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.