Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus
July 3, 1946 Beartrap Canyon, Calif
well dam in front view & 4 junior
wing straight. One dove at another, twisting in
flight. At 8:36 at least 3 of these glided 5. above
the trees, 1/4+ mile apart, without ever getting over
1/4 mile E. of the cliffs. 8:42, 4 adults (same
probably) circled 200' above highest cliff point.
At 8:45 there 4 headed NE about 100 yds. apart.
after about 1 mile, they circled 4 more, 4 were joined
below by 2 more condors & a vulture (as 6 con-
dor, apparently non-breeding adults). All circled
& at 8:49 headed NE as if toward Syncline Hill
in business-like fashion (strung out about 1/4
mile at 4000' elevation level. A duck hawk was
frequently heard from cliff area. 8:55, one adult
circled, feet down, near highest cliffs. This
bird glided 1/2+ mile NW, then circled & rose, & I saw
another condor circling 300' below it. The two circled
together, then upon dove at lower 4 successive
times, each time approaching from above in
an accelerating flex glide & attacking from the
rear, the lower bird then steepening glide &
(twisting), the upper following, then both re-
summing normal flight, the upper bird still
above. The lower continued on into Nay Canyon,
the upper returned 1/2+ mile S., circled & rose, &
glided E. past about 1000' above me, also about