Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus
June 18, 1947 Mr. Cholame, Calif.
for 50 to 100 yards until at its crest, then took off down-
[illegible]. Our presence may have disturbed them. Two of the 6
were immature. They took off one at a time, circled,
& rose together. 15± ravens milled with them & a seventh
condor joined the group. The 2 imm. circled below
the others. One adult soared 1+ mile E. & circled; the
other 6 worked toward the carcass area. Meanwhile,
carsons were occasionally landing or taking off at the
carcass, & at least 10 were counted on the ground
at the carcass or scattered among the cattle for
about ¼ mile S of carcass (possibly drinking in
the cow-tracked water). At 9:40, I counted at least
11 in air — so at least 18 total seen at once. There were
20± turkey vultures also in the vicinity including
at
the carcass. Air still calm. Of the 7 in air, several
had primaries missing (none #9a10 seen). One imm.
had center 2± rectrices out, an outer secondary, & some
primaries too. One imm. showed a ludge in scrap
area. At 9:59, 6 circled about 1 mile E of carcass at
500'; rising. Dan & I counted 22 then, individually, 16
being on ground, 4 at the carcass. Condor walked
among the cattle, stood quietly 100± yds. from the
calf, or occasionally landed near the carcass or
took off. At 10:10 we drove slowly to about 250
yds. E of carcass and counted 17 on the ground.