20+' away as before. Dan says the saws do no show interest in this calf for long, so probably a fresh one. 10:55, still 5 condors standing near calf - the