California Condor field notes, v1401
Page 313
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus July 16, 1946 Tule R. Indian Reservation, Calif. They remained until at least 2:25. I ascended a high hill on E. side of Libbon Creek & at 3:30 was atop it where I could see N. side of Libbon Phk. area & some of the conifers apparent toward Parker Mtn. 3:54, I saw 1 apparent condor descending in a glide between head of Bond & Kessing creeks (possibly an eagle). 4:06, a mean adult soared 100' above me, legs half down. It circled & rose 300', then glided to E., over the next ridge, dipping wings several times, as if to descend in Bond Creek area. By 3:30 I had seen no more; occasional turkey vultures still soared. 5:33, I heard the whistle of condor wings & saw an adult 100' above me. It too circled & rose - Fair breeze from W. Still. It soared SE until over next ridge, then circled again. Crop bulges on this bird. It headed toward Libbon Phk. as if descending, then rose again above horizon, circling. Again it glided down, & again rose. A large hawk - rough leg ? - circled with it & glided after it - condor too speeded up its glide. At 5:54 at 2nd, then a third condor joined - the hawk (white head tail less) showed one of these briefly. The group circled & rose at varying altitudes (possibly 4 condors). The highest one off to SE into head of Kessan Canyon as if descending (5:59, disappeared). The last I saw also line off to SE, occasionally flapping, & disappeared at 6:04. Air very clear now. Fair W. breeze still. At least one condor may be roosting on the Tule River Indian Res.