Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus
June 24, 1946
Nr. Cholame, Calif.
just standing. The lone one on flat bare grounds where it lit,
still (1:34), then 2, separately, flopped to the water
again & landed among 4+ ravens. 2 p.m., one flew
from water to 20' u. of carcass & walked to it (so 2
there). Then lone one on flat floor & was joined by one
at the water (2:03). 2:10, still 2 at carcass, 1 at water.
A group of 50+ running horses passed about 1/4 mile
from carcass - no reaction apparent. 2:18, one left the
carcass, circling & rising, leaving 3 at carcass, 4
now apparent at water. The last flyer was last at 2:25
apparently heading for Castle Mtn. 2:26, two left
carcass, circling & rising, leaving 1 at carcass 2:27,
another lit at carcass. A cob cowboy rode about
7.00 yds. from carcass but condors seemed uninterested.
A third about 100' over carcass area at
2:30. 2:35, two took off from carcass, 4+ others
were visible in that area above horizon (6 total).
Then 10 min air about 2:40, more at carcass. I saw
5 of these descending again, 4 at 2:45 saw 2 at carcass
& 1 landing there. 2:53, three with 6+ vultures soaring
about 200' above carcass area. 2:55, I saw 2 lone non
carcass no 5 total there. 3 p.m., a sixth flown at calf.
Wind about at twice. 3:05, saw 1 at carcass, standing
around, one occasionally pecking at calf. 3:15, 2
soaring 200' over carcass & 7 at carcass (9
total). A steer again walked through the group, & they