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