California Condor field notes, v1401

Koford, Carl B.

Unknown

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley

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C.B. Koford California Condor Study 1946 (Part 2) - 1950 Species Accounts Gymnogyps californianus

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Gymnogyps californianus May 31, 1946 Nr. Mt. Po[sg] Calif. They set off in a glide toward Breckenridge Mtn. until about 4 miles from me & at 2000' altitude. at 4:22 Then they circled again - and I lost them. The NW breeze continued. The carcass was about 1 mile N. of a farmhouse - I did not have time to visit it. There were a few cattle in this area. June 1, 1946 E. of McFarland, Calif. At 6:30 a.m. I visited the carcass, where I saw car[?s] & turkey multies yesterday - it proved to be a calf, still in the soft-hoofed stage. The hide was brown & white Hereford. The location was about 8 1/2 miles E. of McFarland, about 1/2 mile W. of Porter ville road, & 2 1/2 miles N. of McFarland- Woody road. The remains were on a rounded ridge covered with 3" cropped dry grass & higher dry volunteer oats. The slope was about 5%. There was a barbed wire fence about 200 yds. to W. & a farmhouse about 1 mile to S. The town of McFarland was clearly visible from there. The remains were in a line for 50 yds. Apparently the carcass first lay at the uphill end. There I found many tufts of hair & hide, about 20 pieces of car[?] - like down, a car[?] secondary, 2 car[?] "bocks"; 50' & a few turkey multies feathers. 100' down the slope from this was one ramus, & 30' further its other ramus. There were neatly cleaned & appear

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3120 Gymnogyps californianus June 1, 1946 E. of McFarland, Calif. ently mubbled at endyles & anterior tips. I saved them for specimens. 30' further on were a rib, rib fragment, + 2 small bones - possibly the hyoid - also the bone holding upper molars of one side; disarticulated from the skull & cleaned of meat. The bones had a dried-bloody look. Here also was a hoof sheath and a 3" long curved bone, 15" tufts of hair, most with a piece of skin attached, + a few more down feathers. 20' further on was the main body - a twisted soft hide with pelvis, all legs, + skull attached. The skull was bare to nearly the eyes & one set side of molars remain- ed. Leg bones were attached - including scapulae- and pulled inside out down to the heels & wrists. The tail hide was pulled inside out, bone gone, & distal inch or so missing. Apparently all viscera & internal organs were gone. Many red ants crawl- ed on the carcass. About 10' to N. of the hide & legs was the spine & rib cage. None of the ribs appear- ed to be broken though sternum was about 1/3 detached, & mubbled some. Only a few shreds of meat remained, + several hundred red ants crawled on the bones. The entire neck was intact including first vertebra. One hoof sheath, possibly mubbled at the tip, lay near the spine section. The lumbar vertebrae & 3 or 4 of the caudal were in another

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Gymnogyps californianus June 1, 1946 E. of McFarland, Calif. section 10 t'N. ofiles. Some of the processes had been broken at tips. I photod the remains, the main body in situ. Further examination showed that the ears were gone & a hole remained at each of them, yet the rest of neck skin was in- tact. One leg was pulled inside out through a hole at spilla; the other was pulled through the main abdominal opening so that only hoof tip was visible from outside. About only meat remaining was in lower legs. The skull was loose in the head skin bag. The anal hole was only about 3" in diameter, & the abdominal opening through which bone of pelvis, hind-legs, & hide around tail were pulled was about 8" forward of this. The abdominal hole could not have been over 12" in diameter- possibly a slit. Lower leg joints were flexible & carcass odiferous- probably dead since before yesterday. Calf appar- tly is a favorite food. The foothill area to W. was mainly in grain it appeared- I saw only about 200 cattle, & these mainly in corals. Blue Mtn., the area of Vincent's 35 condors, was snapp- ious to the E.. Sky clear, air warm, fair W. breeze at 7:30 a.m. when I left carcass. I drove then to Delano. I was told there was a severe light- night rain storm about a week ago in this area,

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Gymnogyps californianus June 2, 1946 Fillmore, Calif. Did Peyton went to Hopper Rim with Mr. & Mrs. Eric Reynolds, a Hollywood director, & a couple of other people. Peyton returned about 1:30 & reported seeing 5 condors - 3 at once. The Reynolds' returned in the evening & reported seeing 5 - not over 2 at a time. June 3, 1946 Hopper Basin, Calif. Drove to Hopper Rim with Dr. & Mrs. Eric Reynolds, trail Reynolds, & Betty Davenport. We arrived at Parking Place at 12:35. Sky clear, air warm, fair breeze. We saw no condors in the nearby trees so continued on to White Paint. Lunches at my camp there, then drove to head of troter trail & hiked down trail. Mrs. Reynolds was anxious to get some photos of condors. She stayed on the troter trail while Dr. Reynolds & daughter & I hiked down to Condor Falls. Water was running there (not at Big Cove Falls) and the pools were full & clean, but no whitewash or condor feathers were found. We found one turkey vulture primary in the top pool however. At 3:55 we saw one adult condor land in a dead P.S. on N. side of Arm Bell Ridge about 1/4 mile E. of #2 nest. It stood facing SE about 30' from top of a 70+ dead P.S. and was still there at 4:05. Fair

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Gymnogyps californianus June 3, 1946 Hopper Basin Calif. Sneeze from B.W. then 4:06 the adult took off & shifted to a dead limb of a green Ps. about 200 yds. further E. (4100' below) its former perch, and stood facing SE. At 4:12 when we left it was still there. We hiked up the canyon to Big Cave. We found about 20 fairly fresh primary feathers, mostly below Whitewash Ledge, about 6 alula feathers, 4 others. Below 4th Whitewash Lodge & immediately (30') delow a much whitewashed hole (where I had seen some root & water on several occasions) I found the broken shell of at least half of a cactus egg. I found no embryo remains nor egg contents, so possibly the shell was from a hatched bird. The membrane was dry + somewhat brownish + shell dirty. It must have been this year's egg - else the birds & rodents probably would have consumed the shell. About 5:15 we left Big Cave. At 6:15 from the tractor trail I observed Arundell Ridge & found one perched adult on a partly green long limb of a Ps. below + 1/4 mile N. of Saddle Ps. Mrs. Reynolds reported she had seen 2 or 3 from the trail but not close enough for pictures. We returned to camp. June 4, 1946 Hopper Basin, Calif. With the Reynolds group set out for top of Big Cave. At 7:30 a.m. I saw one adult stop

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Gymnogyps californianus June 4, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Flat Rs. Air calm & warm, sky clear. At 8:10 the adult still perched, & I spotted two others. One was atop a curved dead Rs. above and about 100 yds. to W. of Brett's nest, & the other on top branch of a stub about 200 yds. further W. and 100+ higher. Do 3 total visible (the last described possibly a turkey milture; off a few minutes later). 8:45 the two still perched; the one near- set Brett's apparently a near adult. Light S. breeze by 8:45. I saw 2 turkey miltures soaring before 8 a.m. today. 9 a.m., we were atop Big Cave. The pool was dry though many old cinder tracks remained. At 9:15 I saw the immatures perch empty & an immin. circling near Arundell Saddle. The bird circled & rose to over Spring Meadow, then flop-glided past North Paint to over North Slope, then circled & rose above North Ridge (9:22). The adult re- mained perched on Flat Rs. as before. Light to fair S. or SW breeze. At 9:33 the adult was off - it circled and rose over Arundell Ridge, then worked up toward Pyramid lookout & skimmed W. over the Rim about 300 yds. S. of the lookout (9:40?). At 9:42 I saw an adult descending above Ar- undell Ridge; it alighted with 5 backing flaps on a stub branch of a dead Rs. about halfway

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Gymnogyps californianus June 4, 1946 Hopper Basin, Calif. Between Loretta's nest & Arundell Saddle. About 2 minutes later it was off & after a couple of circles alighted in a green P.S. about 50 yds. uphill from former perch. There the bird stood in shade on a dead branch. 10:15, the adult perched as before, facing away from slope. 10:42, I saw another adult 300' above us. It circled 2 or 3 times near the summit, headed W., glided N. to near North Pt., then S. toward Pyramid 10. About 10:45 the perched adult took off & perched a limb of a dead P.S. about #100 yds. E. of Loretta's. The adult turned around 3 or 4 times, each time with wings up or flopping, in about 2 minutes; then shifted to a whitewood point under an overhang in center of main Arundell Cliff. I saw 2 other adult condors soaring nearby; it then the perched one took off (about 10:50) & joined them. They rose over Arundell Ridge & soared back & forth low over it. One circled & rose & was over Pyramid 10 at 11:00 a.m. One other perched on a branch of a green P.S. - the other swooped up to land there & first took off & subsequently landed (11:02) about 300 yds. to W. of first in a green P.S. near Flat P.S. First bird in some tree as the long-perched adult (to 10:42). About 11:20, the E. one was off - it circled & rose over S. Ridge area with another condor (11:30).

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Gymnogyps californianus June 4, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Possibly we still perched near Flat Ps. At 12:00 we started N. up cliff tops. 12:05, one adult came toward us from W., circled 300' overhead, then went 1/2 mile N., circled again, then soared S. over East Canyon. A second adult circled near Arundell Cliffe & sighted atop Flat Ps. Another adult was atop Ps. about 200 yds. E. of that one - as before today. We hiked to car at head of tractor trail, then drove to Pyramid Lookout. From there at 1:55 I saw none on Flat Ps. or elsewhere. Fair W. breeze persisted; visibility beyond Hopper Basin restricted by haze. By 3 p.m., with constant search from Pyramid 20, I saw no condors. 3:50, 3:05, I saw one adult light in a dead Ps. near N. end of Rock Ridge - a moment later it was off, gliding N., & this appeared behind (E. of) a ridge about 1/2 mile N. of tree. 3:50, I saw one adult soaring near Conda Cliff. It swooped over Falle Break & sighted atop cliff over Whitewash Ledge. A raven dove at it 2 or 3 times, coming within 8' of condor. The condor took off, still pursued by raven, & landed in a path hole beneath the ledge. Another pathole, 10' to N. of this one, was also apparently occupied by a condor. 4:27, the adult which sighted in pathole left & soared straight to N. side of Crumble Ridge. Breeze fair from SW at 4:30. 4:35 I saw

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Gymnogyps californianus June 4, 1946 Hopper Basin, Calif. one immature about 1/2 mile N. of the foot of Rock Ridge - it circled down, feet down, & disappeared behind same ridge where adult disappeared earlier. Saw no more condors by 4:45 so left the lookout. At 4:53, when we were on road at lookout area, one ragged adult soared 300' above us. It soared back & forth in our vicinity and S. to Parking Place & Lone Oak vicinity occasionally then broke over us, & at 5:16 headed E. into Hopper Basin. The breeze was fair from S.W., & this bird tucked into the wind, circled & rose, or glided parallel to Rim with ease. Occasionally it gave 1 or 2 wing dips & lost altitude. Mrs. Reynolds shot movies of this bird. It had a gap in primaries of one side (about ±3 missing), a notch in inner secondary area of same side, #7-9 primaries of other side apparently a little shot, & a general raggedness. Feet were down occasionally - perhaps point desired to alight in trees at head of Parking Canyon but we disturbed it. We drove on. From near Old Cabin could spot none in Big Cave area. Returned to camp at head of Hopper Canyon. June 5, 1946 The Reynolds' party left at 9 a.m. I started from road on the Whiteacre Pk. trail. Arrived at trail summit at 10 a.m. Sky 8/10 cirro-stratus; light S.W. breeze commenced at 10 a.m. At 10:03 I saw

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Gymnogyps californianus June 5, 1946 Whiteacre Pk, Calif. two adults at perched on the tip of a sandstone bluff on W. side of the ridge about ½ mile S. of Whiteacre Pk. This was same point when I saw mating display earlier this year. 10:05, one adult crouched flat but was up in 30± sec.. 10:08, one sunned, facing arm wings outspread & body erect. The other stood 5±' away, facing first, + sunned back, body tilted forward [illegible]. Both had ceased sunning by 10:11. 10:16, both took off to NW about 1 minute apart, circled together, feet down, then separated - I descended out of my sight as if to land about 500' below Whiteacre Pk. on the SW side while the other landed in cliff point 200± yds. up the slope from first perch (highest point on that slope). The perched adult mostly stood quietly & occasionally preened. 10:40, a raven perched about 10' on one side of perched adult, later 6±' on other & walked about 4' in front of condor in returning to first spot, the condor showed no interest. 10:49, I saw an adult was now also on the first (lower) perch point on tip of cliff [illegible]. Upper adult faced out from cliff [illegible]. No change by 11:00 - both quite inactive. At 11:25 the lower took off, circled, & rose near upper. The upper then took off & circled 100±' below opp other. they soared toward Rim as if to cross just S. of Whiteacre Pk., but lower locked altitude &

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Gymnogyps californianus June 5, 1946 Whiteacre Pk., Calif. circled again, then soared ¼+ mile S.W., rising. The Two soared over me (200±') at 11:30. One had puffed cheeks - perched & in air - and thus resembled one which nested on N. side of Whiteacre Pk. before. The other carried feet down. One had #6 right and #7 left primaries short. Neither was the 5:15 bird of yesterday. They dove off to NE about 11:35. Slept 9/10 circa 4 min. stratus; fair S. breeze. I continued on to the old nest on S. N. side of Whiteacre Pk. near the trail, arriving 12:10. This nest cave showed no sign of recent condor use. Returned then to summit of trail arriving at 12:45. I found on the open rocks there the remains of a coyote which Sid Beyton had removed from one of Norman Keene's traps earlier this year, & next to the carcass under a stone I found one fresh condor alula feather. The spine from occiput to next to distal tail vertebra was in one piece, ribs & pelvis attached. A few tips of small ribs were broken but most intact. Both hind legs still articulated with pelvis but were skinned out & flesh eaten halfway down the shin. One foreleg was inside bone ward pulled out of shin to just forward of elbow. The other was separate from carcass & free of flesh & hide to the toenails. Both had all bones present attached still. The bill was inside out & had 1 twist.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 3, 1946 Whiteacre Pk, Calif. Anus hole was about 2x3". Abdomen opening extended between forelegs & possibly had been cut open. Osseous was fairly well cleaned of flesh but attached to hide still. Neck was inside out & skull shrunken except for rostrum from nose to eyes. No internal organs or smell was evident. Several rocks nearby showed possible - soda whitewash. Ribs of 3 remaining feet were intact. Condors probably contributed to cleaning of this carcass. I ascended Whiteacre Pk. At 1:25 when 50±' from top, I saw an adult 300±' overhead. It was the puffy cheeked one with primary out of each wing while I saw this morning. I was on top (5100 ft.) at 1:30. The adult soared back & forth over me 2-3 times, feet down, then headed S., feet up, in a long glide. At 1:42 I lost track of this bird apparently over the E. slope of Nopper Mtn. Fair W. breeze atop the jet peak; sky 3/10 cover. 2:00, I saw an adult soaring near where I first saw the carcass this morning. It skirted the cliffs & nosed siding, then headed 200±' over me. It was "Puffy Cheeks" again. It tacked slowly back & forth at about 6000' level until about 1 mile toward Sulphur Pk., then fell off to left to above Rim, then soared over me again at about 5400' level (2:23), then soared 1/2± mile S. & back, then to W. at 6000±'

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Gymnogyps californianus June 5, 1946 Whiteacre Pk., Calif. level for about 1 mile (2:26). Then fell off to S. again until about over Rim, then N. again (all very slowly) to about 1/4 mile NW of me, then S. again over the Rim about 1 mile, then broke N. toward me at lower level & about 100' above me at 2:33. In heading N., right side of tail depressed (rudder effect). When bird turned W. into wind, it rose rapidly. This bird and other seen this morning - has no apparent "crop lodge". Adult went back & forth 1/4± mile just over S. of me again, then tacked about 1 1/2 mile S. (2:38) & returned N. (2:40, 300' yds. W. & 200' above me atop Whiteacre Pk.). Then back & forth 2 or 3 more times, then S. just W. of & above the Rim - on and on - until apparently again over E. slope of Kopper Mtn. at about 4200' level, 3:05; I again saw an adult soaring near the cliff's 1/2± mile to S. of me, & a few minutes later (3:06) saw one adult perched on the point where I first saw another this morning, for- ing on [illegible]. About 3:35 this bird faced S. on the same rock point. SW breeze continued, but cooler, & slightly 1/10 cirro-stratus; 3:39, [illegible] again, facing in from cliff. About 3:55 the adult faced N. on its point. 4:03, for- ing W. - "just looking around" the main occupation; occa- sional preening. 4:08, an adult soared S. about 100' from me & joined another which circled & rose just W. of the cliff's about 1 1/2 miles to S.. The perched adult seemed somewhat interested & faced E. Breeze died to

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Gymnogyps californianus June 5, 1946 Whiteacre Pk, Calif. faint about 4 p.m. 4:25, I saw 7 condors, apparently near Pyramid LO, lead eastward in a fast fly-glide and disappear, descending, S. of North Ridge. The glide was fast & occasionally, bird passed another. The group was 4:30, saw one now close rim E.E. near dead river. at least strung out about 1/2 mile. Do at least 5, probably 6 condors in the area. 4:40, I saw one soaring over the North Slope area. Near adult perched as before. At 4:45 it crashed flat, about half the body over the cliff edge. Intermittent fair E. breeze. 4:55, the adult was standing again. At 4:58 it took off, descending - I lost it but saw one on deck limb of a green Ps. about 300 yds. to W. + 200' below the perch at 5 p.m. The bird was in shade of green branches above. Steady fair E. breeze. I started for camp, arriving 6:35 seeing no condors on the way. June 6, 1946 N. Whiteacre Pk, Calif. Left camp at 7:10, started on Whiteacre trail at 7:39, and at 8:15 arrived atop a point of the cliffs about 1/2 mile S. of Whiteacre Pk. + 1/4 mile N. of the said points where I saw the condors perched yest. day. In the tree where I saw the adult at 5 p.m. yesterday, I now saw 2 adults, both standing, I close to sun. One was on top branch - on the dead portion of a green branch, & the other was about 10' below on opposite side of the tree near center of a green branch. Both were quite calm & quiet. About 8:30 the upper stretched left wing [illegible]

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Gymnogyps californianus June 6, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pt., Calif. Lock, 4 slowly drawn forward - tail as swiveling to left in too, slowly - then folded wing but remained bent forward for 1 minute. Upper had a white feather showing stop wing near right elbow; lower was apparent by "Puffy cheeks". Both preened in the sunshine. Sky clear, visibility good (best for several days), air calm - occasional faint breeze. This roost tree is about 120 yds. down the 30±% N. slope. There are many green & 2 dead trees higher on the ridge. The ridge faces Deer Mdw. (on S. side of next ridge to N.) where I have seen many deer, 4 one bin this year). At 8:55 lower adult cocked its wings as if to take off, then folded them, then cached them again & took off. It circled & figure- eighed around the perch tree without flapping until about 20' above it, then gave a wing dip, put feet down & after a few more times swooped to a landing about 10' from and 2±' below the other the flyer was definitely "Puffy Cheeks". Air still calm - perhaps this bird found soaring too arduous so landed. I suppose the birds are somewhat disturbed by my presence. 9:06, the same adult again off (lost it) while other was turned around, now facing NE, ruff down, crop opterium barely showing. 9:15, a steady cool S.W. breeze commenced, about 8 m.p.h. I saw much as there may be a nest here, & I saw counting here, it may be that counting occurs only close to the area Ford 3/133 [illegible] [illegible]

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Gymnogyps californianus June 6, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pk, Calif. restive nest site (within 1/2 mile say) such as Big Cave or Trumbell Ridge or Pine Canyon. 9:20, the perched adult gave a deep slow wind "how" to NE, then slowly turned about & faced SW as when first seen today. The broken shell below near Big Cove may have been from same pair as Works nest & the one near Cadora Falls. The nest at Oscar's house North Point may then same pair. And several locations at Beartrap Canyon (Trumbell) and Pine & Coldwater Canyons (Beytans). So perhaps nesting for life is indicated though same hole may not be used always. Disturbance at one site might easily drive the pair to another, the zone might use the same. 9:39, the remaining adult took off & soon straight WNW over the Little Scape area, & I lost it — first may also have followed their route. Breeze ceased & intermittent the air felt fresh. I moved S. then at at 10:10 was on the high bluff point where I saw cadora perch yesterday. At 10:22, "Puffy Cheeks" soared past about 200 yds. to W. of me, feet down, then to WSW, feet up, for about a mile, then back, feet up down, & swooped to a landing out of my sight on or near the NW facing cliff 150' below me (below & NE of lower cliff perch pt. point, 200' yds. E. of roost tree of this morning). There is a whitewashed ledge & pothole near center of that cliff, possibly so probably that is where the cadora landed. At 10:38 the adult was in air. It soared about 1/2 mile N;

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Gymnogyps californianus June 6, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pk, Calif. flet down, soaring very close to some cliffs, 4 at 10:41 landed on a slightly whitened point of a sandstone cliff about 3/8 mile N. of and 400' below me. This was near top of the lowest of the big ledges below the first W.-running spur S. of Whiteacre Pk. The point was about 10' from top of the 80'+ ledge, & the ground below the cliff sloped steeply away for 1/4 mile to canyon bottom. 2 other points nearby were slightly whitened also. at 10:58 this bird flopped & jumped up- ward and broke into a 'V' in the cliff, out of my sight. Probably that is the nest (#13) but it is not visible from any cliff in the Whiteacre area - it could apparently be seen from the Squaw Flat road, however, about 1/2 mile to W. of nest (NE of Sulphur Pk). At 11:09 the other adult soared past the nest, crop area bulg- ing greatly. This bird continued 1/2± mile S. of nest, then Suffy Cheeks took off. They circled together, feet down, until at bird level above nest. Then both went into a steep banked dive for 150'+ ft. as a raven attacked them (a raven nest in a near cliff there). The raven attacked several more times, flying after the carders & croaking. Appar- ently it never actually hit a carder. The raven flew away when carder headed toward it in circling, then chased carder as raven was turned. The raven nest apparently about 200' above &

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Gymnogyps californianus June 6, 1976 Nr. Whiteacre Pk, Calif. 500' S. of condor nest. The condors twisted & descended when pursued so that they were once again at nest level. At 11:16 the full cropped condor landed on the same perch point, street - Puffy Cheche circled & rose until at 11:20 it was above the rim. The raven pair set out to W. crooning loudly & flapping rapidly and attacked a golden eagle. The eagle came toward the cliff in a fast glide & landed in a pothole near me, passing about 300' over 4 600' S. of condor. Apparently the condor was not disturbed. The eagle flew off to W. again, still pursued by the ravens. At 11:55 the condor stood quietly as before. Perhaps it takes some time to prepare newly acquired food for the chick (perhaps 6 or 7 cuebs old a lais at this storie of year). The adult moved & occasionally faced a different direction. Still there at 1 p.m., at cliff edge, facing in. 1:15, the adult craned flat on cliff edge, facing in on the 4-5' wide shelf. Very light white- work on that point & 2 other nearby - not enough to make one suspect more than an occasional roosting place. Adult again stood about 1:35. 2:08, the adult craned flat at cliff edge again. Their bird apparently found food, fed, & returned between 9:30 & 11:09. About 2:55 the perched adult again stood. Breeze today has been mainly light, from S.W. - less breeze than yesterday but slightly cooler. At 3:06, perched adult was gone.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 6, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pk, Calif. At 3:19 one adult descended above the next, foot, perused briefly by a raven. The adult slighted on the next perch point at 3:20 and stood at edge of c Cliff, preening & looking about. This bird had bulging crop & was apparently some that left about 3:06. If it were not for my presence, perhaps the bird would be per- ch where I am (or nearby) or last evening. The birds have not soared near me today as if curious, yet I believe my presence caused them to leave roost earlier than normal. Breeze faint after 4 p.m. At 4:15, perched adult as before. I left for camp. June 7, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Left camp about 7:25+ at 7:55 was on the road about ½ mile N. of Old Cabin. From there I saw 5 condors perched in trees on Arundell Ridge. Three were in one tall dead Lc. above the main cliff. Two turkey vultures also perched in this tree - one above the 3 condors & another on same branch (8±' away) or center condor. The lowest condor I saw slight this after circling low over the ridge. About 3 minutes later all these birds were off. I saw 1 condor slight atop Flat Ps. + another 100±' away in a green Ps. I saw one in a green Ps. about ¼ mile saddle to N. from saddle Ps. 8:15, I counted 6 or 7 condors perched or soaring low over Arundell Ridge. Two soared together; one landed on a Coulter

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Gymnogyps californianus June 7, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Branch of a green Ps. 4 took off as other landed there; then the second took off as a third skimmed close by. Sky clear, air warm, faint breeze at least. 8:20, 7 condors perched on Drundell Ridge. Three on branches of a dead stub, two in top of a green Ps. 4 a third 50 t' away (about 100 yds. from stub) and one near Saddle Ps. as before. 8:23, 8 perched, one being added to the 3 in green trees. 8:25 - 11 perched, 3 in the tall dead Ps. where 3 seen about 8 a.m. 8:30, 5 were about 500' over Drundell Ridge, circling & rising. They apparently descended to ridge again - I saw 9 there at 8:34, 3 in air. One chased another 2 or 3 times in steep twisting dives. 8:38, 6 in air over Drundell Ridge. Much noont shifting - apparently more perched at same spot since 8 a.m. 8:42, 6 visible perched & 4 soaring 900' over Landstine Mesa. 8:49, I saw a possible min. Stop Flat Ps. with wings out giving gentle flaps as if legging while facing an adult. The adult took off & two landed - the possible min. repeated the performance for 3+ flaps. 8:57, 9 in air up to 1500' over Drundell Ridge awa, 41 perched at Stop Flat Ps. Shortly before, one hurriedly left Stop Flat Ps. as another flew close (10+) by. 9:05, two perched on Flat Ps. 4 at least 3 above Loirgin. Two of the 3 soared together, 4 one swooped after the other, both going nearly straight up, wings bowed, before falling off.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 7,1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. 9:13, still 3 visible at Arundell Ridge - 2 atop Flat Ps. took off simultaneously as another passed 20' away. 9:18, 6 condors soaring low over Arundell Ridge - more visible perched. 9:23, 5 perched & one soar- ing low over trees; 4 perched in one green Ps., highest Tree on the ridge (near Flat Ps.). Breeze light now - 4 air warmer. 9:28, 5 visible perched; there had been some shifting - 2 on Flat Ps. now 4-2 in the higher tree. 9:39, I counted at least 6 - possibly 8 - at Arundell Ridge. Two soared E. down the canyon. 9:42, counted 10, 9 perched, on Arundell Ridge. Three were atop Flat Ps. and 2 (or 3) in lower branches. Perhaps the 5 that rose earlier went for a drink & returned to roost. 9:48, I saw at least 5 soaring over Arundell Ridge area as if heading toward Big Cove. "Rising time" about 9:50. Two chased, flopping & rising, several times. 9:55, I could spot now, soaring or perched, so hiked toward Old Cabin. At 10:05 I saw 1 soaring near Onder Cliff. 10:10, two adults came E. over the Rim near Small Mdw. & glided down into Hopper Basin - possibly #13 nest pair. 10:15, I saw 1 perched on Flat Ps. & another soaring over Arundell Ridge - this one later circled over Spring Mdw. I arrived at Old Cabin at 10:30 & saw 2 perched in trees on Arundell Ridge. Light W. breeze. 10:38 - Two chased low over Arundell Ridge & I saw 1 perched in dead Ps. there. I hiked on to -

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Times for 7 June all 15 minutes late - subtract 15 ask Gymnogyps californianus June 7, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. word Pyramid D.O. At 10:50 I saw one adult on Flat B2 - it was still there at 11:15 when I arrived at Pyramid D.O. At 11:15 I also saw one adult perched on top long branch of Near Root Tree, 6' out from trunk, standing quietly, facing S. Cool fair SW breeze; visibility fair. 11:39, the 2 perched as before; I had dis- covered no others. 11:55, the one on Flat B2 was gone though one (same?) was atop a green B2, about 200 yds. further E. About 12:15 the adult left Near Root Tree, 4 3 minutes later the one left its Arundell Ridge perch. I could spot no others so at 12:30 left hiked toward Hopper Mtn. Hiked on Hopper Ranch trail to above Hopper Ranch, thence over the ridge to W. to Turner Oil Co., arriving about 2:15. I saw no carcasses on the way. Pete Legan told me that a day or two after Sid Peyton laid out the cayate carcass at Whiteacre Bluff, Vernon Keene saw about 15 or 16 condors there. I believe that such large numbers at a small carcass indicate cater hunger. Pete also told me that in the winter of 1943 (?) the snow was waist deep at Turner Oil Co. after one storm - this was the worst snow in at least 16 years that Pete has lived there. Another heavy snow, knee deep, occurred the winter 2 men froze to death in Hopper Canyon.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 9, 1946 Ventura, Calif. Frank Brundage of Ventura who works sometimes as a county game warden said that he saw some condors in Santa Paula canyon this year. That last year he worked on Mt. Abel but saw more there. That there are many cattle in the Mutun Flats area. June 10, 1946 Hopper Ranch, Calif. I drove from Fillmore to Hopper Ranch. Irene & Ruth Percy were in L.A., selling cattle - they had rounded up a few days before - but D.H. Percy (Doris's father) was there. He said he had not seen any condors there lately. He spends most of his time on the ranch near the ranchhouse. June 11, 1946 Ventura Co., Calif. I visited Cold Top, Orris, & Sentury Dairies to obtain a calf - got one about 4 days old at Orris - a brown & white heifer weighing about 85 lbs. Took it alive to Fillmore & killed it about 5 p.m. by shooting through the head. June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Drove from Fillmore to Hopper Rim. Saw on the way that the falls in Caldwat Canyon was flowing well - visibility good about 6:30 a.m. but I could spot no condors

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon Glit. in Pine n Coldwater Canyons. Dragged & carried the golf dam into Big Meadow to near Wales blind when I could watch it from Pyramid 10 about 3/4 mile away. We did it to an iron stake. The carcass was about 60' from the nearest tree - a spreading low walnut - on a slightly rocky, bat-covered, slope of about 10%. A few Herefords grazed in this meadow. Unfortunately two adult condors were able to watch the whole process. One was in next to highest roost tree to in canyon E. of Parking Place, & the other in the school worm tree about 200 yds. further down the slope. Both were standing on the 4-5" thick horizontal limb. The lower was about 200 yds. from c off & facing it - ruff dawn, crop patch showing. The upper had crop bulging. Sky clear, air warm, flies active, & no breeze. I left the carcass at 7:35 & returned to Pine. The upper condor was sunning its back, wings 3/4 spread. At 8 a.m. I was in Pyramid 10, set to watch. Both birds on some puncher, now upper adult facing E. too. Lower adult crunched flat (8 a.m.). 8:20, Lower adult standing, upper crunched flat. Before 8:25 the lower adult apparently left - I could not

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Cali. Locate it. I saw a large black bear walking with in 100' of Condon Falls at 8 a.m. 8:30, I saw 2 condor atop Flat Rs. A turkey vulture was summing its back, wings spread, about 8' from one condor. The other condor was 5' lower than upper it clambered, flopping, to tree top & the vulture flew the condor had not come within 6'. I saw 2 other vultures soaring near Arundell Ridge then. 8:38, more visible on Flat Rs.. The close adult flattened as before. I saw coyote walking uphill about 300 yds downhill from my "bait". 8:57, I located the second near adult- it was perched in Near Raset Tree on highest long branch apparently it had shifted perch uphill about 250 yds. on SE side of the tree, standing occasionally preening. The other adult flattened as before at 9 a.m. 9:19, 9:19, the lower adult stood up & preened below left wing. 9:23, the upper adult took off downhill with a spring. It soared about over Big Meadow & Rock Ridge area, then N. to near Arundell Saddle, then to Big Meadow area again, apparently circling about 300' over the bait 2± times, then N. to near Condon Cliff, then S. again and at 9:40 I lost it behind Rock Ridge as it soared down Hopper Canyon, low. During all this time the bird did not flap or act as if striving for altitude - occasionally a wing dip

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Rim, Gif. was given. Rather the flight seemed one of reconnoitering. at 9:39 the adult passed another soaring condor over SE Canyon. The other near adult presumed perched (same at 9:45). The one which left has less crop bulge + probably greater hunger-pressure. Breeze occasionally light, mostly faint or calm. 9:50, I saw an immature with small dark spot in center each underwing patch in lower part of tree when adult was perched- then both imm. & adult took off & circled about over Big Meadow, especially the bait area, for about 3 minutes. The imm. was a very clumsy flyer - wings were bowed down most of the time, tail twisted & bobbed violently. Then adult alighted on top branch of a dead Ps. about 200 yds. N. of bait, & imm. about 50' below in same tree. The imm. flapped its wings very loosely- almost as if they were out of joint - for 15t sec, then stood with wings out. A few seconds later the imm. hopped up to a higher branch, then a higher, all extremely floppily & unsteady. Then, at 9:58, the imm. took off, turned 2+ circle, & swooped to a landing on a small branch tip about 10' from adult - but

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. missed & grabbed a 3' lower branch. When some steadiness regained, the imm. flopped violently - begging hard apparently. The tail flopped up & down loosely as the wings pumped. The imm. worked up to adult's level, then fell 6' to another branch & then took off. At 10 a.m. it alighted about 30' below adult on some tree. 10:01, a second imm. alighted, 12' higher in tree. The upper imm. flew to a 10' lower branch, then walked up to other immature. Both flapped wings as if wrestling, beside or losing dalance, then they stood calmly together. The immature climbed up toward adult. 10:08, both took off, & adult too - at 10:09 I saw 3 (three same probably) on the ground at the calf. 10:10, one imm. flew at the other & chased it 30' down the slope. The adult was at the carcass. The chased imm. walked back up to carcass. The adult fed at oral region, apparently. West winds & low angle made visibility poor at carcass. 10:12, a second adult alighted 50' uphill & bounced down to the calf. Another imm. alighted too - 2 adults & 3 imm. at calf. at 10:13. One adult flew over the carcass at the other or an imm. (both ran) - and chased the bird 30' downhill, thin walked back to carcass (other adult back too). 10:15, an adult flew at imm. &

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Glif. another about 20' downhill, stopped, then another 20'; then galloped back to the carcass. The chased bird walked uphill to the carcass again. It was attacked by another vulture, then walked 10±' downhill (suddenly?). 10:35, the adult feeds much more "luminous-like" than the juveniles. Latter are slow, sallying, & never look about for danger. Nearly always the juveniles stood opp- osite to adult at carcass Ad. 10:38, adult ceased feeding & stood. 10:39, adult took off & glided into S. Canyon it appeared. Perched adult as before. 10:40, 2 min. at carcass & 1 about 15' uphill (probably always the same one - appar- ently he never gets a bite). 10:47, 2 turkey vult- ures perched within 10' of the carcass - no reaction. 10:48, 1 carder feeding, 2 walking about in the grass disinterestedly. The feeder stood atop the carcass, then on ground at aval area. The vultures walk away from the carders when the latter move - appar- ently the vultures have not eaten a bite either. 11:01, I saw an adult slight stop cliff on S. side of Big Cove, & another in a path hole below Whiteworth ledge, & saw another circling there. 11:05, 2 min. at car- cass; the other walked about 20' uphill, then after 15±sec. walked slowly down - two vultures walk- ed out of its way. To 11:10, 2 feeding zealotarily at

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Gli.t. carcass, the other 10' downhill. 11:14, the vultures took off; one raven + a fourth imm. circled low over the bait. 11:15, two adults landed + chased the imm. from calf. 1 imm. took off. The perched adult as before with one imm. in same tree 20' below. 11:19, a third immature + a third adult landed near calf. Perched adult was now on same branch as imm. + apparently feeding it - at least facing + imm. wings flopping much as if being fed. 11:23, 5 adults at carcass, 1 or 2 ravens, 1 or 2 vultures, + 2 or more immatures. 11:25, 8 adults + 3 imm. within 50' of carcass but only 2 or 3 apparently close enough to feed on it. Minimum 9 adults + 4 imm. present. 11:30 - adult + imm. side by side in tree together still. 11:31, a dark imm. perched in dead Bo. about 200 yds. N. of carcass. 11:33, one adult nipped another - the latter took off, then nopper, then all off. I saw 9 circling near Rock Ridge, 1 over Parking Knoll, + 2 perched. 11:35, a second imm. atop the near tree; I saw one cando stop Flat Co. Too. 11:39, two adults alighted in tree with the 2 imm., + at least 4 adults soared low over Big Meadow. 11:40, a third adult alighted in the tree - a perched adult flew 8' to another branch to note that the perch. The new adult sprang onto that

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Gilt. branch a few seconds later the other adult edged out toward tip: 11:42, a fourth adult lorded in lowest branches of the tree - and commenced working up, hopping from branch to branch. An upper adult climbed up alongside top adult. Both flopped as if losing balance & both took off. 11:43, only 1 adult & 1 raven. Left in that tree, saw the raven 80' horizontally from min... 11:45 - the "fed" younger now alone. 11:52, 12 perched (11 in Near Roast Trees, 1-4 per tree) and 4 or 5 law in air in that vicinity. Crop of some bulged greatly (16 or 17 carders). 11:53, two adults soared 100' above the lookout. Breeze was fair to strong from SW & cool. Since the carders left the carcass, no ravens or multunes have alighted near it - about 6 multunes circling near it, however. 12:00, 4 carders circled near the lait. at least 3 landed in Near Roast Trees. Two shifted from their tree to are further down- hill (200+ yds.). 12:05, 10 perched in 3 dead Ps. month of the carcass, 2, 3, 4, 5 / tree, & 3 circling over basaltine Mesa (300' out). The "fed" younger now crunched flat. 12:15, these 11 quiet as before. Four adults, feet down, soared from the Brandell Ridge vicinity 4-500 ft above & forth low near the carcass but didn't lord. A

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Cali. 6th carbor (adult) perched in the tree with 5 already. 12:30, 11 perched as before, 1 (from tree with 3) gave (to other tree?); now at carcass. Two min. 4 1 adult crunched flat. Breeze light to fair. By 12:40, 3 had left Near Boot Tree; I saw 4 in air (3 adults, 1 min.). 12:45, 7 perch- (2 ad.) + in air. 12:55, 5 were about 500' over Arundell Ridge & a 6th. over North Slope - these scattered soon. 1:00, only 4 perched now; 2 min. 4 an adult in about 200 yds. N. of carcass in one tree & the "fed" youngster (standing now). 1:00, I saw an adult low over Rock Ridge, feet down, crop bulging - it rose to 450 ft' level, then descended & landed in Near Boot Tree at 1:09. 1:15, this adult, 1 min. in tree where 6 were, & the "fed" youngster were only perched carbor visible. By 1:20 two min. joined the 1st adult in Near Boot Tree, & an adult landed in another Aspen tree Near tree. I saw one soaring over White Cliffs. Recollecting - it was about 1 hour from time adult finished feeding to time it "fed" the 2nd youngster. I left carcass at 7:35 - condor at it at 10:10. Adult perched close never left the vicinity before going to the food - the birds' seeing we put it out had apparently no effect. None evi- dence of adults feeding immature to food.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Cal. T. 1:32, a second adult was beside the one on Near Roast tree, crouched flat. An adult swooped in to land on that branch - both adults took off downhill; we landed in a dead Lo, 250 yds. downhill, about 6 from an inform. that tree. 1:35, in Near Roast trees, I saw - adult 4 min. in Near Roast Tree same in next tree downhill, 2 adults in the same tree 200 yds. further downhill + 1 min. about 100 yds. from that - so 4 adults + 4 mins. (+ the "fed" youngster). 1:45, the 8 perched as before. 2 p.m., one adult circled near the lookout (still at 2:07). then Perched birds as before except instead of 2 adults in 1 tree, now 3 adults in 3 trees, + a second min. in lowest tree. One of the 3 low adults took off downhill & glided low over Arundell Ridge area. One adult was crouched flat on its perch. About half the birds faced the sun, the rest not. 2:30 - the 10 perched as before (4 ad, 6 min.) - same at 2:45 (very quiescent birds). I also saw - 2 on Flat Ps. + 1 adult land there, an min. try to land there + 2 adults on Saddle Ps. - so 9 min. plus 7 adults. Apparently nothing doing at Cardy Falls. Endnote - I have watched that area much today + visibility is good. 3 p.m. - Arundell Ridge had still 2 adults on Saddle Ps, adult + min. atop

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Flat Ps., 4 adult stop on adjacent green Ps. The 10 near Big Meadows as before. Retrogressing - the big lunch was at the carcass only 10 or 15 minutes & many apparently did not eat - there must be much meat left, but why don't at least the ravens & buzzards go for it? If food is close at hand, apparently the birds are con- tent not to leave the area all day (that is, no long flights). 3:30 - 1 adult 4 min. on Arundell Ridge (Flat Ps. 4 adjacent), 4 the 10 near Ridge perched as before (1 adult 4 1 min. crowd- ed flat). Breeze light, sky clear, not hot (75° maybe). 3:45, an min. was circling near Cast Rock Points. An adult, crop bulging, landed 30' above the youngster which was "fed" this morning. The youngster pumped its wings loosely a few times. 3:50, at the calf, 3 turkey vultures were feeding. In Near Racist Trees, apparently an adult 4 min. had exchanged trees, 4 one adult was 10' higher than formerly - otherwise no change. The "fed" youngster worked up to about 20' below adult by 3:55, 4 another min. was on level with adult 100' away in another tree. The latter min. was off, 4 2 adults had landed 15' above the perched adult there by 3:58 (3 adults 4

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, G.I.F. 1 min. in tree (80+ dead Ps.) SE of Big Mead, almost 300 yds. on NW facing slope. 4 p.m. - now-13 in Near Roost Tree, 4 with wings spread, sunning their backs (18 total, 5 now in other two). 4:04, an adult+ min. landed 50+ NE of calf - 2 turkey vultures haven't still fed on it. 4:05, adult walked slowly up to carcass & began to feed. Vultures seemed not alarmed but kept 5+ away. 4:06, another adult landed, 30+ uphill from carcass & walked to it - first retired about 10'; second fed. 2 ad., 4 min., 42 vultures near carcass at 4:08, but only occasionally pecked carcass. 4:10, two more adults landed, 30+ uphill. The vultures left. adult+ min. took off from near carcass min. 4 adult alighted in crowded Ps. 200+ yds. to N. 4:13, 10 cinders (5 adults) in that one tree. Now within 20' of carcass than the 2 adults+ 1 min. 30+ away. Two turkey vultures landed at carcass - the 3 cinders then walked & hopped to it. Saw-19 cinders, 10 adults, all told, in a near Big Meadow. 4:19, 4 adults+ 3 min. at carcass, some having come from nearby trees. 2+ turkey vultures perched in the green branches 50+ away. 4:20, a 5th adult landed. 50+ NE of calf. Only

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. occasionally did a carrion take a tug - just stood around mainly. 4:22, 11 carrion on ground within 50' of carcass but only 1 raven feeding. An min. landed in the green walnut tree near the carcass, displacing a turkey vulture from its perch there. Breeze absent - air clear. The carrion stand inactive near the calf. 4:25, one adult sturge at belly, shaking the whole carcass, pulling back, neck in line with back . 6 other carrion stand within: 10' but apparently not interested in feeding. A turkey vulture landed at carcass 4 3-4 carrion loun ded away from it. One standing carrion 50±' from carcass lunged at another with bird the of other took off. One adult perked at a raven - which flew off a few feet. 4:31, arrow- er walks unmolested among the carrion; 2 vultures stand 8±' from carcass (4 carrion) un- perurbed. An adult chased a 3(?)yr. min. up to slope 15±', then down, the min. then flying 30±' downhill. 4:33, counted 10, 5 adults, at calf - still only 1 adult feeding. A 3(?)yr. min also fed briefly. 4:37, 6 perched in Near Rarest Trees + 4 in tree SE of Big Meadow, 4 one adult in Saddle P's. - at least 8 at calf so 19 minimum. 4:38, the min. poeking

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Gymnogypes californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Cali. Each other playfully - no carrion feeding. A turkey mullet walked up to carcass - immediately two carrion walked toward carcass + mullet walked away (dog-in-manger act). 4:43, counted 22 total carrion, 10 or 11 at the carcass. 4:48, an adult alighted in the green walnut tree near the carcass. 4:49 - all carrion left the ground near carcass + flew to Near Roost Trees - a few seconds later the adult, + a turkey mullet, left the walnut tree - then I saw the apparent cause - a coyote was about 10' from the carcass - The coyote prodded the carcass, then gave a start & ran downhill - perhaps he got my scent on the calf. Counted 23 carrion, 13 adults, 10 min. One was on Saddle Ps., 2 ad. +1 min. in the SE of the Big Mdw., the rest in Near Roost Trees. 11 were in 1 tree 200± Yds. N. of carcass. 4:59, 1 adult was in walnut about 15' above + 50' S. of carcass, perched on a small limb - I saw this bird look down & there was a coyote walking near the carcass. Another count gave 25, 17 being adults. Two of these were on Arundell Ridge in roost trees. Twice today in trees I saw one adult while the head of another - affectionately? 5:15, I spotted a

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Gymnogyps californianus June 12, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. third adult atop (p. o.) Crundell Ridge. Another count gave 24, 15 ad., 9 imm. (5:15). In the [illegible] tree where I saw him "fed"; one adult was crouched flat on branch with imm. 15' below. The calf now (5:20) in shadow, the adult still in walnut tree - apparently no coyote has had a bite yet, but I could not examine the carcass without disturbing the condors. It is probable that a coyote also broke up the feeding this morning - perhaps coyote control should be incorporated in condor preservation program; they may furnish some carcasses but consume many others they do not kill. No change by 5:35. Light E. breeze. I started for camp. June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Arrived at Pyramid Lookout at 5:45 a.m. There was a fair wind (20mph) from NNNW, sky clear, air about 65°F., visibility fair. I spottled 13 condors scattered in the dead Pseudotaxus around Big Meadow - 2 trees had 2, others only 1. About 6 of these birds were in Near Raost Trees, 3 to S. of the meadow, 4 just W. of Rock Ridge. The "most used" tree of yesterday held none. The condor tendency is to go downhill to a more protected spot for night roosting. The calf carcass was lying as before, apparently

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. unmolested through the night. No vulture or other birds were at or near the carcass. I did not visit the carcass for fear of disturbing the condors. I saw some on the high trees of Arundell Ridge. 6 a.m., 3 were sunning, 2 facing sun and 1 away. All were in sunshine, only 1 crushed flat. About half the birds were in top ¼ of the tree - possibly climbed this morning. The 2 or 3 birds highest on slope were immatures. One The only tree with 2 birds held 2 adults - this was about 300 yds. N. of carcass; an adjacent tree held an imm. 15' above higher adult. Apparently adults have no objection to imm. roosting or perching at above them or at higher levels - immatures tend to perch & roost lower but whether from poor flying or incitation. 6:15, the two adults in 1 tree spread wings & sunned facing the sun, tails spread, backs straight & vertical. Wings (Plan) from rear & curving straight forward . 6:18, one relaxed wings to half spread & preened below, then spread fully again. Wings actually held a little beyond vertical, thus : . 6:29 upper adult turned about & sunned back; 6:20½, lower folded wings. Upper relaxed wings gradually as it preened below (6:22) - until wings folded.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Apparently 5-7 minutes is maximum soaring time for condors - tired? Breeze died. About half the birds faced sun, others away or sideways. Scanned the cliffs on W. side of the Sheep saw that the falls at Oil Well Point was dry; could spot no condor tho visibility good in that direction. The deep canyon in the Bear Heaven red rock still appear promising as possible condor nesting localities. A recount from top of lookout revealed 10 condors in Near Root Trees, (3 near or below foot of Big Mdw.), 5 W. of Rock Ridge, x 9 S. of Big Meadow - so 18 around Big Mdw.! One W. of Rock Ridge was crunched flat as earlier - the only one I have seen so this morning (lowest of all the birds too, so perhaps an imm.). So far have seen none shift perch. 6:55, saw 1 sun front for 3+ minutes. 7:00 - two adults (beside other) now crunched flat on their perches. 7:10, one to S. of Big Mdw. apparently shifted from top of a stub to a tree branch. At least 5 condors crunched flat. No breeze. 7:23, saw 4 turkey vultures soaring - more near carcasses than 1 over Near Root Tree. 7:30, I saw a third tree in Near Root Trees with 2 condors (adult below imm.) 7:35-40, one dark imm. circled over the ridge & tree S. of Big

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Mdur., Fawn turkey vulture perched in Near Roost Tree. 7:44, this one & another cirr. loured in the large Co. 200t yda. N. of the calf (vacant until now, most used yesterday). A red-tailed hawk was perched about 8' from upper bird & slightly above - no reaction. Upper bird dropped down 6t' to lower & walked into it, wings up. Bath flapped a little, then separated. Then one to other again, they wrestled heads, & one went off of perch while other remained. One crowded adult rose & gave a wind law (7:48). I saw 2 adults fly up to 10t' higher perches in their trees (another bird above in both cases). 7:59, at least 8 or 9 at original position - two or more in air & some trees with 1 now with 2, or having 2, now only one - some shifting in other words. Intermittent light breeze from E. I saw an adult alight about 6' above & on opposite side of bare tree from a turkey vulture - no reaction. 7:58, 6 condor soaring, 100t' over Big Meadow near carcass - faint breeze. At 8 a.m. at least 15 in Near Roost Trees - 2 of lowest birds apparently crouched & on original perches. It seems that condors show most interest in other condors, & a few flying near them stimulates them to activity.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1976 Hopper Canyon, Calif. 8:05, apparently all settled again - at least 1 adult crooked flat - 2 in Near Roost Tree 4 (2, 4, 2, 4, 5) 4 in next tree downhill; 12 uphill from the fruit in Near Roost Trees. 8:10, 2 still perched near foot of Rock Ridge as earlier (1 flat on perch). 8:17, one, then others, took off 4 at 8:20 at least 10 carders soared over Big Meadow and Rock Ridge areas. One or 2 sighted in Near Roost Trees. 8:24, some glided out over Sandstone Mesa; at least 7 still perched in Near Roost Trees. 8:26, 7 scattered for about 1 mile at rim level over head of Big Meadow. 8:30, with, exception the 5+ lowest perch- ed birds have taken off - the remaining one, fam- ily crooked much, may be an imm... 8:32, 4 circ- led 200' over N. Crundell Ridge - more soaring over Big Mdw.. 8:37, about 6 scattered from over Cedar Cliff to Spring Mdw. - 5~+ soared from the Near Roost Trees area. 8:42, 5 still perched in trees around Big Mdw. - 1 step Flat Ps. 4 fricing over North Slope. 8:48, the 4 soared over North Point, then descended over North Slope again - one shared another down. Several returned to over Big Mdw. - at least 7 soared thru. One remained on Flat Ps. (8:50). Only 1 imm. + 1 ad. all perched in Near Roost Tree, + 4 soaring over Big Mdw. - one adult landed on branch of Near Roost Tree. 8:55 - 8 soaring low over Big Mdw.; I saw 3 land

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, (1946) Hopper Canyon, Cali. In Near Roost Tree (5 in that tree). One imm. gave the backing slope but soared off when 105' from perch, then returned & landed - I saw another hopper once before today (imm.). One adult - flat cheated - saored 200+ ' from me on my level. 9:04, 6 perched in Near Roost Trees, 5+ soaring about in vicinity; occasionally one landed in tree a looks off. 9:07, I saw 2 adults chasing an imm. near Rock Ridge; one adult, then other chased the imm. About 10' multers soared low in Big Meadow area too. 9:11, 7 soaring back & forth low over Arundell Ridge - me was chased from flat Rs. & one lit there about 1 minute later. 9:16, an adult landed near top of Near Roost Tree - an imm. Look off to make way. 9:18, 5 left Near Roost Tree - at least 8 soared around head of Big Meadow, 3 again on that tree by 9:21. One imm. has remained on a branch of dead Rs. about 100 yds. from where I saw the imm. "fed" yesterday - apparently has not flown today. 9:25 - 3 soared at rim level over Big Mdw.; one adult, feet down, descended in a spiral & landed on branch of Near Roost Tree. The birds seem always to dive steeply be fore at swooping up to a landing. 2 were perched atop trees on Arundell Ridge, & another soar ted low near them. Bridge light from E. 9:30,

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. only 5 visible in Near Roost Trees 4 more soaring near there. 9:38, I saw 2 soaring & chasing over the Rim to NE. 9:45, only 4 now in Near Roost Trees, at least 1 adult. 1 atop tree on Armundell Ridge & one SE of Big Mdw. still - as 7 perched. Two soared 500' above Big Cave. The rest apparently have gone elsewhere - to more desirable food?. Breeze absent or light, air warm (80°?). 9:50, I saw 2 at 5000' level near Old Cabin - they sep- arated, at least 1 leading toward Whiteacre Pk.. I saw 2 soar 200' over head of Big Meadow, then sep- arete - & I watched one (adult). It soared around & over the Rim near me & at 10:06 alighted on a top branch of Parking Roost Tree. Saw 2 singles & a pair over other parts of the canyon rim, 7 perched in Near Roost Trees (2+ adults). One turkey vulture on the calf. 10:15, now 10 (4 or + adults) in Near Roost Trees; 5 in Near Roost Tree, one on top top. I saw 2 land - two took off as one landed, then the 2 returned & landed singly in same tree. 10:16, the 10:06 one gone from Parking Roost Tree, & one (same?) flat-chested adult soared to W. of Lookout, circled & rose over Rim, then headed S. over Kappa Mts. & beyond (last 10:26). 10:39, 10 perched in Near Roost Trees, 1 to 4/tree. About 3 were croached flat on perch?, & 2 had alighted within last 2 min.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13/1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. utes. One vulture feeding on calf. The vultures, SE. of Big Mdw. on same perch, crunched flat. Fair S. breeze. 10:36, a fifth sighted in Near Root Tree (4 at adults) One left 30 sec. later. 10:40- 3 adults over Water Tank Canyon; one chased another 3 ± tinier; this apparently is in fun for chased bird later behind the chaser with no reaction. 10:45, 6 soared close over the calf and sighted almost simultaneously. (4 imm., 2 ad.). One vulture began feeding almost immediately. Third adult landed 10:47. 10:48, another vulture sighted- 4 another adult. 10:49- another vulture. Then a raven, shut off again. 10:59 9 crows standing within about 15' of carcass, but only 1 vulture fed at 10:49. Could cattle alarm them - there were some (herd) in that meadow. 6 (5 ad., 1 imm.) perched in the root tree 200+ yds. N. of carcass; 4 in another to SE of meadow (the imm. gone from its perch there). 11:00-13 in air over the meadow area + at least 7 perched (20+ crows). 11:02, at least 6 again on ground near carcass. By 1:03½, 2 more landed. One adult flew at another which flew back over head of attacker & landed

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. again. None yet tried to feed (11:05). 5 stood within: 10±' of calf, 3± about 50' uphill. 11:09, all took off again. By 11:08, 10 condors in the tree 200' yde. N. of carcass, a clumsy swim. on top top. (11 at 11:09½; 5 adults). :10½, 1 adult + 2 vultures at carcass, others landing, mostly 50±' uphill. Adult at calf from 20' downhill flopping as an other landed by it. A raven jumped from calf as condor approached. 11:14, 3 adults pulled at different areas - a raven + vulture settled + edged around them. :15½, 2 ad. + 1 vult. about 6' from carcass +1 raven apparently feeding. The carcass stood around, occasionally pecking or wrestling heads, with one another. The raven fed, 3 condors standing 6±' away facing downhill, back to carcass. Raven left (11:19) leaving the 4 condors, at least 13 perch- ed in Near Roast Trees. 11:20 - all off suddenly again leaving no birds at carcass. :20½, 2 turkey vultures slightly by calf. 11:25, 2 condors landed 30±' downhill from carcass, then others. One swim. be- gan feeding almost immediately. The 2 vultures stood about 6' away from condors, quietly. 11:28, at least 6 (3 ad.) within about 8' of calf, one swim. about 50' downhill, quiet. :29, adult + this min. took off - others seem to stand alert but not feeding. 11:32, 8 or 9 condors standing near carcass, most

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3/65. Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. facing downhill, 2 or 3 turkey vultures swooping, back forth over them. 11:35, at least 4 vultures the ground by carcass - they scrambled with me another but cadra paid no attention. 11:40, an adult & min. standing by carcass, 7 other imm. 10' away; 3 turkey vultures standing 5' from cadra - adult taking an occasional bite of calf, apparently at belly. 11:46, 2 ad., 3 imm., 1 seem 2 2 turk. milt. at calf - only 1 adult apparently feed- ing. 11:49, another adult alighted 5' from calf, then 3+ other cadra nearby. Another min., the adult, about 11:50 1/2. One min., pecked at another & it recoiled, flopping. 11:52, an adult took off downhill & collided with another soaring seat - the second landed, dropping 10'. 11:54, about 9 cadra around the carcass but not over 2 feeding. One min. landed 100' uphill & walked down to carcass. One min. took off downhill. 11:56, an adult landed 30' uphill from bait. One min. flew twice at another, driving it back. 11:58, at least 10 cadra standing around & obscuring carcass from my sight, but 1 or 2 occasionally feeding. One tugged, raising a hind leg of calf, 6+ successive times about one tug per sec. 12:00 - the leg given 11 similar tugs. One adult flew at another, again & again. The attacked one hopped

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Gymnogyps Californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. up 4t', flopping, each time, turning in air, 4 was driven 70t' downhill. This left 11st carc- cases, at least 4 adults. One adult tugged at head area, another at upper hind by. 12:04- 14 on ground, at least 6 adults - no ravens or buzzards. Occasionally one flew or ran at cathy hill extended sometimes, & there was a scram- bling & flopping for a few seconds. One adult ran at another - the other fled & took off downhill. An inim. tugged at upper foreleg. At least 3 perched in Near Root Trees 1/2 mile SE of Big Mdw. 12:12 - 7 visible perched; at least 12 near carcass but only 2 or 3 close enough to feed. A group of 4 stood quietly about 50' downhill from bait - others up to 10' or more uphill from it. 12:16, 11 near carcass; one adult took off downhill. One adult snapped, flinging forward neck & bill, at another walking past - the latter jumped & flopped, 4 down hill cinders jumped & recoiled too. 12:18, an inim. took off leaving only 7 visible near bait but only 3t' close enough to feed & none apparently feeding. One adult walked 10 paces downhill, 2 paces per second, & snapped at a standing cinder which threw wings up & jumped, as usual. 12:23, 8 around carcass but more feeding (at

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13/1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. least 4 adults). 12:25, one adult tugged a few times at carcass, then stood quietly. 12:27, one alighted 30-50' uphill from carcass. The bird landed by dropping nearly straight down, wings locking - a hop or step or two sometime taken just after striking ground (not a decelerating run). 12:30, at least 7 near bait - 3 turkey vultures landed near it. One min. (3'yr.), crouched on heels, grabbed with bill & took 19 quite regularly-spaced tugs (about 4-5/sec. per tug) before letting go & raising head. 12:33, 10 apparently on ground near carcass now. One adult leap frogged a cactus or 2, & another bounced away with a high jump 12:37- at least 12 within 15' of bait, about 8 adults, & not over 2-3 tugging occasionally, the other standing about, occasionally nipping each other. 12:41, at least 16 within 10' of bait, me or more feeding nearly continually. One tugged upper hind leg again - several even tugs, then 5 or 6 rapid jerks. 12:45, 8mi Near Road Trees & at least 14 around bait (22 ort). 12:50-15 at bait still; one stood on body & tugged upward with several jerks, & another tugged at upper hind leg. Carcass practically obscured by 13 crows, the other 2 being 30' downhill (they scrambled

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{ "text": "Gymnogyps californianus\nJune 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif.\ntogether & went downhill). 12:55, 17 at bait 4-6\nperched (23). Only when me takes a run or jump\nat another does the bunch at carcass scatter\nenough to allow counting. Up to 4 at once feeding.\n12:59- about 6 now feeding. One tagged jerked hard several\ntimes at belly & finally scrambled away for\n15' followed by 4 or 5 others - some choice morsel\nno doubt. 1:02-19 near carcass, 5 perched - so\n24. Most at carcass standing around. About 6\nwere 20' downhill from bait. 1:09, adult soared\npart the lookout (25 total then !). By 1:06 this\nme had landed near bait, 4 at least 2 from Near\nRoot Tree too (1 only, in Near Root tree, remain-\ned at 1:06), 1:08, the birds were string rather even-\nly from about 10' above to 30' below the bait,\nonly 1 feeding (tugging) at this time. 1:12, 2 landed\nin tree 200' yde. N. of bait - one flew thus in app-\nroach → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → [TRANSCRIPTION_TRUNCATED_DUE_TO_LOOP]

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. it from various sides. 1:22, one adult chased another 50' downhill - the chased one flew & other returned uphill, galloping & flopping wings. Another 2 also took off from the upper group, but about 19 still left. 1:25, one adult flew at another & the latter took off. About 4 birds, 3 or 4 adults, were in a group 50' downhill from bait in the dry oat grass; occasionally they nibbled or jumped at each other. 1:28, about 15 left, the bait apparently considerably flattened. One walked uphill slowly, the head bobbing forward with each step (every 1/2 sec.), chicken-like. 1:31, most of the hide was being dragged downhill slowly, about 5 condors tugging at it. It was about 60' below original spot & behind a bush from me at 1:32. About 5 condors stood near the first spot, then walked slowly downhill after the group. 1:38, the last bird left original spot (adult). 1:37, only 1 (adult) visible in Near Roat Trees. 1:39 About 6 condors emerged from behind tree about 50 yds. downhill from original spot, apparently working on part of carcass. Occasionally one or more jumped up flopping, or pecking at another. Two turkey vultures landed at original spot; one adult stood quietly 50' below this. One adult at body held wings up V, then

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13/1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. took off with 6 flops, crops bulging greatly. 2a3 landed near the sliding remains - about 10 cords at it or logging a few feet behind. My vision ob- scured by tree again; the calf 200' downhill now. Adult left a nearly tie & landed near the remains. One left the remains (1:45). 1:50, two adults scrambled down the slope, fighting or after some choice moral, then took off. The main slate appar- ently stopped in rocky ground 200' below orig- inal spot; - an occasional cedar part visible above grass there (adults mainly). 1:55, I took off from there. An adult landed, then off as an- other adult (or ground) reached after it with bill. One flew 50' downhill & landed - we already there rushed it; the flin landed 10t' further or but was again driven into air (per- haps part of carcass there). 1:59, I saw 3 in the gully 80' downhill from where main body apparently lay, & at least 4 lay upper part (at least 1 mmn.). 2:02, 3 flew from upper group to lower. They each landed downhill giving 5 backing flops, legs hanging down & head & neck thrust forward. Apparently no more act- ivity at upper spot - lower spot about 150 yds. downhill from original spot. I saw me fly at another there - both took off & the shore

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1976 Hopper Canyon, Calif. continued in air for 100 yards, then 1 flew off 4 victor (adult) landed at takeoff area immediately (2:06). After 2:07 I saw no more condors on the ground at Big Meadow. Three turkey multitudes landed at the last feeding spot at 2:13. One adult was perched in one Near Roost Tree + an imm. in a tree SE of Big Meadow as for several hours previously (1975 bird probably). 2:16, 3 adults alighted in another Near Roost Tree. About Three 3 took off + by 2:19 all had alighted in foot of Big Meadow, 1 near where condors last seen (flushing 2 turkey multitudes) + the other 100+ further down the slope. Strange these birds should let a whole carcass lie most the days, paying little attention to it, then be so anxious to get the last little scrap. 2:25, I saw another adult descend to foot of Big Meadow. One which went in there had a distended crop already. Another adult landed in a Near Roost Tree (crop bulging) (only one remaining there). About 2:30 I saw an imm. enter the tree clump at foot of meadow, flapping horizontal law over the ground (10' or less) in entering the trees. Another landed 50ft above this clump. Two adults landed in dead conifers just S. of foot of Big Meadow. About 2:49, two adults were in one of the lower Men

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Roost Trees near foot of Big Meadow (no others in that tree groups). About 2:45 I saw 5 circling over Water Tank Canyon below Big Meadow. Then I saw an adult flap horizontally to a landing in foot of Big Meadow. Then saw at least 2 leave that area. About 2:48 saw another adult fly, flapping, through the oaks to land in that vicinity again. 2:50, I saw 3 circling low over canyon below Big Meadow again. Then saw 3 near or under an oak, in shade, near foot of Big Meadow. About 5 cattle were approaching them; they the cattle stopped 100 yds. away, one condor flopped, 4 cattle turned & walked uphill (coincidence?). 3 p.m., I saw 2 perched in lower Near Roost Trees, 1 in tree to 5. of foot of Big Meadow, 4 or under a near an oak in foot of Big Mdw., 44 ft. in air. One adult took off flapping thru the trees from foot of Big Meadow at 3:09. An min. Landed there about 3:05. A group of 7 Nez Perce seemed to stand & look at the birds from 100 yds. away. 3:07, two adults were perched in Near Roost Tree. 3:10, two adults over Water Tank Canyon - one glided toward the other head on; the second avoided being hit only by flitting wings & giving a quick banks to one side, then the other.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. The cattle appeared to want to walk past where 2 or t condors were on the ground but appeared hesitant to do so - a wave of a great wing should frighten them same. 3:15, the two condors took off singly from beneath the oak when lead steer was 100' from them - perhaps they were leaving anyway. 3:20, saw an adult under the oak & another land; then one adult took off (to E, flapping, then glided N., as others from that area). 3:24, I saw me land at Condor Falls, on a rocks shelf 8' S. of the pool on next to high- set level. Within a few seconds the bird was at the S. edge of pool. Two multures punched at edge of the highest fall. 3:30, saw 1 standing in shade under oak at foot of Big Meadow (gone by 3:33). 3:35, one soaring about over Crundell Ridge area. 5 adults, in separate trees, in the Near Roast Trees; 4 1 adult in dead Ps. S. of foot of Big Meadow (as' before) and 1 min. SE of Big Mdw. (as before). 3:40, about 8 condors at Condor Falls! About 5 of these were in a group at the top brink where water runs over the rocks & others on the rock banks above that level. Two were on the S. promi- nence, 15' above the lunch. They flew to N. bank & lawn, singly, then to falls top. 3:44, (two adults alighted on the smooth rock

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. about 50 yds. Rock from edge of N. Brundell Cliffs about opposite Brita's nest - they took off after about 1 minute leaving the ? (possible immature) They are left about 3:54 - this is unusual, seeing earlier at 3:45, two landed atop Cinda Falls, both out of my sight, but at least 8 there. One apparently started up in the water + 2 others drinking at the rounded cliff edge rather than the pool. Twice I saw one on first shelf below (6±') top brink where there is a pool (2 there 3:50). 3:58, 3 at the lower pool of Cinda Falls (the logs of 1941 gone). Another dropped down there from top brink, leaving at least 2 still at top. At the pools there was the usual walking about + head wrestling among young- sters. 4:03, another dropped, flapping, from top brink to lower pool edge. At least 5 at lower pool. 4:05, one entered lower pool + sloshed about bathing. Boo Most of those at Cinda Falls were immatures. 4:10, 8 out around the lower pool at Cinda Falls, more visible at top brink. Became imm. just 5 of pool scurrying + flapping wings. By 4:14, 2 had taken off down the canyon (at least 5 left). The one drying wings climbed up rock slope until at a pathole 10±' above the pool. 4:15, I saw 4 (including an adults) on the rock about 15' lower + 100±'s of the lower pool - apparently another pool there. Two of

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. there were between the brush & potholed cliff - 2 adults flew from there, flopping, at 4:18. I then saw 2 sunning backs near edge of brush at this lowest visible level. At 4:20, two still at the "Log Pool". One sloshed in the pool for 15± sec., then walked 30±' S. on the open rocks, the other following. There, & the other drying wings there, all immatures. The last bather spread wings, back to sun (4:23). These still perched at lowest level at brush edge. 4:27, two more at "Log Pool" (the pool 20±' below highest limb). 4:32, an adult landed at "Log Pool" carbon and barked. Two more adults landed at S. side of that pool at 4:35 - the first to land jumped up to a 6±' higher perch as second landed. 4:36, the (second) stood at pool's edge on sunny side (N. half in shade). This bird barked about 4:38, then took, off dawn canyon (4:39). 4:40, I counted about 9 around the Conda Falls, 2 or 3 having landed on rock points there. Two of these had wings spread, sunning backs, 4 others were in sun- shine. One flew from the top S. perch point & landed 30±' S. of "Log Pool" - about 1 minute later it went to pool edge & walked in, taking a 10± sec. bath. Then it stood at S. edge of pool & muffled up its fathers. One drying near pool flopped hard 6± times, then folded wings. On Near Root

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Gymnogyps californicus June 3/1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. True an adult sunned its backs - instead of spreading wings parallel to branch, the bird turned so that wings were perpendicular to sun rays although this required a clumsy footing, the perch branch passing through the soil (branch pointed nearly at sun). 4:55, 4 sunning blacks at Cedar Falls area; 1 at "Log Pool" (gone 4:57). 5 p.m., 3 about 60' S. of the center or "Log Pool"; 2 (coset+summ.) with wings spread, backs to sun. On SE side of lowest pool there were 3, one on the sandstone slope, 1 with wings spread facing the sun (all immatures). 5:03, two more sunning blacks came into view near lowest pool. An adult, wings spread, walked up to where an inim. sunned at the inim. Roused & toward pool. All of the center ("Log") pool now in shadow. 5:08, at one point, about 200' S. of "Log Pool" on a rounded sandstone edge, 3 immatures sunned backs, wings outspread, within, about 5' of one another. These birds were only 6 to 10' from the brush line. All 3 half folded wings at 5:11, 5:13, the sunset line was about to cross these 3 and 5 other condors, 100' N. of them. Two of these climbed to very edge of brush, shaking it in fact, + spread wings, as if trying to get out of shadow. One took off + other folded wings when shadow overtook him.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Another swm. climbed atop a rock between the brush & cliff & sunned back. One, soaring, landed 20' from top brink in shade; about 2 minutes later it soared down canyon. One runner kept wings spread until sunset shadow was over its head. 5:30 I could spot now at Cudn Falls & Sundell Ridge; one in pothole over Big Cave areas. One in Near Roast Trees, one adult was in top tree & 2 min (1 min. ?) in sep- -arate trees near foot of Big Meadow; adult 5. of foot of meadow 4 min. SE of it were as before, so 3 visible perched near Big Meadow. Then I visited the site of the feeding. I saw 2 ad- ults in Near Roast Tree at 5:50 as I passed, & an crin. in a tree 200' yds. down the slope from them. At the stake where calf was I found an trampled scuffed area about 12' in diameter, quite conspicuous, the stakes being at 5. edge (and 20' from tree). I found 4 unbroken ribs, 3 un- braken vertebrae, 4-3 leaf sheaths in the beaten area. Also perhaps 30 scraps of skin with hair on, up to 4" long, numerous tufts of hair, one primary, 2 back feathers, 6+ smaller feathers, 4-20' pieces of dam. The bones were as clean as if cooked & the meat color but of bloody color. The carcass had been pulled out of my wire stake more-stake still intact firm. The jogged trail

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1996 Hopper Canyon, Calif. downhill was plainly evident. The stake area swelled unpleasant but not strong. About 10' down the slope was a shin bone & another 5" bone, + a white feather. About 400' down was a humerus - up to then I found perhaps 8 feathers too. The slope was about 20° over somewhat rocky ground. Then a femurcap (?) was also entire, about 1,50' down. Then hair tufts, half a secondary, + a humerus & femur about 200' down where the lunch stopped for a while. That area was broken about 20' wide, more a line, + a knee (?) joint (epiphyses of both bones, still attached) was at N. edge of this area - all bones clean of meat. marked by occasional hair tufts & feathers. Then down a steeper shallow gully about 80', then about 80' more to the upper teeth of one side, their bone disarticulated neatly from the skull. Then small tufts of feathers + down, until at a walnut tree about 400' below the stake. I had to stoop to go under, the solid cover being only about 4' above the ground. Near tree trunk were 2 more large leg bones, ends gone as before. I found a rib & one bone of skull top also near the tree trunk. The trunk was of the trail then veered to N., the Arnold Spring trail being just below this tree & the "fall line" being cluttered with brush. I found a humerus bone & scapula about

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. 50' NE of the shell top. The trail grew fainter, but led alongside the trunk of a live oak 50' downhill from the Brundell Trail, passing under the overhanging oak (branches about 4' above ground). It was below this oak, at least 300' downhill from shoe stake, where I saw 1 to 3 condors in shade of oak. The drag marks con- tinued on down through a space between deck branches, & about 50' below oak was a large vertebra. This was in a shallow gully again, so guided by down & feather fragments I found the hide at about 8' from the edge of dense brush about 200' below the oak (25% slope). The hide stuck & had lost hair by slipping & by friction but was essentially entire. The muzzle skin was gone to about 3" forward of eyes and both cars cala off fluck. This head skin was turned in- side out - I had difficulty righting it. There were no balls in neck, but foreleg skin on right side was at completely gone at body; on left side side much leg skin was present but pulled in as if from the inside. These part of hide was right-side out in general. Then a 3" diameter hole in delly, one 1" hole where a testicle removed, and a 4" hole at anus through which the inside out hind-legs skin & tail were pulled,

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Gymnogyps californianus June 13, 1946 Hupper Canyon, Calif. [illegible] about 4" of tail tip was not pulled through. The skin of one hind leg was complete to apparently near the hoof; the other was ripped from vicinity of ankle down, then whole for about 2"; then ripped off at about hoof height. What a wonderful job of practically incisive shinning, removing all meat & bones. I found no internal organs at all. Hide was not flecked any more closely than a run-of-the-mill human shinning job. Walking uphill I found the inside of one hoof near the tree the birds went under, a vertebra 50' up from that; then a rib 30' further. At 7:15 I saw the adult 5. of foot of meadow was flat on its perch, 4 min. to SE was still there but on limb of a larger tree (where are "fed" yesterday; same?). The fact that condors don't rip up the hide more seems to indicate a lack of ability to do so - thus young or tender animals are preferred. Perhaps yesterday the calf was not ripe enough for tenderness, & it was only sampled - once the meat starts coming, the birds close in. Comparing results between this carcass & one cut open would show if this were so. At 7:25 saw the 2 were gone from Near Boost Tree; one was in tree 200+ yds. down the slope, & another 100+ yds. beyond.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 19, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pk., Calif. Clear day. At 6:30 I left road on Whiteacre Pk. trail at 7:10 was on tip of the cliff about 1 mile S. of Whiteacre Pk. There was a fair NW breeze then, about 70°F. My plan was to watch #13 nest (?) area further. I saw one adult abot 1/4 mile to W. of me in the green Coast live oak where I had seen the adults roosting before. This one was on a long dead branch about 20' from top of 60' tree, about 10' out from trunk, standing, facing SSW. Buff was dawn or flat; crop patch was plainly evident and of lighter color than the higher magenta spot. The pink ankles of this bird showed well. I could not see the other adult, but intervening rock ledges obscured my view of many roost trees. The tree had 2 stub branches much whitewashed & the bore of a long dead one - most whitewashed was a 2½' long stub about 3 or 4" in diameter about 10' from tree top. 7:25, the adult stretched left wing slowly out, & bowed forward, down, & back, then raised both wings. The- fore folding them, then straightened up - all very slowly. 7:28, adult sunned its back, wings out (facing away from me). Fair steady breeze continued. Wings folded at 7:32. Bird is at about eye level, legs rig primary horizontal, in sunning pose. Then occa- sional preening. 7:55, stretched right wing down & back, raising folded wing high before laying it on

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Gymnogyps californianus June 14, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pk, Calif. side again, the bird remaining leaning forward in horizontal position for 10± seconds before raising up again. 8:12, adult stretched left wing down & back, the leading edge making a straight line. Then nibbled at nump area (about 4 nibbles/sec). Then slowly turned around by stepping around on the jiggling branch. Then crunched foot, pressed in scapular area, eye apparently closed, for 5± sec., then stood again & opened bill twice successively for 3± sec. period. This bird is not the puffy cheeked one. Crop aperture barely visible. 8:20, adult pressed almost continually, mainly at leading wing feathers, nibbling 4-6 times per second with bill. 8:28, adult gave a weird bow, the strangely flexed wings touching at elbows above the back. Then the bird stood, looking about quickly. Then 2 "yawns", as if clearing throat. Then another bow, the wings bent little flexed but folded again touching at elbows. Then wings folded again, & the bird sprang from perch down hill, commencing to flap at once. Flaps 2/sec. It flap glided out of my right into a canyon 3/8 mile toward Whiteacre Pk. & apparently alight on adult ed there. 8:37, I heard flaps & saw the bird land on the sunlighted ledge at S. side of mast (?) extreme about 30 sec. Later it jumped & flapped up to an 8± higher ledge about 6' from cliff top, & stood

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Gymnogyps californianus June 14, 1946 Nr. Whiteacre Pk., Calif. in shade there. 8:45, a second adult landed, on the lower ledge, 430' see. Later it climbed to the other bird. I saw now that the first to land there was "Puffy Cheeks", the second doubtless the one I had watched on the tree. The two stood together, 41 nibbled the other's head. Call "Puffy Cheeks Cheeks" "A", the other "B". 8:50, both standing quietly in shade, nearly facing, 4 within touching distance. "A" probably came from a roost tree out of my right while "B" was hidden in canyon. 8:53, "B" crouched flat at cliff edge alongside of "A", the latter standing, both facing in. This perch ledge was about 6' wide at most 4' of smooth tan csandstone. 8:55, "A" was gone—in the nest I sup- pose. 8:57, an adult soared 100' above the rim near me. Breeze less than border—light from 5. now, sometimes calm. 8:59, 2 adults soared near Whiteacre Pk.. At 9:19, "B" stood up, still in shade. 9:28, "A" left the nest, soared out over Deer Meadow, 4 began to circle & rise. 9:29½, "B" left the ledge & joined "A". By feathers missing, "A" definitely identified as "Puffy Cheeks". Breeze light from 5.— very light. They did not rise over the rim so prob- ably went westward. I started back toward Napa per Canyon. At 10:38, near head of the canyon, I saw 4 adults 200' over the rim near me, then 7

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Gymnogyps californianus June 19, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. condors, circling & rising. They rose to 800' above the Rim, then scattered - at least 3 of these headed east & were over White Cliffs at 10:44. At 10:50 I was back at the road. Breeze light or absent. Then I drove to head of the tractor trail & hiked down to the creveldelawn Big Cove (arrived 12:00). Then on to Cada Falls (arrived 12:30). At 12:30 I saw 1 land in a green Po. near Flat Po. The falls was running a steady clear stream. This falls area has 3 main levels, each having a flat rock area & a good pool. The top pool is about 5x4'; shallow at the edges, but perhaps 20" at deepest (large rocks make bottom irregular). Where I saw 4-5 condors yesterday the wat. er was only 1-2" deep, then trickled through the more down the rock slope. About 20' below this was the center level having two pothole pools in a flat- tish space about 50' 30' long & 20' wide. The lower of these pools, about 1 ft. from cliff edge, so was where I saw condors brother drive yesterday. This pool was about 5x12' & perhaps 2' deep at most. The end where the condors bathed was about 6" deep with a sandy bottom. About 20' lower was the lowest low pool, a nearly circular one about 10' in diam. set on a flat place about 15' wide & 60' long. This flat was where I saw several condors running yea- terday. Some apparently flew about 100' S of this

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Gymnogyps californianus June 19, 1946 Hopper Canyon, G.I.F. pool & perched on the rock slope to dry themselves - intervening brush prevented walking. This lower pool was about 1/3 sandy bottom of about 6" or less depth. There were about 15 splatches of whitewash near lowest pool, 6 near center pool, 4 12 near top pool. The most whitewashed point was a knob about 20's. 4 6' above center pool - apparently a perch point. All pools allowed a clear takeoff down the canyon. Several water strokes inhabited the pools. Lowest pooled 2 or 3 feathers which seemed to be crows (1 secondary, 2 small). I probed the falls area. Fair 5A breeze. About 1 p.m. two adults, 1 with feet down, circled 100+ ' above me at the falls. I proceeded toward Cove Point. Shortly afterwards I saw at least 3, possibly 5, soaring low over Arundell Ridge as if to land there, but at 1:30 from North Slope I could see none there. The possible nest cave at East Hope- per Cliffs still well whitewashed - It still appears a likely nesting spot. At 1:50 I saw 1 adult stop Flat Ps. It was still there at 2:30 when I was at North Point. At 2:55 one adult soared over me near North Ridge. About 3:15 I reached road & drove to camp. A very worn day it appears. Drove to Parking Place & saw from there an adult in Near Koost Tree, on min. in dead tree below Big Meadow, 4 another min. stop a stub about 100 yds. from where the min. was perched. most of last 2 days - the

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Gymnogyps californianus June 19, 1946 Fillmore Calif. same, I believe. I continued on to Fillmore. Then I talked with Lawrence Peyton. He said that when in Lower California at Melting Ranch re- cently, he inquired about condors but found only that no condors had been seen for years. June 16, 1946 S. Ventura Co., Calif. Drove from Fillmore via Chatsworth to Topanga to visit W. Leo Chambers. Chambers went with me to visit the area where he saw condors many years ago. This spot was a falls in Escandido Canyon, perhaps 2 miles up from the ocean. A rough dirt road extends up the canyon to about 1/4 mile below the falls. Chambers visited this area in 1897 first, & last in 1900. He was told of the place by Harry Rising (now of Los Angeles), & they used to visit there long ago when almost. the area was unemballeted, by hiking, rid- ing bicycles, or driving a rig. The falls was barely running - but clean water. It was about 300' from lowest pool to the top brink, & top falls was about 100' vertical. The rock was a hard clay- locally called "lime rock". The condors perched on the high crags near the falls, & one young bird was said to have

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Gymnogyps californianus June 14, 1946 S. Ventura C., Calif. Been taken from a cave in these cliffs (this leads to Soldier's Name, WLC believes). The ocean is visible down canyon from near falls top. There is brush - no trees - near falls top, so only rock perches. WLC did not know of condors drinking & bathing in such places until told by Pemberton. I took a distant photo of the falls - it appears somewhat like Big Sur Falls on a smaller scale. WLC said that was about the only canyon area where any quantity of water flowed all year round - in the old days the flow was much greater than now. Chambers said. Rising visited the area more than WLC & should have more dope on it. Chambers recalls a minimum of 7 condors there though he had no notes on this. WLC said the condors apparently were not mobbed or shot in this falls area. The country surrounding was settled about 50 years ago, WLC said. There was a cattle round up the canyon from the falls. Chambers never saw a condor on the ocean shore tho he hiked the beach from Santa Monica & collected eggs on the coast this (Bald eagle at St. Dime). WLC said at least 3 eggs were taken in the Santa Maria

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Gymnogyps californianis June 16, 1946 S. Ventura G, Calif. mts. One now in Laur collection (at Univ. of Calif.), one in England. April 11, 1900, an egg was brought to WLC's store in Santa Monica by a "little girl". Jack Henry shot a condor in Las Flores Canyon (on or near Henry Ranch). WLC said the area N of Santa Monica Mts. formerly had many cattle, & condors were seen all over that country. Chambers believes the depredations of hunters have been important in the decimation of the condor - he was long in the sporting goods business & had opportunity to learn of these matters. The average sportsman is a gambler, he believes. We said that Ray Camba once tried to get condor pictures near Lobos. He was "nearly smelled out" by the carcasses but got no condors. WLC showed me a 1917 photo from Denver museum which showed one condor egg - collected by Reyton's, WLC be- lieved. Book reference "Outdoor Heritage" by Harold C Bryant, Powell Publishing Co., Los Angeles. 1929. Mrs. Chambers mentioned that Philip Bernard Philips (exp.? ) had a condor egg - procured since WLC made up his egg list, WLC said. Chambers saw condors near Tapia Park last year. I left Cham-

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Gymnogyps californianus June 16, 1946 S.Ventura Co., Cal. bers' place about 3 p.m. I drove to Malibu Lake area to Ventura Co. Fire Station & visited Harvey Anderson (WCC's son-in-law) and other personnel. Harvey remembered me & was friendly. I gave him some photos & mimeo sheets to distribute to lookouts- in his district Triunfo, Castro, & Topanga were manned, & he sent relief men to Oat Mtn. or Solaced district. "Scotty" (David L.) Smith on Topanga had reported condors last year. I talked with Smith on the phone- his identification is not certain but probable. He saw 2 on June 17, 1945, at 6:55 p.m. when they perched on rocks near the lookout; they left at 8:30 p.m. & flew toward Castro Ple. (this late time sounds strange). Aug. 25, 1945, one, then another, perched on nearby rocks about 3 p.m. & left going west at 3:30 p.m. Scotty was impressed by the large size, the "fingers" at wingtips, & the steady unflapping flight. He did not see the white wing linings. This man is middle-aged & as- really reliable, Anderson said. Harvey had formerly been stationed at Quail Lake & Sand- berg's (in several years ago) & had seen condors there (no notes). He said he had

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Gymnogyps californianus June 16, 1946 S. Kentura C, Calit. also seen them near Neenach. Truinfo Loshaut overlooks the Sandstone Pk. ava & should be best for condors, Anderson be- lieves. I left my address & returned to Fillmore. June 17, 1946 Nr. Squaw Flat, Calit. I departed from Fillmore about 7:30 a.m. & drove to and beyond Squaw Flat. In the Tan Creek area I found that we got an excellent view of the head of Caldwate Canyon, the Bear (not on canyon), & the falls at Oil Well Point. The top of this falls could be viewed with telescope, & if condors were brothing there they could probably be seen from this road. From one point on the road, 1/4 mile before the Whitewate Trail leaves road, #13 nest area was visible. About 10 a.m. I started up the Whitewate Pk. trail. After about 10 minutes walk, the #13 nest was visible about 1 mile to E. & perhaps 300' above trail level. I saw one condor soaring above the Rim at 10:30, and one perched atop the highest rock prominence (left about 10:35) on the Rim about 1/4 mile N. of #13 nest. The next hole was about 12' from the top of a 150'+ vertical cliff. The hole was formed by several boulders jamming together in a notch in the cliff. White wash about the entrance gave the spot away. The arrangement of boulders at the nest was about

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Gymnogyps californianus June 17,1946 Nr.Squaw Flat, Calif. perching shelf Thus: "it" It is hoped that photos will show the location more occur- ately. Sky clear, air warm, light breeze. On the cliff face near where I have seen the nest adults perched in trees, there were two ledges, one under an overhang, the other in a pothole, which were much whitewashed - cliff roosts for the adults & judge. There were about 100' apart vertically & 200' horizontally in vertical sandstone cliffs. About 11:13 I saw an adult flew glide S. part about 200' above the nest; about 11:45 I saw an adult pass over the Deer Meadow ridge heading N., at also flew gliding fast. Perhaps there were nest adults keeping an eye on things at home. At 11:50 I was set up under a sugar bush about 1/4 mile W. of the nest where I could observe it with telescope & Leo view the roosting trees. Light to fair W. breeze. Actually this nest would be no more difficult to reach than the one near Oil Well Point in Sierra Canyon. I watched until 1:30 - no carders. Took 4 photos of nest cliff & roost area from the ridge of Deer Meadow, then returned to watching at 2 p.m. The cave entrance appears to be squarish, about 4'

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Gymnogyps californianus June 17, 1946 Nr. Squaw Flat, Calif. lay 4'; thus: perch edge The rocks at cave much whitewash in sunshine at 2 p.m. This cave opens to W. or W.-facing cliff. It could probably be climbed into from cliff top without aid of a rope. 2:23, an adult soared S. low over the nest, then to N.4 landed on the lower perch point about 15' S of nest. At 2:26 it flapped & scrambled up the rocks to the 10'+ higher point (perching shelf). Then at 2:27 it walked atop the boulder at S. side of nest. Then paused, then walked down this slanting whitewashed rock (diagrammed above) and hopped down to nest entrance. Then it paused, facing in, at 2:29 walked in out of my sight. 2:32½, the adult stood at cave entrance, look- ing out. 2:33, turned around & faced in; in shade now favored shoulders. About 2:30 I saw one other adult soaring close to Roo the Rim above 4/3 nest. Adult preened tail, wings, back (2:40). 2:43, the adult disappeared - in or off? 3:01, the adult again stood on "door" door, facing in, half in sun light. Then off at 3:02 as another condor soar- ed 100'+ over nest. Both soared with feet down- the one leaving nest was apparently "A"; its crop seemed greatly distended. It soared straight to the coast trees after one short north zig, 4 at

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Gymnogyps californianus June 17, 1946 Nr. Squaw Flat, Calif. 3:04 landed in a green Pseudotetragna - apparently the usual one. The other adult landed on the perch 5 ft. of nest hole about 3:05. At 3:07 it clambered, wings flopping, to the higher point. Then, hardly hesitating, walked down the boulder. It paused as if having difficulty with footing before going down this rock; held wings up as it walked the 4+ steps down & hopped to nest floor. The bird stood, facing in case, & walked slowly in going out of sight at 3:08. At 4:10 I could see the bird of the one in tree - almost entirely in shade, apparently, & I had seen no activity at nest so supposed the "B" bird still in. At 4:20 I started downhill toward road. At 4:28 the "A" adult was atop the boulder which formed S. side of cave entrance - it was still there at 4:50 p.m. I returned to Fillmore. June 18, 1946 Santa Barbara, Calif. Drove from Fillmore via Ojai to Santa Barbara. Left some condor pics & info at Ojai Burger Station for the lookouts of that district. At Santa Barbara visited Cz Rett & Waldo Aldott at the museum. Rett said that he had heard from Elr McMillan that he & Irving (? - a sailor painter from Berkeley) had visited the "fift" but had seen no condors there. Elr also told Rett that he had heard a sheepman say he shot one the other day (in April), & had

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Gymnogyps californianus June 18, 1946 Santa Barbara, Calif paid little attention. After some time later he found it really was a condor. Pett also gave me Arthur Olgily of Montecito collected & egg in Cold Spring Canyon about 50 years ago; & that he had talked with John Stiver (who had photod feeding condors) about condors. Stiver was now at De Anza Motor Inn near Santa Barbara. Pett also said the old man in Montecito from whom Larry Stevens got a condor egg was named Griffin. Then I visited Arthur Olgily, member of the real estate firm of Olgily & Gilbert in Santa Barbara (29 E. Canon Perdido). He was friendly and seemed a reliable honest man. He said the egg was taken at the falls of Cold Spring Canyon (ocean side of Santa Ynez range) in 1903. The egg was on a boulder about 10 or 12 feet from cliff top. It was well incubated. Many offers were received for the egg, & it was finally purchased by a man from Arroyo Grande. One trip was later made to the vicinity of Big Pine Mtn. to look for an egg - but none was found. Egg collecting was a hobby of Olgily at that time. He said that about 15 years ago he saw 2 near Montecito (Baker Mtn.?) but that those were the only ones he could recall having seen on the ocean side since the egg was taken. One of the cole Cold Springs birds was shot and

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Gymnogyps californianus June 18, 1946 Santa Barbara, Calif one of cruelly stuffed later in 1902 - perhaps those now at S.B. museum. In 1902 condors were rare near Santa Barbara. Cattle were common, however, & Olgily himself ran cattle near Montecito. He showed me a newspaper article from "The Morning Press", a coll column headed "Twenty-five Years Ago. This date, 1902. From The Morning Press". The column read in part "Three days from Montecito made a lucky find while birdnut hunting at the head of Cold Springs yesterday. They are Willie Edwards, Willie Gallagher, and Arthur Olgily. They had climbed to a bare cliff and looking down the opposite side saw about twelve feet below them on a ledge without any nest, a condor's egg. The egg of the condor is very rare and is valued by lapidemists at about $100. Then I visited Store & wife. Store takes conservation matters, mainly soil conservation, and also slow motion pictures of bird flight. He is working on a book on bird flight, noting that gliders used the painted wing rather than the spread tip such as shown by Pemberton's film of condors. He received a grant from the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia to make such a study. Nash-Boulden told him where to go and Lee Michel (sp) of Fillmore packed him

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Gymnogyps californianus June 10, 1946 Santa Barbara, Calif. into the Aquaw Flats area. This was late in May, 1943. One calf Storer's blind was of green brush, made to look like a brush, & lined with dark cloth - even the lens was covered. This was in the big meadow just W. of Whitacre Pl. They camped at Aquaw Flat & hiked up to blind daily. One calf was put out & watched, but flies & coyotes got it in time. A second was put out about June 5. Storer had been in the blind several hours & had seen no carders; he saw a rattlesnake in the blind & shot it, then as he tossed the body out he noted that a carder was soaring about 1/2 mile away. Next day one carder came to the carcass. The third day, none. The third calf, about a 90 pounder, was put out about June 10. Up to 7 carders were seen in air at once, & at about 10:30 they descended, up to 7 at a time lying on the ground. Storer shot his pictures. Then he climbed out of the blind & continued to shoot - as long as he sat still, the carders seemed unalamed by his presence "40 or 50 paces" away. Storer believes that once the blinds are down they pay little attention to the blind, but before this they were "very shy." This last 90 calf was killed the morning the carders fed on it. They pecked

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Gymnogyps californianus June 18, 1946 Santa Barbara Calif. at the eyes and went first, even in the cut open carcass. There was little tearing of the hide. The birds dragged the carcass downhill. Stoner walked toward them + scared them off. Sub- sequently we landed about 200 yds. away & flew when approached but circled in the vicinity for about 1/2 hour. The next day we came to remain, when flushed it flopped much, going back & forth, to climb over the ridge rather than fly over the men toward Squaw Flat. First two carcasses were not cut open. Stoner said up to 2 at a time perched on the cliffs above the car- cass & seemed unperturbed. He also saw 2 roosting at the #13 nest roost trees and saw these two flying with an immature bird as if parents with young (nested in 1942?)(several times seen). The condor fought much at the carcasses. One would hang on to another's "wattle" with bill and they would flick, flop, & roll on the ground. Stoner says he has pictures of this. Stoner is from Wal- tham, Massachusetts, perhaps 75 years old, & apparently a good and accurate observer though not talkative. His main interest in birds is in the mechanics of their flight. By attempting to calculate

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Gymnogyps californianus June 18, 1946 Santa Barbara, Calif. somebatt: [illegible] - I have not noticed this. I gave Stoner some photos & he promised to send me a copy of his cordon notes. June 19, 1946 Santa Ynez Valley, Calif. Left Paradise Camp & drove to Las Pritos large station. There talked with "Stubby" Mansfield, assistant ranger, whom I had known before at Cuyama R.S. He said that last summer there was a young cordon which would perch near Big Pine 20 & was fed by adult. Later there were 2 young ones. The feeding even took place in the "yard" of the lookout. A mule was killed near the lookout by Nash-Baugh for cordon bait. Mansfield saw 26 cordons at and around this mule carcass, 2 coyotes, 41 golden eagle, when visiting the area with another man. He estimates the time as October 1945. He said he had taken a couple of plane flights over the area looking for a lost plane & had seen 2 cordons near Mission Pine then. Then drove on to West Big Pine Lookout and met Norrie Boyce & her husband, the former the lookout, the latter writing a book. They were also up here last year. Mrs. Boyce read me the following mis- formation from Sealog: June 11, 1945 - one running on

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Gymnogyps californianus June 19, 1946 Big Pine lookout, Calif. cliff. June 13, 1945 - 4 over Damon Pk.. [she did not enter condors in log then until October ]. October 9, 1945 - 5 seen flying. [This was most logged for 1945]. Oct. 2, 1945 - a young one with dark head came from the west and perched about 50' from the look- out near the flagpole. Oct. 22, 1945 - the "baby" was in the yard about 3 hours. The "mother" came & fed it once. The "mother" appeared smaller than the youngster & flew off before the youngster seemed set. The baby was approached within 2'yd., & seemed fearless, infid. Mrs. Bayre described the begging "flaps" acc- urately. Oct. 24, 1945 - the "baby" came again & lay flat on a rock near the flagpole & "like a duck", said Mrs. B.J. It was fed & flew off with the adult. Oct. 26, 1945 - Nash-Baude came up to take pictures. The youngster was there & moved about to various points during the day, but apparently N.B. got no good pictures. Mrs. B. recalls seeing a large group of 7 or 8 this day too. On Oct. 31 they left the lookout - the male was killed there a few days later. This year only 3 or 4 condors seen - perhaps 2 every couple of days. Last year they perched on the cliffs to W. of the lookout & at times & on the highest point to east. Mrs. B. said that the ravens sometimes flew at the "baby" and it ruffled up & buzzed. She saw a duck hawk chasing a condor today. Thus

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Gymnogyps californianus June 19, 1946 Big Pine Lookout, Calif. duck hawkes were manoeuvring about ¼ mile E. of Lookout at this time. I was at lookout from about 12:30 to 3 p.m., then set out for Falls Can- yon. Mrs. B. thinks condors very ugly when perched But beautiful in flight. She & her husband are not nature lovers, but they know what condors look like. Mrs. B. said the Cuyama lookout reported a condor the first day on the job. I arrived at the big pine at head of Falls Canyon at 6:15 & at Dead Oaks at 6:45- camped there. Searched for condors in the pines-but none. Mrs. B. said that the "bolly" condor flapped more than the adults in flying & was unsteady in the air. The question is, worth this a bird of the year? - probably, tho it apparently could fly at this early date. Perhaps Oscar's flying was somewhat hampered by the handling he received while in young stage. June 20, 1946 Falls Canyon, Calif. I left Dead Oaks at 6:30 & hiked down to the falls. At 8:20 I was about 200 yds. upstream from the falls when I saw 7 condors circling & rising near the cliffs there - feet were up & they paid no attention to me; probably they roosted on the falls cliffs. At the falls brink I found the water running clear & lavishly. There about 20 squirts of whitewash on the

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Gymnogyps californianus June 20, 1946 Falls Canyon, Calif. flat ledge about 15' E.W. of boulders - more than on my last visit - and one small condor foot- print was in the pool. No whitework at pool edge. Pool still partly sandy bottomed & shallow so apparently favorable for condor bathing still. I saw no condors in trees in Falls Canyon tho I searched much. About 9 a.m., - light breeze, clear sky, warm - I started back via Falls Canyon. Arrived at Dead Oaker at 10:45 & Big Pines at 11:30. Left here at 12:00 & hiked slowly toward Big Pine Lookout. At 2:14 I saw one adult descend, tacking into the fair S. wind, feet down, wings flipped, near the bluffs in first S.-facing canyon W. of Court point in the trail (about 1 1/2 miles S.-line from the lookout). The descent area was hidden from my view. I continued on to the lookout. They had seen no condors all day. Soon a State trapper named Tegan arrived. His headquarters was at Bluff Camp & he was primarily trapping coyotes. He said that about 5 years ago, in the fall, he had thrown all his bobcat & coyote carcasses over the cliff at one point & that eventually up to 26 condors came. He said also that three years ago two women were on the lookout, & they used to walk to a point

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Gymnogyps californianus June 29, 1946 about 3/4 mile E. of the lookout + see a young condor on a ledge a short way down the cliff. The point was lower to W. of the highest farthest bluff to E. of the look- out. Tegan shot a coyote there + the lookouts asked if he was shooting their pet cards. Tegan seemed fairly reliable but inclined to be boastful. Apparently he had killed several hundred deer, outlaws, & horses for various State jobs. This part of Santa Barbara county was about as far south as he worked (to Camarillo area). He said Charlie Tant was after lions in the Santa Ynez range with his dogs now & had gotten several lions this year already. The condor next area was near where Mrs. Al Williamson reported a young condor in 1939 or 1940 — so probably something to it. June 21, 1946 Sisquoc Canyon, Calif. Left alamar saddle at 6:50 a.m. & hiked down Sisquoc Canyon. At 8:30, near Saman Pk. I saw one immature (dark) with a center left primary missing, circling. Around 8:30 met the rainy time. At 9:15 was at 1Katl Camp. Day clear & warm. Arrived at Falls Canyon.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 21, 1946 Sisquoc Canyon, Calif. at 10:50. I climbed the N. bank of the Sisquoc about 500' & from there took several pictures of Sisquoc Falls, completing at 11:45. As this is about noon & about the summer solstice & the cliffs face about north, the light on cliff face is about maximum (mostly in shade). Hiked back upstream then & reached Cottonwood Camp at 1 p.m. Fished upstream & returned to Alman Saddle. June 22, 1946 Cuyama Valley, Calif. Drove from Alman to Cuyama Ranger Station. Talked with various men there & heard that 1 condor had been seen about a week ago from Colinte Mtn. (lookout). A member of the trail crew I met in April in Falls Canyon said that they saw one perch in a dead pine in Falls Canyon the day I left them. None knew of any sheep in Cuyama Valley at this time. I drove toward Moricopa, then took the road to Soda Lake and Seminal thru Carrizo Plains. I saw no stock south of Soda Lake but many old cattle droppings. Then saw about 500 head before reaching Summer. Saw 5 turkey vultures on a hog carcass at one point. Continued northward through Betterwater Valley to Alman but saw no condors. Then visited Don McMillen. He said the Betterwater Valley was a place where condors were frequently reported. On April

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Gymnogyps californianus June 22, 1946 Shandon, Calif. 13, 1946, with Milton Ray at Cameron Rocks, he saw 3 condors at 1:15 p.m. Elb Mc Millan said he saw 2 + 3 over his place earlier this year (April) & heard of 6 being seen feeding on a bob cat near Turkey Flats about the same time. She May be saw 2 condors, apparently flushed from the cliff, at the "jief", 4 about 500 turkey muttoner. Elb said the dead condor they had heard of (in February) was about 5 miles N. of the Navacopa road. Jennings Vorveter (sp.?) told them of this one, saying a "shepherd" had killed it. Dan said Wilcox, taxidermist of Arroyo Grande, shot some condor specimens near Mc Chesney Mtn.. We gave Bethel brothers $10 for one they caught in a trap. Dan said the foreman of La Bonya ranch (Jardine) told him he saw 18 last March - the most he had ever seen. June 23, 1946 Mc Chesney Mtny. Calif. Van Mc Millan said 3 of the 5 eggs taken by Truesdale & Claude Brown were taken from the 1 hole described by Dawson. Brown took the first one, around another was taken around the corner to W. of the main hole. In 1906 (±), Truesdale was working near Seminole & saw his first condor, heading W. He searched in the rocks in the Syncline Ridge area, then later further W. & finally at Mc Chesney Mtn.. Of the 5 known nesting sites at

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Gymnogyps californianus June 23,1946 Nr. McChesney Mth, Ca H.t. this one hole (from what Dan has heard from Truesdale), 3 eggs were taken, 1 egg hatched, 41 was left. The one was left- bird on nest - because cliffs were snowy & icy & he couldn't get to the hole. On May 15, 1946, El saw 2 adults fly from the region of the Dawson nest cave - there were apparently disturbed ed by his horse when 300 ± ' below & ¼ mile around cliff from nest. One egg was taken by Truesdale on May 23 (year?) said Dan & El - El said Truesdale had watched the nest since March 14 that the egg was fresh in May. Dan said that his brother-in- law Carl Twisselman told him of several condors con- sistently roosting at Garcia Rocks, roughly 2½ mile W. of Gould Well in Temblor Valley, a few years ago. Sean, Dan, Ellen, & myself drove from Shandon (Ced Wells) to La Panza Ranch, up the San Juan, then up Beartrap Canyon. We hiked from 7:20 to 10:20 be- fore reaching the Dawson nest hole. It was in the face of a NW facing cliff about 100' below highest cliff on NE side of McChesney Mtn.. The hole was or pict- ured in Dawson. The cliffs were ledges of potholed conglomerate, & the slope below was very steep for 500'. From the nest area we could see their down, Castle Mtn., Orchard Blk., & intervening country. The next cliff face was nearly perpendicular- we could climb to about 4' above it with-

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Gymnogyps californianus June 23, 1946 Nr. McChesney mtn, Calif. out a rope, + sewn to the hole if daring. I entered the hole. It was shaped: [illegible], 15" high x 17" wide. Inside was a cavern 9' long & 6' deep of oval shape: floor [illegible]; side [illegible]. There was a tributary hole on SW side - about 6" x 10". The floor was flat + hard rock with a 1" layer of fine dry silt. I found 4 or 5 small carab feathers & saw large bird troches (possibly carab). Found no bones or fragments as supposed no check visited there recently. Smell was very slight + no fresh whitework - so I believe no chick raised for 5+ years there if ever. Whitework, old, was 16" up the wall & had a rosy color as usual. The thin rock at SW side of entrance was broken away - rock 1/4" thick. I could sit erect in center of floor. There were scorns of Q. chrysolepis, apparently eaten by some mammal, on the floor, & a few Neotoma - like droppings. I left nest at 11 a.m. There were 3 golden eagle nests within 100 yds. of the cave - one was used this year (eggs taken by McMillan & birds gone). I saw an eagle go to nest about 1/2 mile around cliff, to SE of nest earlier this day. One going raven nest was about 150 yds. from carab nest + slightly below it. There were two much - whitened cliff points under overhangs

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Gymnogyps californianus June 23, 1946 Nr. Mc Chesney Mth, Calif. near nest; one about 200' sway & 30±' below the other, 100±' away & 50±' below, both to S.W. Whitework there appeared not recent. Turkey vultures - 2 or 3- also swooped about the area. At 8:20 a.m. today we saw one adult on tip top of on the rock bluff about 1 mile E. of the "jief" on S. side of Beartrap Canyon. It took off about 8:25, circled & rose, & fler. glided to N. about 1000' above us (±6± right primary missing). Most conspicuous whitework was about 4 miles 200yds. W.E. of nest on a 15" long shelf under top overhang of the northernmost cliff point. The white extended for 10'+ on two sep- rate shelves. Sparse digger prior stone ridge appear paw for roasting so perhaps only cliff roasta here. Two prairie falcons were also over the "jief". We left nest area about 12± descended to 300±' below & to N. of nest to watch. Day clear & warm; light to fair breeze. Dan Mc M. says Truesdale's main purpose in taking Dawn to the nest was to prove that eggs taken by him & doubted by Chambers were authentic. The Mc M's doubt Truesdale smart enough to fake an egg - he would look down if wrong, they believe. Elb said that about 3 who ago one was seen near the school near Palo Cristi pass. Pass by people at "the school", & his wife

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Gymnogyps californianus June 23, 1946 Mr. McChesney Mtn., Calif. saw 3 at his place about same date. About 13th of March, 3 seen by Els in Bitterwater, 43, about a week later. Els said that Evan Brown said he saw 6 at Cholame Flat about March 1. Bochel Brothers said they saw 2 about March 21 near Cammati Ranch on Shell Creek — in early days the B. Bros. sold Wilcox a skin for $15; Els said. Iaw said that Truesdale told him that the most condors he had ever seen was 6 — so, the birds must have been scarce here even 40 years ago. We then left the condor area about 2 p.m., and returned to Sbendan via Cammati Canyon. June 24, 1946 Mr. Cholame, Calif. With Dan McMillen & son Donald drove to Cholame Flat and Cholame Rocks. Day clear, fair E. breeze. At 9:30 I started looking for condors over Cholame Flat & immediately saw 3 condors circling at 500' about 1½ miles W. of Cholame Rocks. A minute later I saw 3 more about 1½ mile NW of the Rocks near a corral. The 5.3 birds rose & I lost them. The N. 3 descended & 3 were on the ground at 9:41. They perched about 50 yds. N. of a calf, a cow standing near the calf. Two condors walked toward the calf & one was at it by 9:49, the cow 15' away. One more alighted at 9:51, & there were 4 condors perched

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Gymnogyps californianus June 29, 1946 N. Cholame, Calif. about 50 yds. N. of calf & 4 buzzards at the calf. The saw-washed away, flushing 2 buzzards, & one condor hurried to the calf. Two more were within about 10' of calf within a few seconds, but 1 remained about 50 yds. away. Six condors were down at 9:57 - but only 2 at calf. At. 10 a.m. there were 6 condors at calf but apparently occasional feeding only, the saw standing 20+' away as if watching. Dan McMillan said his father sett- led here in 1834 & was much interested in wildlife, yet never saw a condor - he had heard of them through wives of Arroyo Grande, however. 10:15 - still 6 at calf tho perhaps only 1 or 2 feeding; we atop calf, 4 saw looking on still, & 2± ravens + 4± turkey vultures near calf on ground. 10:27 - no change. We drove to a spot about 1 mile SE of cance & at 10:34 saw 1 adult take off- this one circled, feet down, & seemed about to settle near W. edge of the flat at 10:38. Of remaining 5, at least 2 adults & 1 imm... Occasionally a buzzard or raven flopped out of the brush & landed a few feet away, or a condor ran out a few feet & returned; or one threw wings up & flapped about. 10:45, 5 condors observing carcass, 3 buzzards standing 100+' away, & the saw watching from 20+' away as before. Dan says the saws do no show interest in this calf for long, so probably a fresh one. 10:55, still 5 condors standing near calf - the

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Gymnogyps californianus June 29,1946 Nr. Cholame, Cali. cow walked slowly through them & the condor parted, walking rapidly 10±' from cows. The cow appear- ently snuffed the calf, then walked slowly away; the condor walked back to the carcass, 11:15; at least one stole carcass, feeding, 4 all 5 within 10' of calf. 11:20, one ran 30±' to NE, 4 30 tree. Later an adult walked out toward it & reached put with child. Both jumped into air, flopping. Both walked back to the carcass 30± sec. Later. Don said he was born & rais- ed in the Cholame Hills; saw no condors except one on the San Juan River about 25 years ago & there seem rivil Truesdell. Then 5 or 6 years ago he began to hear re- ports. Don McMillen saw a large lunch near Table Mtn. Early in the morning - so perhaps the condors roosted there. 11:33, the condors still clustered at carcass; about 3 youngs & 3 turkey multner standing about. 11:45, no change; at least 4 multner standing 15±' from the condors. At 11:53, one, then another adult, took off with 18± flayers & landed 100± yds. to E. of calf. A few seconds before a cow had walked among the feeding condors & they had apparently stopped feeding & stood around. After 1± minute these two flapped another 100± yds. E. at edge of a group of 500± Hereford cattle. A third adult from calf joined them, & all walked & hopped, pausing every 50±', to W. about 50 yds. more. Then all stood at a grun

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Gymnogyps californianus June 24, 1976 Nr. Cholame, Calif. spot & apparently drank judging from head movements. Two crows + 2+ vultures + 2+ ravens at carcass, saw standing near (12:05). The other three walked & hopped, flapping, to W. further, + spread 50± apart. Some cattle seems to be close to the crows - almost touching them, & watching them. 12:07, one of watering birds took off & flew over the carcass, low, flushing 4 vultures from carcass & causing the two (both min.) left at carcass to raise heads. This bird landed 100± yds. S. of carcass. The two min. took off & landed 100± yds. E. of carcass. 12:13, the mine. walked toward water hole, & I saw 3 there, none at carcass (no vultures). 12:14, 4 took off & circled about over carcass & 1 min. still at water. The 12:17, I saw 6 raven, circling above horizon in carcass area. 12:20, 3 vultures at carcass, no crows seen on ground. 12:25, Two slightly singly near the water hole, & I saw 2 others already on ground there. One went harder flew again & landed 50± yds. N. of others! (12:28, 5 on-ground among cattle, within 100±). 12:29, at least 4 of these took off and at least 5 circling together over horizon at 12:30 & at 12:35. Then two descended & sighted 50± from carcass at 12:37 - about 1 minute later they flopped to 200± yds. W. E. of carcass where another was already on ground, about 50 yds. from cattle & apparently not at water.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 24, 1996 Nr. Cholame, Calif 12:43 - only 1 where the 3, 2 at carcass, 4 2 on ground 100± yds. E. of carcass. 12:50, at least 4 at carcass - I could see no others on ground; 4 no juveniles or multitudes at carcasses. At least 2 of 4 were adults / atop carcass. 12:55, one landed 200± yds. E. of carcass at the "water" (edge of green grass). 1 p.m., one by carcass flopped-glid to the water & landed 6±' from cobra perched there, the perched one throwing up wings & diving away. 1:03, 3 at water & 3 at carcass. 1:05, one flew from carcass to water & landed with the 3 there; 1:06, one left water & landed 100±' S of carcass (where 2 still), then 2 carcasses about 1:07. 1:12, an adult flew from water to carcass - 4 at carcass, 1 visible at water. Feeding seldom or nil. 1:17, both at water off - at least one landed 50±' from carcass. Cow walked up & sniffed calf & the condors fled, flopping, & stood about 15' to 50' from cow. As cow retreated, one followed & re- turned to carcass. 1:30, 4 condors plainly visible close to carcass (5 believed there), but only 1 or 2 feeding it appeared. 1:40 - 5 visible & 2 buzzards nearby, at car- cass. Fair N.E. breeze continued. All takeoffs here despite wind. 1:45, one condor was 100± yds. E. of calf on ground, 4 we left carcass, circled, & slit about 200 yds. W. of calf. The E. we walked Toward calf & followed it (so 4 at carcass at 1:50). 3 multitudes also near calf, but all birds there quiet,

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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

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Gymnogyps californianus June 24, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. walked quickly away when 4+ from animal. 3:20, another slighed, we were chased off to E., 4 & 5 were strung out then for about 100' from carcass, rather evenly spaced, but but no feeding apparent. Then a clash of about 4 rushing together, wings up & flapping. Took off about 3:25 we took off with 22 flaps (an min.). 3:28, 6 strung out for about 50' to E. of carcass & we about 100' from it. 3:35, 3 in air about 1 mile SW of calf - so 10 total. at the calf area, about 50' from carcass, a great fight & scrambling - two locked together, wings flapping, throwing up dust, 4 second fight for about 30 seconds, then one off flapping with the other after it. 3:45, I saw me 300', our Barkfield road S. end. Then I descended & lit about 100' W. of calf. About 2 minutes later one of the 4 at carcass left it & ran out after this bird, driving it back, then walked back to carcass leaving the other standing alone. 3:57, 2 now to W. of carcass, 5 still close to it. 4 P.M., 2 two at carcass & the 2 W. of it took off to NE. singly, some holding wings before takeoff run. One of these 4 landed at carcass again. 4:02, one left carcass & flew off. 4:13, a fourth lit at carcass & two were circling 200' over carcass. 4:16, Two lit at carcass - at least 5 visible there. A rather fluttered out of way as a condor, flapped 4:25, one flapped wings & lifted 4+ into air, then drop

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Gymnogyps californianus June 24, 1946. Nr. Cholame, Calif. ped down. A moment later it took off, + another followed. Both sighted 200+ yds NE of carcass. 4:30, three two took off, flopped-glided to hills to W., then circled + rose. Three left at carcass, at least 1 min. + another feeding. Fair NE breeze continued. At 4:35, one with crop bulging took off, turned 360° + landed about 100 yds. W. of carcass. 4:43, the last two fliers were lost high over the Cholame Hills, west of usward seemed to be heading away. 4:46, two, apparently both semin., at carcass, one feeding, we only caribou discernible. 4:50, the two off. They circled + rose over the hills to W. of carcass, higher + higher, to perhaps 3000' altitude, before I lost them at 5:10. Apparently these birds were bound for Beartrap Canyon. We then visited the carcass - it proved to be a 200+ lb. bull calf which had been dead perhaps 3 days + had apparently died from rostration infestation. It was limp + smelly. Eyes + ears were eaten out, there was a 6" hole at base of neck on upper side + 2" small holes in belly. Tail + legs were intact, most of meat apparently present still. It lay in 8" high dry grass on dry mud, much cattle tracked. I found a secondary + 3" smaller caribou feather near the calf. The water proved to be dirty + smelly, a mud hole 50+ yds. long + covered with cattle tracks. The cattle

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Gymnogyps californianus June 29, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. (Norfords) were poor & many sick from the recent branding & cutting. Dan believes that clean farming would cut down the carcasses available to condors. Cholame Ranch runs on a large area basis & employs largely Mexican nationals. Dan believes there may be some condors roosting on Castle Mtn. It is 33 miles air line from where we saw condors today to Beartrap Canyon - the nearly down-wind. Jan says that sheep are brought in to this area later in the year to feed on the grain stubble. June 25, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. with Dan & Donald McMillan drove to E. side of Cholame Flat to watch for condors, arriving 8:15 a.m. We expected them to come from the S.W. At 8:45 I saw 2 about 300' over the calf carcass of yesterday, then others over Cholame Wells, 2 over the hills to N. of us, appear another in direction of Castle Mtn. heading W., & another circling about 3 miles toward Castle Mtn.! At least 10 seen by 9:03. Day clear & warm, breeze faint or absent. This early appearance plus coming from Castle Mtn. direction indicates roosting at Castle Mtn.! 9:15, 4 condors, 4+ juveniles, 41 Turkey vulture circling 200±' over calf 200-500' nearby. 9:20, 8 condors scattered about 2-500' over calf, 2 adults, 3 juveniles & 6 adults. 9:30,

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Gymnogyps californianus June 25, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. the 8 in a tight milling group about 400' over calf sarcass, the highest an immature. The groups broke up, 4 at 9:33 there were about 2 miles S. of calf & 4 at 500' about 1/2 mile S. of it. Apparently they are not satisfied with the old carcass & are looking for something better 9:46, 2 over S. end of Flat, 1 about 4 miles N. of it, 4 1 or 2 between. None seen yesterday or today over the E. hills of the Flat except on route to Castle Mtn. about 3 miles N. of Cholame Rocks. 10:10, 2 adults & 1 imm. circled about 1 mile S. of calf carcass at 400' after having circled over the carcass. There circled over S. end of Cholame Flats & rose, then glided over the highest hill on E. side of the Bitterwater, again circled & rose, & headed S. - probably going to Ad Grants, Dan thought. The Annette Lookout is a few miles in that direction, Dan said. There were 3 or 4 buzzards on the calf carcass - apparently all the condors had gone S.. We left them & drove up the Bitterwater & to Annette Lookout. The lookout, a rather dumb man named Hughes (sp?), said he had heard of condors & had then pointed out to him in the distance about 3 years ago but had seen none at the lookout this year. The view of Castle Mtn. & McCheney Mtn.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 25, 1946 was good from the lookout. We descended to near Keke's Corner & lunching. At 12:15 saw 2 over Shale Hills about 3 miles SW of Keke's Corner - saw 4 there at 12:30. A man named Carl said that recently the county had poisoned squirrels in that area, & that Ad Grant's sheep (1000 head) were also in that area. He said the first condors he saw here were about a week ago & that he saw them every summer since he had been here (7 or 8 years). One was supposed to have been found drowned in (Crest still) a water tank here about 8 years ago - a man was going to have it mounted & the bird was taken from him by the game warden. McMillan knew this story but wasn't sure about its veracity. About 12:35, we saw 8 over some area. Then we drove southward toward the birds & at 12:50 came upon 4 or 5 circling & rising about 1/2 mile ahead of us from canyon bottom in Shale Hills. There hills are treeless & rounded, covered with sparse short grass. We counted up to 9 condors (1 min.), circling & rising, the highest to 1000 ±'. Some descended again & we saw 6 at 1:07. One at a time & landed on a hill side by 1:09. A turkey vulture left as first landed beside it. 1:10, 5 on ground & 3 in air up to 400' over them, the 3 in a tight bunch. We drove toward the birds - they began fleeing when we were about

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Gymnogyps californianus June 25, 1946 Shale Hills, Glip. ½ mile away, 4 the last adult when we were ¼± mile away. One vimm. stayed until we were 200± yds away. A turkey multere stayed until I had walked to within about 200' of carcass. The food lay about 50' (vertically) above the bottom of canyon, 100±' uphill (15±%) from a barbed-wire fence. It was a small dog - somewhat like an Australian shepherd - about 3 days dead. The forelegs were turned inside out & all the forward part of the dog. The skull was freshly bloody as if recently fed upon & attached to skin at snout. Skull's spine to lumbar region was attached to skin. Sternum & some ribs missing. The tail & hind legs were right-side out but hind leg mainly hollow. All internal organs gone, & pelvis & posterior vertebrae still in place in skin. About ½ skin gone from legs & belly. The vimm. lost to leave flopped a great deal in circling & rising over the E. slopes opposite the carcass. All circled & rose until only 1 condor visible at 1:25. We then left the area. We found parceled grain on the ground but saw no dead squirrels or squirrel evidence never more than a few here, low naves. The hide was limp but it appeared that the dog must have been mostly consumed a day or so ago & then reworked today - food must be scarce for 5 condors to come down for a few ounces of dawg meat! We returned to Shannon via Solano Pass. Apparently

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Gymnogyps californianus June 25, 1946 Shannon, Calif. the carder route from Cholame Flats was close to the S W side of this pass & the hills on S W side of Antelope Valley. June 26, 1946 Mr. Cholame, Calif. Drove to Cholame Flats & laid out 3 jack rabbits and 4 cottontails about 1½ miles N. of Cholame Rockey, on the flat grounds, 300± yds. W. of Hancock Ranch road, & about ½ mile S E of the old calf carcass. Started watching from about 3/8 miles E. of rabbits at 8:15. Day clear & warm, no breeze. By 9 a.m., one turkey vulture & 5 ravens at the calf carcass. The rabbits all killed yesterday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. or later - some cottontails since 7 a.m. today. At 9:10 saw 1 adult soaring Toward Castle Mtn. - or rather toward S. end of Table Mtn. It glided over the hills, passing about 3/4 mile N. of us, to over Cholame Flats & circled & wandered over the carcass vicinity at 2000' altitude. At 9:34 I saw a second in that di- rection, & it too glided W. passing about 1 mile N. of us. Breeze faint at best. First adult had #8 right primary missing. By 9:40 the first was standing at the calf carcass. This one had no crop bulge. The second (adult) descended first by, turned 1 or 2 circles in spiraling down, & at 9:43 alighted at the carcass. A turkey vulture

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Gymnogyps californianus June 26, 1946. Nr. Cholame, Calif. flow off as this read alights. This was most direct approach to a carcass I low recall her ing seen - no preliminary "looking over". This we send also lacked the crop ludge. Three two were approaching from Table Mts. direction at 9:47, 4 another about 1 mile behind. 9:50, the two adults at carcass took off when another was soaring over them (100±'). 9:52, 4 circling in carcass vicinity & 3 approaching about 2 miles toward Castle Mts. from them. 9:59 - 8 seen, 6 in one lunch at 400' about ½ mile NE of calf car- casa, & 2 more about 1 mile N. of them. 10:05, 6 at about 800' over the flat in a group (all adults) & one seemin. about 200' below them. The group then scattered, most straying out to S., 4 at 10:10 I saw 5 about 1 mile N. of Amette - Cholame road & 1 about 3 miles N. of them. At 10:18 I saw 4 going out of sight southward over highest hill at S.E. end of the Cholame Flats (as yesterday). At 10:22 saw another apparently following same route. Light S. breeze. Saw no more carcass over Cholame Flat so left at 10:30, descended to San Joaquin Valley via Cottawood Pass, & drove cross country S. to Keele's Corn- er. At 12:05 I saw 5 carcasses circling above the hills about 3 miles SW of the Corner. Drove that way & saw one min. descending near where I saw 5 at a dog

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Gymnogyps californianus June 26, 1946 Nr. Keck's Corner, Calif. concern yesterday, At 12:30 we stopped about 1/2 mile NE of where saw the dog yesterday, 4 condors flapped out of head of a draw about 1/2 mile E. of the dog. One min. alighted on hillside, then took off & joined the oth- ers at about 1 minute later. They circled & rose over NE facing slope, breeze being from NE, 4 headed, singly about 2 miles S., then E. At 12:42, 2 adults flapped out of same draw at foot, about 1/4 mile S. of the car, & also circled & rose. There were 800+ above the hills & rising at 12:54 - and then 3 more (1 min.) 2 adults) took off from foot of the same feeding draw & began to circle & rise. I do not think our presence was the cause of any of these birds leaving. So, 10 total have left the draw. There 3 circled & rose, work- ing to NW, 4 at one time a fourth was near them. They rose to 1500+ above a flock of 500 sheep about 3 miles SE of Annette Lookout in the foothills, & I lost them there at 1:09. Then visited the canyon from which the condors flew. Then I found a thoroughly cleaned sheep carcass. It lay about 300 yds. up the shallow draw from its mouth & a little used dirt road, on a 10+ % S. slope, 30+ vertically +100+ yds. on the slope from ridge crest. The hills there were virt- ually bare, the grass being close cropped by sheep, apparently the sheep had been dragged 50+ yds. downhill. Flushed 4 turkey vultures from it. The

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Gymnogyps californianus June 26, 1946 Mr. Keck's Corner, Calif. Carcass had sheds of meat attached, mainly dry, so that main cleaning appeared to have been yesterday. Hide was fresh as if skinned today. Hair tight & no swell so carcass apparently fresh when eaten. All legs had skin inside out down to wrists or ankles, & all bones still attached, the hind ones to pelvis. forelegs included scapulae. Ribs, spine, & all but 1 or 2 distal tail vertebrae were intact. Lower mandible was about 8' from rest of carcass. No internal organs present. There was a large hole near shoulder & another in abdomen. Skull was in head skin, attached only on crown, skinned clean past the eyes. Lips & nearly nose skin gone but apparently all wooly hide remained. The neck, still in hide, was bloody tho thoroughly cleaned & apparently consumed most recently. Apparently sheep was an adult in good appearing condition. One ear gone flush with head, others intact. & This was about 3 miles S W of Keck's Creek, about 1/2 mile N of dog carcass of yesterday. Found a few bits of woodpeck, 1 down feather, & 1 other small raven feather on the dragged slope. The birds which left did not appear stuffed. Saw no more carrion in vicinity so returned to Shadow via Blai io Pass. Dan McMillan told me that around the Carrizo Ranch, they were familiar with condors. He showed me 2 letters from J. Brinnell to W.B.Donnely (Paso Robles).

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Gymnogyps californianus June 26, 1946 Shandon, Calif. In a letter, June 23(±), 1921, Grinnell asks Darnelly for corner information, having seen some letter from him men- tioning corvors at Smithsonian Institute. In the other, Grin- nell thanks Darnelly for writing him (at M.V.Z.) a full letter about the subject. Darnelly had a ranch near Buck- horn Ranch at that time. Perhaps M.V.Z. still has the Darnelly Letter. I am also had some recorded information he had pried from Fred Truesdale regarding the McChesney nests. corvornests. Info on 5 eggs was as follows: #1 - taken in 1907-8 or -9, by Claude & Dean Brown, in broken rods around to W. of Dawson nest; it went to Thayer & is now at MCZ, Harvard Univ. #2 was taken by Claude Brown. It went to Price, then Tuft (at Wolfville, Nova Scotia). #3 was taken in 1913 by Dean Brown & Fred Trues- (dale); it went to More of Vernon, Texas. #4 was infertile, taken in 1917 by Fred Truesdale. It went to Bowler & is supposedly at Tacoma High School. #5 was taken by Fred & Smith Truesdale, & went to Stuart of Phila- delphia.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 27, 1946 Paso Robles, Cali. With Dan McMillan I went to visit Fred Trueblood. Of the McChesney pair, Fred said that 5 separate holes were used as nests that he knew of. None ever laid a second egg when first taken, & less George Harris, now dead, who had taken 13 eggs (Fred said), never knew of a second being laid. Besides Harris, Shields took an egg in Matsey Co., at about 3000' elevation; Trueblood thought. Taylor got one in the San Carpajo area; Trueblood recalled with some difficulty. A man named Mathews was a partner of George Harris in the collecting. Trueblood said 5 condors was the most he had ever seen at once. Wilcox collected several in the Beartrap area. Trueblood also heard of condors in the head of Stone Canyon & searched that area, but found none; he thought Wilcox col- lected some there. Trueblood believed the condors would They nested three next the next year if egg was taken. About twice times in 7 years, to believe in his experience. The adults sometimes perched very close to the nest when an egg was being taken, T. said. A condor egg is described in the S.F. Herald of May 6, 1859, & this article was cited by John Thayer in one letter to Trueblood. T. showed me some old letters. One from Thayer dated December 3, 1909, said Thayer already had 7 eggs. One of December 13, 1909, said that Thayer had taken

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Gymnogyps californianus June 27, 1916 Paso Robles, Calif. ined the two eggs sent by Truesdale & had decided they were "not the eggs of this species" [embar] & he refused to buy them. The eggs were larger, had smoother texture than the 7 possessed by Thayer; they were creamy white instead of pale gray-green. In order to prove the eggs authentic, Thayer wanted Truesdale to shoot the adults & send them to him. True- dale didn't want to kill them; the only alternative was for some expert to visit the nest with Fred. Fred wanted a man named Bowles, but he was sick or something & Dawson came instead. Another letter from Thayer (June Sept. 21, 1910) said Thayer believed the eggs authentic & that he paid $300 for one of them. The other egg went to Price of Illinois & was later purchased by Tuft of Nova Scotia. Thayers wrote from Thayer Museum, Lancaster, Mass. All eggs from the McChesney area were cream color, Fred said — this indicates same pair of birds nesting. The egg which Bowles got is in some museum in Tacoma — possibly the high school, Fred said. Truesdale was spry & uncooperative but apparently of failing memory. Jan said Fred couldn't remember where he got me egg. On one occasion two adults were seen with an immature at Beartrap Canyon, Fred said, around 1923. Once he had a permit to collect some birds for the Calif. Acad. of Sci., but couldn't find any nesting.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 28 1946 Paso Robles C.A.F. As to egg dates. #1 was taken March 1 [1907?] by Brown. Second #1 on March 6. An infertile one on April 19 (the birds were still on this one). Another on April 21. (probably One may 12 & "dead fresh" - Brown & Truesdale had given up for that year & took a last trip & got it; this was the Price-Tufts egg. Two hatched in the Doweran hole. One was found in a narrow slot & was broken when adult kicked it out. One was stolen - Fred went to town to get transportation & the egg was gone on his return. Fred visited Beartrap with his wife in 1918 & saw no condors. In 1929 he went again - no birds. One of Thayer's eggs was from about 20 miles from Mc Cheesey area - from Lopez Canyon area, said Fred. Truesdale said the condors used to prefer Navajo Canyon to the San Juan. He also saw them over La Panga, Paso Robles, & W. of Paso Robles in Tanne Creek area. The Truesdale twins shot one at "Shadows flats" once. It was about May 25, 1946, when Evan Brown told Fred he had seen 6 condors in the Chalons Flat area. At Shandon, Don McMillen showed me a letter to him from M.C.Z., Cambridge, Mass., in answer to his inquiry regarding condor eggs there. It said in part: "We have one egg which came to the Museum from the collection of the late

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Gymnogyps californianus June 27, 1946 Shandon, Calif. John E. Thayer, and which was collected from Eastern San Luis Obispo County, California. This egg was collected on May 12, 1909, ----- Wm. D. F. Harris, Curator of Oology. "Evidently Truesdale gave me some wrong dope - Price & Tuft must have gotten the 1907 egg, at Paso Robles I met Silas Denton who is in charge of Avenal Ranch. He had heard of no carders being seen there recently but invited me to come & wait the ranch. June 28, 1946 N. Cholame, Calif. Drove from Shandon to Cholame Flats, thence to top of a 1739 ft. hill about 8 miles S. of Castle Mtn., & was set to watch by 9 a.m. Air clear & slightly cool - perhaps 70° - & fog lingering in valley in Paso Robles area earlier today. Light S. breeze. I could view Castle Mtn. & Table Mtn. & Turkey Flat areas from this hill, & the water hole & cattle & calf carcass on Cholame Flats. This hill seemed to be on the flight line of carders from Castle Mtn. to Cholame Flat on the 2 days I watched previously. I am told me he used to work at Stone Canyon mine & helped build the road there. It was rough country but not suitable for carder roosting. There was a lizzard roost there, however. He also repeated the story of 14 carders hanging around Twisselman Ranch one summer 3 or 4 years ago

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Gymnogyps californianus June 28, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. and roosting on Garcia Rocks (local name). There were some pictures taken of these birds, he believed, by people at Twisselman Ranch. On Cholame Flat I found the 7 rabbits I had laid out on June 26 consumed, & turkey vulture feathers on the ground near them (no corder sign). At 9:31 I saw the first corder - adult with gap in outer secondaries of both sides - coming from direction of the SE end of Table Mtn.; it circled over me, then headed toward the cattle wallow. At 9:37 I saw a second heading my way from direction of Castle Mtn. (about 2 miles distant). 9:45, one adult was circling 300t' over the cattle wallow. Calm & warm. At 9:59 I saw one apparently over the usual hill at SE side of Cholame Flat or if taking the route to Sholo Hills area. Saw no more by 11:15, so descended to Cholame Flat & inspected the old calf carcass. It was dry hides & bare bones now, many bones being scattered as if by coyotes, & I found no corder sign. Also, at this carcass was exceedingly rough - saw-tacked adobe dried hard. The corder mostly being around on the windward side of this carcass. I looked at 3 old carcasses but saw no corder sign. Then drove via Polonia Pass to Antelope Valley & Raven Pass. Saw no corders until 1:35 when at Raven Pass, then saw one circling about 2 miles

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Gymnogypes californianus June 28 1946 Shale Hills, Calif. toward the Annette Lookout, 43 Strung in a vertical column for 1000', about 2 miles S. of the Pass. I drove on about a mile, then at 1:43 saw 7 leave the ground, 1 at a time, from a small draw in 10% SE slope about 2 miles S.+½ mile E. of the Pass. I was at a farmhouse about 1 mile from the canons then, 4 there were 6+ vultures circling the canyon area. These birds rose quickly in a scattered group, then headed N. One descended low in a fast glide into an E. canyon, about 1 mile S. of the Pass, then some began to fly out of that canyon, 1 at a time, 4 land on a broken ridge near canyon mouth, until 5 were on the ground then within a 30' circle. After 3+ minutes these took off, circled, 4 rose, 4 I counted 10 in air with 2 or 3 vultures. These crossed over the 174 ft. knoll there, then circled & rose again, 4 I saw 8 there about 2 p.m. at 2:05 all visible had headed NW, some 1000' or more above the knoll. This is rolling closely-cropped-grass country, very dry. Breeze fair from tt. E. Met a sheep- herder who camps about ½ mile W. of where I saw 10 condors at a sheep carcass. He said he knew condors & sometimes saw them, but had seen none this year. He had heard of some feeding on a dog a few weeks ago. Met the rancher who

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Gymnogyps californianus June 28, 1946 Shale Hills, Ca. it. Lives about 2 miles S. of Roven Pass. He was the fast-talking know-it-all type. He said he had been here 11 years & had seen condors the last 3 or 4 years in the fall—at first 4 birds, then more, last year 16, & now so far this year (10 within ½ mile of his house shortly be- fore.). I visited the area where I saw 7 mice but found no carcass. The rancher said they had poisoned here for squirrels a few days ago. He said the condors fed on both calves & sheep bone, & that he knew definitely of two instances in which they killed calves. He said he shot near them to scare them off whenever he saw them; that they would not attack his calf unless it was down. I could find no carcass where second group took off either—there were squirrel holes there, however, & an old sheep carcass turned inside out in cougar-like fashion. Lots of evidence of cattle & sheep here but practically none visible. I later found that the man I talked to was Jack Harlan & that he recently sold many of his cattle. Two Shandon girls, one a niece of Dan McMillan, said they drove into Shale Hills the day we saw condors at a dog carcass there, about an hour after we left & saw several condors at the carcass, & that these flew at some distance except for 1

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Gymnogyps californianus June 28/1946 Shandon, Calif. which stayed until the car was fairly close. This report I believe reliable as to identification - they probably did not see that it definitely was the dog car- cass though. Jan told me that Everett Hatch of Shandon had told him of seeing condors in Arrayo Pinoso on several occasions in deer season. Hatch has packed into that country; he also said he saw fewer last year than usual there. Hatch believes the birds have a 20+ ft. wingspread but knows the white under the wing. Jan believes this report reliable as to condors seen there. June 29/1946 Shandon, Calif. Visited the wife of Douglas, F&G Trooper, she told me he had been trapping on Arsenal & Smith Roads (in Castle Mtn. vicinity) lately. She had not heard him mention seeing condors, tho. I drove to Chalone Flat. At 9:50 I saw 2 over the hills at SE end of the flat apparently following the usual route down the Temblor Range toward Shole Hills (gone out of sight 10 a.m.). I then saw 2 condors & 3 Turkey vultures circling over came Newfords in the low hills of Redrock Canyon about 1 ½ miles NE of Chalone Rocks. I saw 7 condors descend there, singly, by 10:21 (descended out of my sight). I drove cross country, then, trying

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Gymnogyps californianus June 29, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. this caw. I drove to a ridge about 1/4 mile W. of Carrs at 4:00 from there saw 10 milling in a close bunch about 1000' over Cholame Flat, + [illegible] N. about 1000' over Carrs. About 11 a.m. I saw at least 7 of these leading S., in a struggling bunch. I drove to near Cholame Rocks to watch the general area. Breeze was fair from the E. Apparently today was first that condors had fed on this carcass. The bunch, being disturbed early in the day, apparently headed for the Shale Wells area. At least 11 (counted several times), + the 2 seen at 9:50 probably not with them. This carcass was about 1/2 mile E. of Hancock Ranch road. I saw no more sign of condors - or buzzards or ravens - near the (around 2 p.m.) crow by 11:45 so drove to Table Mtn. tops via Cholame Ranch. From this mountain, we can look directly down on Cholame Ranch & the flats, + one congruence Shale Wells in a direct line - to go there from here, it would be shortest for condors to pose NE of Orchard Rk. There was a fair E. wind, visibility fair. I stationed myself at head of Animal Canyon where I could see Castle Mtn., Animal Canyon, + Table Mtns., + look toward Cholame + Orchard Rks. areas. I saw no condors until 4:45, then saw 2 approaching from S.W. below my level. They flew glided to N. along the foothills NE of Turkey

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Gymnogyps californianus June 29, 1946 Nr. Castle Mtn., Calit. Flat (wind fair from NE). At 5 p.m. I saw one over the ridge on N. side of Arroyo Canyon - it circled & worked up the ridge & at 5:10 disappeared behind (to N. of) the lower peak of Castle Mtn.. Then at 5:15 I saw one just above & beyond this peak, & again about 1 not minute later. That area is the head of Arroyo Pinos & is doubtless the roost for this area. These birds then roost in Fresno Co., & fly through Mercey & San Luis Obispo Counties (Kings too sometimes) in going to Shale Wells in Kern Co.! Saw no more by 5:45. Drove to a point about 1½ mile S. of top of Castle Mtn.. Fair E. wind continued. June 30, 1946 Nr. Castle Mtn., Calit. At 5 a.m. I started up the trail to Castle Mtn., & was atop the mountain by 5:45; the trail climbing good. Day clear & cool. I followed trail eastward then along the crest & at 6 a.m. got a look at the bluffs at head of Arroyo Pinos. These bluffs faced northward toward the foothills & plains of W. San Joaquin Valley. The ridge was topped by steep cliffs & rocky slope for about 500', then several steps assume nor to northward. The cliffs consist of sandstone, much sloff & broken, with slopes and intermittent, but offering good sandy perch points & possible nesting caves. Fair NE, then E. wind by 6 a.m. at 6:42 I saw 3 condors perched in a green

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Gymnogyps californianus June 30, 1946 Nr. Castle Mtn., G.I.F. digger pine (many dead branches) about 500' below level of ridge top + 3/8 mile N. of ridge about 2 miles to E. of Castle mtn. (summit). At 7 a.m. I was on a sandstone point at cliff top above two bluffs, & I saw 2 others in separate digger pines. There are hundreds of these trees scattered in arrayo [illegible], interspersed with the chaparral or juniper, but they do not appear nearly as good as deal pine or big cone pines as roosts. Of the 3 in one tree, two were in the green leaves on top & one on a two-liffters branch 15' below on the 60' high tree. The bluffs line extend for about 2 miles, E.+W., & are somewhat similar to those on S. side of Big Pine Mtn. (the smaller & more broken). On the point where I sat were several condor-like whitewash splatches & one small condor feather. There were 3 duch howlers "playing" in my vicinity. At 7:30 one near-adult child & 1/2 was rapidly about 200 yds. N. of the bluffs. It paid no attention to me but sped E., 300' above the bluffs. One of the roosters was gone (alone in tree), but apparently 4 in tree which had 3, 4? adult across the canyon about 300 yds. from them. These roost trees were not highest on ridge but allowed takeoff down the slope or canyon. Some bare branches seemed whitened as if from perching. At 7:35, 3 of the 4 in one tree took off (at a time), & slid descent

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Gymnogyps californianus June 30, 1946 Nr. Castle Mtn., Calif. ward, skirting the slope, out of my sight in next ravine. I then saw another perched, across the canyon about 300 yds. from main roost tree, in a green diggin pine - so 4 left departed + 3 perched = 7 accounted for. But 2 where lost perched as described. By 7:45, 2 more gone, early-left perched. Fair wind continued from NE. 7:50, I saw 8 about 1 mile to E. of me, circling & rising, extended up to 1000±' in a loose group. They headed, struggling, to SE, 4 were seen below horizon at SE end of Table Mts. about 7:58. Then two perched in same tree as before, & an adult joined them from a nearby tree - so 8 in air, 3 perched, at 8 a.m. (11 total!). There are 300± oil derivatives near a small town about 15 miles N. of this spot, & Kettman Wells seems an easy loop to lost. At least 2 of the 3 perched were adults. Two were off, singly, by 8:04, leaving 1 adult. The second to leave glided about 1 mile N., circled now 500±', then glided fast about 2 miles to E. where it joined an other, & both commenced circling as if to rise above the bluffs near them (8:09). The last perched adult shifted to another tree 100± yds. towards the bluffs, & then another 100± yds. further on. In this tree was a possible ander, previously diagnosed as a piece of wood (a 1945 mm.?). The adult held wings half spread, facing sun, for 15 minute. 8:17, I saw one circling at SE end of Table Mts. - the route

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Gymnogyps californianus June 30, 1946 Nr. Castle Mtn., G.I.T. out seems well established - across the hump about 3 miles E. of Castle Mtn., head for S.E. end of Table Mtn., circle & rise, then off to search for food. 8:20 two adults, both adults, condor, towered, pushed 15+ apart, 10+ from top of a 50+ diggin pine as before; about 400' below me 4 1/4 mile to N. 8:35 one adult had shifted perch 5+; both on leafless limbs it appeared. Apparently the air routes run just E. of Castle Mtn. - several planes have passed already today. One 4-mater, United Air Lines, passed 3000' overhead, it's shadow coming within 100' of the perched adults, but apparently not disturb- ing them. At 9:04 the adults left, one about 1 min- ute after the other. The second skimmed the ridges, heading east along foot of bluffs, & circled 2+ times to cross our ridge. I then hiked eastward along cliff edge until 10:30 - by then I had seen 2 golden eagles, 4 Civita Hawks prairie falcons, & several turkey vultures, but no sign of condor save an occasional whitewashed rock point. Apparently when I saw the birds is the main roosting place - it does not have the appearance of having been used for years. Deer troels numerous in this area. Many cattle grazing in the Table Mtns. area. Apparently no soda water supply in Arroyo Pinos. From top of the ridge, Avenal to E. & Coolidge to N. are plainly visible. I hiked back to car, arriving 12:30, & seeing no more condors on the way. I drove to Cholame Flats & visited

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Gymnogyps californianus June 39, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. the cow carcass there (where 11 condors yesterday). It was now greatly swollen, the intestine burst, & hundreds of flies were on it, but there was no evidence of eating by condors, ravens, buzzards, or mammals, & no buzzards or ravens in vicinity! July 1, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. With Fisk & same trapper Wm. Douglas, drove around his trap line on George Smith ranch which lies north of Cattwood Pass area to Table Mtn.. We saw no condors, but this area is rolling & steep grassland mainly with many cattle, & should be near condor lines of flight. I saw 6 old carcasses of coyotes & bobcats but none touched by condors apparently. About 5 p.m. visited the cow-carcass mentioned above, & 6 ravens were perched near it, but apparently not eaten by condors yet. The Douglasses told me that Duane Hall of Paso Robles, who is connected with state forestry in some way, told them a man named Lazaro Villa (of Santa Margarita) told him of condors at Mt. Cheney rite.. Douglas also told me that between November 10-15, 1945, he saw 22 condors at Salisbury Patress . This, coupled with Mansfield's report, indicates many condors there in fall. Douglas first trapped in the Shandon area even years ago.

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Gymnogyps californianus July 2, 1946 Stone Canyon, Calif. With Fish & Bone trapper William Douglas, drove via Parkefield road to Head Stone Canyon, up to NE of San Miguel. At 9:30 a.m., about 3 miles N. of the Chalone - Palomar Pass road, on the Parkefield road, we saw two adult condors circling 200' above the road. They wandered off toward Chalone Rocks (near the saw carcass) by 9:37. Break joint, sky clear, air warm. We drove to head of Stone Canyon & were in the canyon from about 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., & we saw up to 8 turkey multers at once, & 3 golden eagles at once, but no condors nor cattle. This canyon has a few spectacular rock outcroppings, but not apparently suitable for condor roosts. Mainly the slopes are covered with chaparral, digger pine, blue oak, & open volunteer oat slopes - possibly a condor feeding area at times in the past, & the birds may then have perched on the rocks at head of canyon. Smith Mt. Lookout - west of Coalwigs - is just N. of head of Stone Canyon, & condors might easily get that far north if in the Stone Canyon area. The old coal mine & railroad to it have been long abandoned. This morning I saw a Swainson Hawk dive at an adult condor over Chalone Flat - it pulled out 15' from the condor, then circled above it. The condor took no noticeable evasive action. Reference: Notes

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Gymnogyps californianus July 2, 1946 Shandon, Calif. Magazine, Jan. 1944, Vol. 37, No. 1, p. 13+48, "In Quest of the Condor," by Allan D. Cruickshank. July 3, 1946 Nr. Bryson, Calif. Walter R. I drove from Shandon to the ranch of George N. Harris near Bryson near the Monterey - San Luis Obispo county line. Nisunder, George & John, had coll- ected "10 or 12" condor eggs around 1900, said Walter. George died about 1928 & John somewhat later. Most of those came from Burros Gorge on Burros Creek near the junction with Little Burros Creek, on the S. side of the canyon. Walter thought there were 2 or 3 nests on the S. side of canyon & possibly 1 on the N. side. This area is now on Hunter Liggett military reservation. George watched this area from a hill- side from early morning, & sometimes the old adult would not come until evening. One would go in & the other out, then. (This info jibes with nest activity I observed). Walter Harris was born in 1880. Condors were more common than turkey vultures when he was a boy, he said, in the 90's. The last he saw was about "1920 or '22", in the San Carpo- foro Creek area about 2 miles E. & 1/2 mile N. of Mt. Mars. This bird was seen in summer & acted like a flightless sunvulture. It had down on head & front of wings. It flopped along & perched in some pines & allowed close approach. Harris thought it must

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Gymnogyps californianus July 3, 1946 Nr.Bryson, Calif. Have come from some rocks there near Dutra Place. (Walt sia description was too accurate for imagination.) They used to mine quicksilver in that area. Another nest was at Pebblestone Sheet-In where there are high conglom- erate cliffs. This spot is on S. side of the Nocimientos River about 3/4 miles upstream from Asberry Creek, on the N. side of the bluff. Another spot, where DaTracy got an egg, was on Little Burnett Creek about 1 mile N. & 1/2 mile E. of Burnett Pk. The nest there was a cre- vice about 15' deep which we could walk into. Walt- er's uncles discovered it when hunting; they found & a brood of eggs. Walter had been in this cave. Yet another spot was at The Sheet- In on Nocimientos River at its junction with El Riojo Creek (1/2 mile below Welles Creek). I visited this cliff with Harris & photaged it. The 400' steep conglom- erate bluffs rises at edge of the Nocimientos on the NW side, of the cave Walter thought was it was about 150' up from canyon bottom on the SE face, a roundish hole about 6' high. The rocks here is the same as at Beartrap Canyon on McCheevey Mtn.; & the same as at Pebblestone Sheet-In, said Walter. The Berros Gorge is rougher rocks - like lava in places, Walter said. The Berros is the roughest country Walter knows of. George Harris saw cavorts in the "Burn- ett country" several times but found no

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Gymnogyps californianos July 3, 1944 Nri Bryson, Calif next, Walter said. Once George took a young from the nest & kept it for about 2 weeks before shipping it - to New York (& the eggs too). Walter thought. Walter said his father once caught a condor in a steel trap. Once Walter saw 2 in the snowy winter near York Mtn., he said. Often the Harris brothers were too late in getting finding the eggs - "2 or 3 catched", Walter said. Walter used to hike & explore with Bart De Tracey when a boy. Vulture Rock, near Rocky Beetle, was named for condors & they used to perch there, Walter said. Condors were seldom shot it was & he knew they did not kill a do harm, said Walter. He thinks they were "starved out" of this area. There used to be many cattle & carcasses on the San Miguelito & El Piojo ranches, said Walter. Frank McCormack (sp.?), still living in SE part of King City (near Linns (sp.?) Food Center), shot 2 or 3 - perhaps more - for the Smithsonian Institute, Walter said, mainly from pine trees in the aforementioned ranch areas. Frank had told Walter he had seen "hundreds" of condors, Walter said. Frank is about 87 & shot the condors when about 20, Walter believed. The same year that George Harris had the chick, a foreman at San Miguelito Ranch (Crowd Norn?), "lassed" an adult & kept it for several days before freeing it, Walter said. The

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Gymnogyps californianus July 3,1946 Mr.Bryson, Calif. Last Harris' egg was taken about 1900 or before, Walter thought. One was shot from cliff at The Shut - Dan, Walter said. Walter said that a rider on the Santa Margarita Ranch told him that 2 or 3 years ago he saw 6 or 7 on that ranch, & described the white underwings to Harris. Walter is fairly spry & bright for his age, but seems seems poor & has a remodelable house. He seemed very honest & careful in his facts, however, & evidently knows condors well & took an interest in wild life. Harris said he knew of no high waterfalls in this region & had never seen condors drinking but had seen them feeding on cattle. July 7,1946 Mr.Bryson, Calif. Drove to the home of Bert De Tracy about 3 miles W. of Tierra Redonda Mtn. Bert remembered me from letters & my previous visit. He was now not able to get around well because of illness. He said that condors used to meet at Bellilstone Shut - dn on the NW side of the river facing S., & that Tom Harris found a young condor there about 1883. Another supposed nest was at Tierra Redonda Mtn.. The little Burn [illegible] next where Bert got an egg about 1900 was about 200 yds. from the creek & about 16' above the ground, but said, facing S.E. Condor nests in

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Gymnogyps californianus July 4, 1946 Mr. Bryson, G.L.T. General faced S., he said, in this region. An immature was said to have been seen near the N. fork of the San Carpoforo in the last few years, Bert said. One imm. was reportedly seen in McLaughlin Canyon in Towase Creek area in August last (?) year, he said. An eastern collector named Bull (sp.? ) had once asked Bert to go with him into the San Carpoforo to look for a nest - he said he would call the egg "Peruvian corder" if found. Bert says he refused to go. Bert is now 67. When about 14, he said he saw "50 or 60" on occasions in head of Rico Canyon near Rocky Butte. The partner of George Harris in collecting was Wallace Mathews, Bert said. They found an imm. in nest near Rocky Butte & decided to leave it until further grown, then take & sell it. Wallace took the bird later & sold it, & thus made George very mad. Bert believes most of George's eggs went to Harry Taylor at $100 a piece. The Burnett Creek nest was not found by George Harris because he searched in the high of large "red rocks", while nest was found low down in small rocks by De Trocy. Bert says the last corders he saw was 3 or 4 years ago when two came from direction of Tierra Redonda about dusk. (Bert told me this story in 1946, I believe). Bert believes the condor left this area because of lack of food. "Old man Lynch" once told him that he had Yes-CK

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Gymnogyps californianus July 9, 1946 Nr. Bryson, Calif. a rock point 1/4-1/3 mile upstream from the Pebble- stone Shut-In as "Vulture Rock" and said that was where the condors used to roost. From the road above DeTroyer's house we could see Baldy Bennett Pk. (almost in line to W. The old nest was on E. side of Bennett Pk. Walter Harris examined it once & told Bert a rock had fallen across the entrance; Bert said this rock was there when he got the egg. July 5, 1946 At Poza guard station, I talked with fire control assistant Olsen & others who did trail & fire work in this area. One was sure he had seen a condor though they had heard of them. Later they phoned me at Branch Mt., & told me that a man named Dunlap who worked there said he knew of two nests in the Fernanley area (N. of Black Mtn.). He also said they had been seen near Shanker a couple of times this year. At Branch Mtn. I talked with lookout Woodring. He had seen up to 9 turkey vultures perched on nearby rocks, but no condors - & had not heard of condors ever. One gets a direct view of Black Mtn. & Caliente Pk. from this lookout, but none of Mc Cheaney Mtn. - Boatrap Canyon area because of intervening hills. Day clear, about 70; fog toward coast in morning. I hiked down

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Gymnogyps californianus July 5, 1946 Branch Mtn., Calif. to Luelling's place about 1/2 mile to E. of Lookout; Luelling was not home, so I left him a note requesting condor information. Chased Mrs. Frank at Block Mtn. Lookout - she said only buzzards had been seen there; she had a hazy idea of what condors looked like. About 4 p.m. I left Branch Mtn., & returned to Averaless Ranch. There I talked to fore- man Took. He said he saw 3 about March on E. side of Mt. Cheaney Mtn.; that they seemed to be seen only on the Buckhorn side of Pine Mtn. - around Bear- trap & Marting Canyon; that the most ever seen was 7 (several years ago). Took seems very re- liable & honest. One rider who often went up on the ridge said that occasionally he saw 2 or 3, some times maybe 4 or 5 (I'm not sure he knew the birds). The Cooks' husband said he used to live near Fig- nerosa Mtn. & sometimes 2 were seen around there. The dirt-outs were not at this ranch, so I left for La Benza to camp. July 6, 1946 Beartrap Canyon, Calif. Drove up San Juan River from La Benza Ranch, thence up Beartrap Canyon, then hiked from 8:10 to 9:10, & took a position on hillside N. of the Dan- can condor nest about 1 mile. At 9:07 I saw one condor about 1/2 mile N. of Beartrap Pockes soaring N. toward La Benza - I did not see where

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Gymnogyps californianus July 6, 1946 Beartrap Canyon, G.L.T., light it came from. Day clear & warm, breeze from E. about 9 a.m. Claude Braun & "Kelly" Trumbdale used to watch with a large telescope (40+ power, said Fred T., + tripod) from this area for days, one going out & getting grub while other watched. Wind light to fair from W. Later, & I continued watching & took some photos of the Dawson nest locale. At 4:11 p.m., fair W. wind still, two adults appeared over Beartrap Can- you as if coming from E. Each flapped a few times, & one chased the other for one turn. They separated & wandered about, passing 600' above me at 4:25. Saw 8 buzzards about this time - most small all day. At 4:37 the two circled with last below 8 buzzards over the bluffy - knoll about 1 mile E. of the Dawson nest site. They headed W. about 1/2 mile apart, the buzzards more a less following, & at 4:38 one landed atop a stubby sky line about 1/2 mile SE of the "jiff" & the other passed 1/4+ mile SE of this one as if headed into Hay Canyon. 4:42, the first shifted about 100' type. NW to a green pine (yellow?). These birds seem, then, to be only roosting in this area & not nesting. 4:47, an adult from ? circled 1000' above me, then E. & S. over the bluffy - knoll. 4:57, this bird joined 2 other adults (3 total) 4:13+ buzzards 800' above me, & they milled together, the carbon lowest in the group. They

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Gymnogyps californianus July 6, 1946 Beartrap Canyon, Calif. rose 500'; then at 3 p.m. headed S. toward where first perched, the buzzards following in a group 1/4 mile behind. after 1/2 mile, the 3 condors again circled, & the buzzards checked too & circled just above them. This is best instance buzzards I have seen of buzzards staying with condors in flight. 5:10, the 3 were about 500' above the "fief" bluff, 10 buzzards circling near them, but all more scattered than before. The group was about 3/4 mile W. of the "fief" at 5:15, Fair W. breeze still. At 5:17 I saw 2 condors slight 1/4 mile apart on the sky line in green pines about 3/4 mile W. of Dawson's nest. So, at least 3 adults, possibly 5, roosting in pines stop Me Cheaney Mtn. on NE side. The buzzards seemed to be descending near the last condors. By 5:40 I spotted no condors so hiked downstream to camp. July 7, 1946 Beartrap Canyon, Calif. Calm night & clean. Hiked up canyon & arrived at my watching point of yesterday at 7:10 a.m. Clear, calm, + 65°. I could not spot any roosting condors. At 8:10, air calm still, I saw first turkey vulture soaring near cliffs. By 8:20 I saw 5-1/2 vult. ures in air; a fair SW breeze sprang up. At 8:31 I saw 3 adults gliding over cliff tops about 1/2 mile S.S.E. of the "fief"; then a fourth joined them. Two flew glided fast, the wingtips being

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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

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Gymnogyps californianus July 7, 1946 Bear trap Canyon, Calif. Toward Dynelie Hill, 4 out of sight at 9:15 about 2 miles. NE of me. So - possibly 3 condors were present. Only from E. by 9:15. I returned to camp & later drove to Shandon. There Dan Mc Mullan told me that it was his impression that Hatch had seen condors in: Arrays Primos for several years - Dan will check on this. July 8, 1946 Nr. Cholomey, Calif. Clear still morning, fog in Paso Robles area. I drove from Shandon toward Cottenwood Pass & took the Horacek Ranch road. At about 7:30, I found a fresh calf carcass about 20' from the ranch road & 300± yds. N. of Cottenwood Pass highway. About 100' from this carcass I found a condor primary. The calf, a 90± lb. New- ford, had apparently died 2 or 3 days ago. The hide was limp, but there was a 12" circular hole at one shoulder & most of the foreleg was pulled inside out through this hole, the bones cleared, & the meat of necks, ribs, back, & in- ternal organs was gone. Much of lower legs still present, tongue gone (& eyes) but: nostrils & roof of mouth still present but rather dried. I dragged the carcass about 100 yds. from the road. It lay on flat shot-groes ground about 300 yds. from cattle wallow on Cholame

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Gymnogyps californianus July 8, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Calif. Flat. About 8 a.m. I visited the calf carcass where I previously flushed 11 condors. It was now de- flated, crawling with thousands of maggots, 4 had been torn open in several spots as if by coy- otes. I found a few bits of down but now out by from condors - apparently no extensive scat feeling then. In the mud about 100' from carcass I found no condor tracks. About ¼ mile from this carcass on a ridge I placed a large white angora rabbit, about 2 days dead, which I had found along the highway. About 9:15 a turkey vulture was on the old calf carcass. 9:30, fair 5. breeze, sky ⅓ cirro - stratus; about 75°F. I scanned for condors but spotted none until 9:50 - then I saw a calf about 20° E. of calf carcass. I drove to a hilltop about 1 mile NE of carcass. At 9:55 I saw a second carcass at road edge 100± yds. E. of calf, then 3 turkey vul- tures, 420+ yds. further E., across the dirt road, a third condor. The nearest Surford was 100± yds. W. of the carcass. Breeze fair from S.W. at 10:01, a luggard, then 3 condors, took off & began to circle & rise over the carcass - a car passed 300± yds. to S. of them about this time. The 3 were 2 adults & a ragged immature. At 10:04 another 2-adult & min. - circled 100+ over the 3, the 4 turkey vultures slightly higher.

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Gymnogyps californianus July 8, 1946 Nr. Cholame, Cali at 10:06 the 5 were 500' above me in a small group, circling & rising & drifting down-wind. At 10:08 they headed S. about 500' above the slopea, in an irregular planar box column. They circled together again about 1 mile S. of me over the W. slopes, & a sited (near-adult) passed SW about 300' above me - this was then circled independently of the 5. The 5 soared 500' over me again, then 1/2 mile E. where all 6 circled & rose, Sans multires, in a small group (10:19), now apparently again gaining altitude again. Apparently a first visit to remains of previous day's feeding is common with these birds. 10:22, they scattered for about 1 1/2 miles N.+S. near me, the N. over probably about over the white rabbit, still at 500' altitude. Then more scattered, 2 being about 2 miles S. of me, circling - a buteon butes-type hawk dove 100' at me from above, the raven twisting & diving away. - and furthest N. about 2 1/2 miles away over the main cattle wallow. 10:32, 3 circled about 1000' over the rabbit vicinity; & 2 were about 2 miles S. of me, circling & rising, as if going to hunt to S., but only at 500' other altitude (10:36). At 10:40 these 2 circling further S., about on varied route to Shaleville area. The 3 worked higher & to SE about 2 miles NE of Cholame Rocks, as if also off on a long journey. A turkey culture fed on the calf again. at

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Gymnogyps californianus July 8, 1946 Nr. Cholame, C.I.T. 11:20 I saw one about 3 miles S. of me, circling & Drifting E., at 11:30 lost it about over, Palomino Pass. Fair 5W wind continued. I revisited the raft carcass. Both ears were still present. Meat from distal 1/3 of mandible was eaten away. Neck hollow. There was a 4½" hole in belly & 3½" hole at anus, few flies, little smell - this calf might furnish a meal for 1 or 2 cattara in a pinch. Total remains weighed 25 lbs. I drove over Palomino Pass, South Antelope Valley, then S. below foothills to Corners Canyon - saw no cattara, only stock & few cattle bei- low Corners. July 9, 1946 Temblor Ranch, C.I.T. Drove from Corners Canyon to Temblor Ranch which is owned by Carl Twisselman, brother-in-law of Dan McMillen. Carl was not home, but talked with his wife & son (14½) Kenneth. They had some photos which show- ed cattara about 1 mile from the house on their road - there were 14 at that time they said; the photos show- ed about 7. One was photo was close enough for a positive identification of an adult. There 14 were - one was here about 3 months ago feeding on a calf which they had dragged out in the field from the dam (did previously). They had been here 5 years & had seen cattara every year, they said. Now they had only cattle but before they had the ranch there were sheep here. Mrs. T. said that many of

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Gymnogyps californianus July 9, 1946 Temblor Ranch, Calif. the Carrizo sheepmen had sold their sheep & turned to cattle instead during the war (Cuyama too?). This area was rolling short-grass foothills with many oil roads & devices near plains edge. I talked with Carl Twirielman & saw a short 8mm movie he had taken of 3 condors atop Garcia Rocks (about 2 miles N. of ranch house). He said that 3 or 4 years ago he saw 9 or 10 near the water trough in Carrizo Canyon & found a primary feather there. In 1941 the pictures at Garcia Rocks were taken. There are sand- stone projections atop a ridge. Men were working on a fence nearby & saw condors within 1/4 mile of (other land) the birds several times. This was at 2 ~ 3 p.m. in spring. A dead sheep was between the workers & the condors. Condors were seen several times that spring, especially 3, said Carl. In spring of 1942, Carl was driving up the road about a mile below ranch house when he saw what he thought was an eagle fly from a fence post. He shot at it with a .22 pistol several times before he realized the bird was a condor. Then the others flew off, a total of 14. They were found at a calf carcass 2 or 3 days old which had been dragged out in the field. About 3 months ago Carl drove by a calf carcass & saw 1 big condor feeding on it - he said this was the biggest condor he had ever seen. He sneaked up on this bird

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Gymnogyps californianus July 9,1946 Temblor Ranch, Calif. got fairly close but noted no range dead. The calf had not been eaten at all. The carcass was moved to a better photography location, but the condors did not come back. Another time he dragged a cow carcass out to try to bait condors, but no birds come. In the summer of 1945, 7 condors were in sight at one time circling over the hills near the House (about June), Carl used to work for various ranches in the Carrizo Plain & Shandon-Cholame areas. He said he saw one on San Juan Ranch once which seemed to be too full to fly, & it flopped from ridge to ridge, chased by cowboys on horseback. Another time they rode ups on 10 in a draw, also at San Juan Ranch (Del Sur La Panza Ranch). The one found dead now at Santa Barbara museum was seen partly under a water trough about 3 miles from the house (Ned) by Daryl T. (about 12 yrs. old). The specimen was not seen to be a condor & secured until about 2 weeks later. As to poison, Carl said all the foothills area for about 35 miles was poisoned for squirrels this year. No dead buzzards or eagles were found, however. For one are killed by Strychnis coypa lata, Carl said. Strychnis poisoned animals (rabbits, coyotes) seem to go for water, said Carl - maybe why condor found dead at water. Ernest Still, Carl's brother-in-law, found a dead in a water trough in

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Gymnogyps californianus July 9, 1946 Temblor Ranch, Calif. Antelope Valley one. On the "home" ranch (Betterwater area), strychnine thallium, & other squirrel poisons have been used for years without apparently affecting turkey vultures, Carl said. Carl doesn't believe coyotes or condors will eat an anthrax-killed animal. He put anthrax-killed cows out for coyote bait on several occasions but no birds or sept wolves fed on them (& no coyotes). In 1942 about 70 cattle died from anthrax in the Betterwater area in July & August, & many buzzards & condors were seen in the area then. Anthrax carcasses are burned to ashes as soon as found. Carl said he used to raise sheep & that there were about 7000 in this area (Temblor Range), & he believes condors were more common when sheep were here (had sheep 10-12 years after got ranch 5 years ago). Carl had a very low opinion of "spotters". They shoot his cattle & shoot hawks in his water tanks & enter his property in spite of posting. He believes the men around the oil fields are some of the worst offenders. He promised to record info for any further instances of condors in this locality. He is very interested in wildlife, especially quail. July 12, 1946 Springville, Calif. Talked with district ranger Struble of the U.S.F.S. He had taken over here June 1 & was different from most

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Gymnogyps californianus July 12, 1946 Springfield, Calif. rangers, apparently "lusted" from assistant supervisor. He said Blue Ridge Lookout was manned by the state (Chaptr. Vialia, ranger Bennington) this year. He had sent the photos & mimeo sheets I sent him to his own lookouts (Taliesin Jordan, & one other peak). Blue Mtn. is also state manned, he said. The card note I received with his name signed to it was not written by him - he was extremely skeptical that condors occurred this far north as he had once worked on the Las Padres, but he promised to send me any information he might receive. W.L. Richardson of Porterville said he had been here 30 years & had once seen 2 (?) condors on Tule Indian Reservation. His children, Bill & Helen, had camped & hiked much in the surrounding area (Bill sent me 1 note on carders). He said he had seen one pair several times around Wilson's Pk. (Mt. Wilson) in his youth. July 13, 1946 Fountain Springs, Calif. Drove from Porterville toward White River, and at 11 a.m. stopped about 1 mile SE of Fountain Springs to watch several buzzards in air. I saw one carder at 11 a.m., 1½ miles ESE of Fountain Springs. Then I saw about 50 turkey vultures in one group, & 4 condors among them (at 11:15) about ½ mile E. of SE (the road at my position). They scattered soon. Then one adult soared about 100

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Gymnogyps californianus July 13, 1946 Nr. Fountain Springs Calif. yds. from me at 100± ft. altitude and landed about 3/8 mile E. of the road on an oat-covered 26° slope. A golden eagle stood 30±' from this adult & apparently pecked near a squirrel hole (11:25). About 11:30 the eagle walked slowly up to the carder, raised its wings, & pecked out at the carder - the latter retreated about 6'; then all calm again. Earlier I saw that carder's neck & cheeks were puffed up, & that bill was open, as if hot. Day hot (95°), & breeze light, with clear sky. The hills here are rolling with occasional ashes & small granite out- croppings. The eagle left about 11:34; the adult about 11:35. It flopped-circled, then circled, wandered about 1/2 mile S W, then descended as if to alight. I drove 1/2 mile further down the road to house of C.C. Farm- worth, a cattle rancher. The carder was apparently on the slopes about 3/8 mile W. of this house. At 11:54 an immature (4± yr. old) flew off from that spot, & an adult about 11:57. Later I saw turkey vultures feeding there. The adult flew about 1/2 mile N., then spiraled to ground again. About 12:08 I saw 2 carders flap from that area, & 3 total in air. At about 12:15 I saw 2 about 1/2 mile SE of the house. At 12:35 I saw 1 about 2 miles E. of Fountain Springs with a group of 15± turkey vultures. I talked with C.C. Farmworth who lived there with his

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Gymnogyps californianus July 13, 1996 Mr. Fountain Springs, Calif. mother & who had just completed his first year at "J.C." He said he had heard about condors on Founder's Day at J.C. - that he knew one was killed near here last year & that they were almost extinct. He had been about 10 years in the Whit River - Fountain Springs area but had not seen a condor to know it. I pointed out one to three of them to him several times, but he showed no enthusiasm. He said they had just finished poisoning for squirrels here yesterday, & that he believed the poisoners were working on N. side of Calif. Hot Springs road & E. side of Whit River road. Glen Olen of Fountain Springs was locally in charge. County furnishes the poison but not the labor. I obtained permission to walk & drive about the ranch & drove to a hill about 1/2 mile E. of the ranch house (12:35). Breeze fair from N.W. I saw one dead swollen cottontail rabbit, as yet untouched. The vultures & condors seemed to be spread to SE about 1 mile or so, & over to Calif. Hot Springs road area. At 1:30 I saw 3 circling & rising fast about 2 miles east & 2 miles N. of Fountain Springs. I went then to a point about 1 mile further S. but saw only turkey vultures from there by 2:20. Then returned to first spot but saw none by 2:55 - 4 very few turkey vultures. I found 3 dead squirrels by some rocks;

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Gymnogyps californianus July 13, 1946 Fountain Springs, Calif. they were stumbing & about 2 days old, quite juicy, & 2 partially eaten. One was completely in open, one in burrow entrance but hidden by rocks, & one half in burrow (head eaten). I visited site where I saw the eagle & condor this morning & found pieces of fur, tail, & skull of a squirrel, & what was apparently stomach & esophagus (messed up, couldn't be seen). Laid a ripe cottatail & squirrel out in that vicinity for bait. Found the squirrel in burrow mouth, swollen but meaty. There was fresh poisoned grain outside the most squirrel burrows - this was whole oats, slightly slightly flattened, & yellow in color. At Fountain Springs fire suppression camp I talked with an Indian who remembered my former visit (about 1940). He said 2-3 years ago a couple of birds flew over which might have been condors. He thought they lived in the higher country. At Fountain Springs I talked with Glen Anderson, in charge of local poisoning. Most poisoning was being done now on both sides of the Hot Springs & White River roads, working from Fountain Springs. He had heard that one side on a ranch had seen a condor this year, but he had seen more than he had heard of them. He said Morisey (sp.) Ranch had just completed poisoning & that many buzzards were there (S. side of Hot Springs road, heard ranch from Fountain Springs). I

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Gymnogyps californianus July 13, 1946 Fountain Springs Calif. drove about 3 miles toward Not Spring + climbed a hell to watch. At 4:20 I saw-7 condors circling & rising about 3 mile N. of me (over S. end of Credaw Mtn.?). They rose to 1500+ altitude, then at least 5 glided E. about 2 miles, circled again, then E. another 1½ + mile, circled again, then -? These large. were many, conifers, many dead, on the W. slope in the Calif. Not Springs district - probably good roosts. The birds seemed roughly headed for Bilbar Pk. (4577 ft.) Saw no more condors by 5 p.m.; returned to Porterville. July 19, 1946 N. Fountain Springs Calif. Arrived about 1 mile E. of Fountain Springs at 8:50 + climbed a low hill. From there, at 8:53; I saw-6 condors with 20+ turkey vultures & 1 golden eagle circling about 1 mile SE of Fountain Springs (1/4+ mile E. of road). At least two I saw flap up from the ground. Breeze light, shy clear, 75±°F. The lunch circled, rose, & scattered. The bulk of the condors went about 2 miles SE, then N until about 1 mile E. of me, circling over a knoll, then N. again, at 9:15. I saw 3 of these about 2 miles N. + 1 E. of Fountain Springs, circling at 500+ above some soaring turkey vultures. Fair W. breeze by then. I saw two condors chase another briefly, then

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Gymnogyps californianus July 14, 1946 Nr. Fountain Springs Calif. They soared amiably together. Of the 6, at least 1 was immature & 2 adults. About 9:25 I saw one about 1 mile E. of me at 200' altitude; it soared N., & a Swanson (?) hawk dived at it once. The bird saw & descended 100'; then continued on for 1/2+ mile, then soared S. at 100' altitude & was attacked by 2 Swansons. This adult crossed highway 1/2+ mile E. of me, flap-gliding, then wandered about & headed for 1+ buzzards circling N. about 1 mile S. of me (9:35). 9:40, still wandering just down, in some vicinity the buzz- ards had gone. Then spiraled down fast; wings folded, legs extended, as if to land at 9:42 1/2. Then others appeared over that area - 3 by 9:44, circling in a group, & a sixth about 1/2 mile to W. of them. By 9:53 there were 8 in a 1/4+ mile group about 1 1/2 mile S. of me, some having come from N. of the (Hot Springs) road. I saw 2 flap from the ground below them, 4 we descending as if to alight, & 2 about 1/2 mile N. of the main group, counting a total of 12 at 9:58. Two adults soared N. about 300' over the road near me, & at 10:02 were circling with a third about 1/2 mile N. of road, apparently almost over a grain field. Another group of 5, with several turkey vultures, circled almost over Fgmsworth's house, & at 10:06 I saw at least one descend just over the ridge to W. of the house (1/4+ mile from house). 10:08, 6 soaring above that ridge. breeze intermittent but generally fair from W. The

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Gymnogyps californianus July 14, 1946 Nr.Fountain Springs, Calif. Group then strung out to E. 4 at 10:14. 6 circled about 1 mile E. of the Farnsworth house. 10:16, 4 were back over the ridge behind the F. house again. About 10:25 I saw one flop from behind ridge about 1/2 mile S. of Farnsworth's house, 4 at 10:26 saw 2 circling about 3/4 mile E. of that house. At 10:33 two adults came N. & circled 100t' over the Hot Springs road. One seemed S. & went down as if to land at 10:40 about 3/4 mile S. of me. Walter Rickard & wife arrived on the road below me then. At 10:48 two adults rose up from the area, circled, & rose. One head wandered off to W., & one headed S. again about 1/2 mile & was joined by a third (10:34). 11:01, I saw 1 leave the ground about 1 1/2 miles N. of road near me,& another in air near it. At 11:06 one of these passed S. over me (200t' altitude), crop bulging. 11:10, I saw one land in grass field about 1 mile N. of me & 50 yds. from a fence (landed to W.), & another soared near it. At 11:16 I saw 2 soaring about 2 miles NNE of Fountain Springs. About 11:40 I saw 1 soaring about 1 mile S. of me (adult), then no more by 12:00. Time out for lunch & talk with the Richardsons until 1:30 then back to my former watching hill & at 1:35 saw one circling about 1 1/2 miles S. of me. Fair wind from W. I then visited the cottatied carcass I had laid out yesterday - it was 3/4 consumed but no ev-

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Gymnogyps californianus July 19, 1946 Nr. Fountain Springs, Calif. clerce of corder presence. I incidentally found 3 squirrels dead outside of holes - 2 were untouched but fell apart easily so quite ripe; 1 was 1/3 eaten; stomach was opened but its contents untouched. At 2 p.m. I was atop a boulder about 2 1/2 miles E. of Fountain Springs. From there at 2:58 I saw 5 corders apparently about 1/2 mile W. of S. end of Credow Mtn. They circled above canyon, working eastward over the mountain top; I followed 1-3 about 2 miles further E. One went out of sight into Deer Creek drainage (3:14) and I followed another, rising & working E., until 3:20. Fair W. wind continued. At 3:37 I saw about 35 turkey vultures in a bunch over S. end of Credow Mtn. I kept up a constant search but saw no more corders there by 4 p.m. Drave then toward Calif. Hot Springs taking the old road on N. side of King Range Pk.. Got a good view of the big conifers around head of Gordon Creek, the suspected roosting area, but saw no corders by 5:30. Met an old timer who lived on this road. He said he had seen a corder after a rabbit on the Deer Creek road several years ago (very doubtful!). July 15, 1946 Nr. Gordon Creek, Calif. At 6 a.m. I was on the road opposite the head of Gordon Creek. At 7 a.m. started watching ridge between Gilbert Pk. & Hatchett Pk. Day clear & warm, light W. breeze by

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Gymnogyps californianus July 15, 1946 Nr. Gordon Creek, Calif. 7 a.m. At 7:50 I saw 2 turkey vultures soaring, & about 5 at 8:10. Bay 9:30, with constant searching, saw no condors, so descended to about 1 mile E. of Fountain Springs. Then I saw 1 about 1½ miles toward Credow Mtn. at 10:18 & 3 with about 50 turkey vultures about 1½ miles bore S. of me at 10:21. Breeze fair; warmer today than yesterday, & clearer. About 10:40 I again saw 1 about 2 miles toward Credow Mtn., & 1 about 2 miles S.E. of me, both soaring. Left then & drove to White River. Saw several turkey vultures on ground or perched in trees & on rocks on the way. Talked to Mrs. Walter Gregg - she said the condors were back again, that there were 4 birds, 2 small & 2 large ones, which sometimes perched on the rocks on the high hill (Bald Mtn.) behind the house, & that the big ones had white under their wings. Walter Gregg was not in; I left Mrs. D. a condor picture & my address & departed. Visited Maria Vincent then. He said they saw 1 condor May 7 and one June 12, 1946. One was when they were looking cattle at a corral near the ranch (Crops, about between 8 & 9 a.m.), it seemed to be soaring down the hills. The other was seen when they were poisoning squirrels. He said the first condors he ever saw — about 15 or 16 — was many years ago when they were poisoning squirrels here for the first time & the squirrels were thick. I returned to my watching point about 1 mile E. of Fountain Springs. At 2:11 I saw me admit slight atop a bare lone dead pine stub about

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Gymnogyps californianus July 15,1946 Nw Fountain Springs, Tolare Ca. 1/2 mile S. of me - it left at 2:16 & soared 20' over the fence about 4 miles W. of me heading N. I saw a group of 3 condors about 1 mile E. of me & another 500' - overhead at almost the same time, so at least 5 present. At 2:21 I again saw 5 in a 1/4 mile group about 1 mile SE of me, tackling into the NW breeze, wings folded, & some with feet down. Three scattered - at 2:29 saw 4 over a two mile stretch, about 500' altitude. By car & off afoot I went to top of a ridge about 1/2 miles E. of S. end of Credaw Mtns., to watch for "homing" condors, arriving 3:30. At 3:40 saw 1 apparently descending at foot of S. end of Credaw Mtns. as if to light among the dales. 3:48 I saw 4 over the slope of S. end of C. Mtns., at least 2 having come from at least a mile to S. Fair W. breeze still. 3:53, 5 condors & 3 turkey vultures were circling & soaring over low hills at S. foot of C. Mtns... They slowly descended - at 4 p.m. I had seen 4 go down as if to land where the 3:40 bird went. 4:08, another spiraled slowly down to land, having approached in a straight glide from 1+ mile to S.. By 4:55 saw no more activity so hiked about 3/6 mile to W. along ridge top. At 5:04 an immature soared 100' over me then, then circled & rose to 1000' alt. (5:08), then glided to about over Buck Mtn., circled & rose again, working toward Belly Mtn., then headed toward Bilibar Phe. & turned back when near its top, descending 200 over S. slope of this

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Gymnogyps californianus July 15, 1946 Nr. Credon Mtn., Calif. peak it seemed (lost over dark brush at 5:18). Fair W. Linge still no activity when most condors apparently alighted. I could see open water in a small stream near that locality. By 6 p.m. I saw no condors, so went down to the area where I lost saw them - they were gone & I had missed them; they must have followed an initial route home different than that of the 5:04 bird. About The only carcass I could find where the birds apparently descended was a hard dried hide with scattered old white bones - could it be the condors descended thinking this a recent corpse? using sight rather than smell - of course, this area had been poisoned & there were many squirrel burrows & some stitch from them. There was a water trough of clear running water and a trickle of clear water in a stream about 100 yds. from carcass, but I could find no condor sign there. A good spot for them to water, though. Many cattle around S. end of Credon Mtn. ; 500 at least. July 16, 1946 Nr. Credon Mtn., Tulare Co. At 6:30 a.m. I was atop a ridge about 1/2 mile N. of S. end of Credon Mtn.. My purpose was to discover from what direction condors came to the Fountain Springs area, their time & what hour of first arrival. Fair W. Linge, 4 cool.

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oford 327/ Gymnogyps californianus July 16, 1946 Nr. Credon Mtn, Tulave Co. at 7:35 I saw first turkey vultures soaring. At 8:00 four condors appeared low over the ridge ¼ mile E. of me, circled over the W. slope & rose 100'; then glided off to W. & scattered. At 8:11 another (adult) circled & rose above same ridge. I did not see from whence these birds came. At 8:25 I saw one heading my way from above the horizon over Gibbon Pk. - at 8:27½ it was 100' above me (adult). 8:26 I saw another coming from same direction. At 8:30, 2 adults & 1 min. circled 100' over me. Then I saw 1-3 condors circling low over a hillside about 1 mile N. of Fountain Springs, several times. Watched the Gibbon Pk. area but saw no more fly 8:40. At 8:48 saw 4 with 3 turkey vult- tures circling & rising over the hillside about 1 mile N. of Four tain Springs. Returned to car, finding on the way two partially consumed squirrel carcasses with a ball of stomach or intestinal contents still intact. Drove them to Porterville & to Tule River Indian Reservation to try to see where condors went upon passing over Gibbon Creek. The head of the S. Fork of Tule River affords many granite cliff & dead & down conifer rooting spots. Mule Pk. Lookout looks down into this area too. At 10:2:17 when I was about ½ mile up Gibbon Creek from Tule River, I saw an adult & min. (about 2 yrs.) circling overhead with about 3 turkey vultures. The min. soared lowest only 100' alt. at times, & sometimes had feet down.

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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.

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Gymnogyps californianus July 16, 1946 Tule R. Indian Resy, Calif. creation, 4 at least 2 in border Creek area. I had started down the mountain when at 6:30 p.m., an adult flew 100' below me, skirting the slope - perhaps it had flushed from a perch on granite outcroppings there. Its crop bulged. This bird circled until above the knoll, then crossed Gibbs Canyon to SW where I lost it close to some large dead oaks. Occasionally the bird flapped. About 6:40 - I had climbed back atop the hill - an adult with bulging my crop swept past skirting the slope below me (probably same bird). Business - like it circled & rose above me, then to 400', then glided SE over another ridge, circled & rose 600', then headed for the saddle into border Creek, but didn't make it. Flap-glided then, working 1/2 mile to W. & back & forth as if trying to gain altitude in vain, & I lost it over the brush there at 7 p.m. (sunset). Breeze light. I departed. Called at house of the local Indian Service man - Mr. Flumby (sp). He was ill & in bed. His wife said there was an old Indian woman about 100 yrs. old on the reservation who was quite alert & active, & she might know something of condors - her name was Rodelij. July 17, 1946 Mr. Gibbon Pk., Tulare Co. I drove up the Deer Creek road & climbed to top of a hill about 1 mile W. of mouth of border Creek, arriving 7:20 a.m. Air calm & warm, & hazy. I could look across at Gibbs Pk. area & see some of the an-

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oford 3274 Gymnogyps californianus July 17, 1946 Nr. Gibbon Pk, Tulare Co. sires in head of Gordon Creek from here. At 7:33 I saw the first turkey vulture. 7:38, I saw one condor circling above the ridge about 1 mile E. of Gordon Pk. It glided W.4, went out of sight on E. side of this Pk. near topo. 8:11, I saw a probable condor gliding from Bellbank area to S.W.- some turkey vultures also took this route. Yesterday, the tendency of condors to circle over a knoll was well ill- strated by the 2 or 3 which came over me, for I was on the highest point for at least a mile in any direction. These birds Two must have been coming from other than the Orosaw Mtn. direction - perhaps some depart in other directions in the morning too. By 9 A.M. I had seen no more con- dors - four W. lineage by then - 4 now by 9:39 as left. There is much good cattle land in Lower Dee Creek away, but I saw only a few cattle. Drove to the junction of McFarland-Woody & Famoso-Woody roads; no squirrels, livestock, or birds save horned- larke there now. July 18, 1946 Bakersfield, Calif. At Bakersfield looked up F. F. Latta as recommended by W. Richardson. He was working at making adobe lids for Sandstone Brick Co. He said he had seen condors at Mt. Paso, east of Selenneville, & over Bakersfield High School, & thought they were quite numerous - I think some of these must have been turkey vultures. His main interest is collecting relics & information.

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Gymnogyps californianus July 18, 1946 Bakersfield, Calif. about the surrounding area, & he claims to have interviewed over 10,000 Indians old-timers. He said that Indian tribes as far north of Tuolumne River have condors; & condor feathers are used in some ceremonies. All this dope is recorded in stored notes which he cannot readily get at. He said he had pictures of condors taken at Painted Rocks in Carrizo Plains too. His father, he said, came to this country in 1850. He had told Frank that condors were more numerous than buzzards in the old days but that they left about & were rare by 1860. He laid this to the poisoning of sheep carcasses. Nance Nahn (sp.?) had given similar information. Latta believes he must have about 6 references to condors in his notes. He is interested in them & promised to dig up some of the information for me. He suggested I see Gene Harris of Salt Creek for information; also W.R. Dumble of Kern Co. Land Co. repair shops (Oak av. 21st. in Bakersfield); and William "Belly" Skinner of 1500 Lincoln avenue. Skinner is over 80 & somewhat mentally deficient but what data he gives will be accurate, Latta said. Skinner was born on Tejon Ranch. I visited W.R. Dumble who received me well & proved an interesting & apparently accurate observer. He had been with "the Land company" for 52 years,

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Gymnogyps californianus June July 18, 1946 Bakersfield, Calif. he said. About 6 or 8 years ago, D. said, he saw 6 or 8 condors at Devils Kitchen - a sluffy area about 4 miles N. of Antimony Pk. on a tributary to San Luis Creek. They were flying about & sighting on the rocks, & he got some pictures of one there. About 1 year ago he saw 1 about 5 miles up the Mt. Abel (snow spots area) road from Maricopa side. About 1930, he said, he saw 14 or 15 in the Mill Creek (Lucas Creek) area on Breckenridge Mtn. in dead pine trees. He said he saw them then several times over 2 or 3 years. By 1941 they were down to 5 or 6, he said. It was his general impression that condors had decreased since the old days. About 2 weeks ago he said he saw 3 in the Lucas Creek canyon - between the old sawmill & Pine Saddle. In winter, in duck season, he said he used to see them near Kern Lake, about 8 miles S. & E. of Old River. This was sheep range up to about 1925 & there were about 59,000 sheep. The "Land Company" sold this land about 1925 & it is now mostly in cotton. About 15 years ago, he said, he saw condors at Mud Springs, about between the Castro place & Noosier Camp on Breckenridge Mtn. Last winter he saw 1 near Kern Lake, he said. Of course he doesn't get around the ranch like he used to, he said. He wasn't sure about the relative numbers of cattle in the old days & now

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Gymnogyps californianus July 18, 1946 Bakersfield, Cal. Rlipstein or Clint McCrae (sp?) would know, he said (Bakersfield cattleman). Only one man - Rodnick (sp?) now sends sheep to the Cuyama area that he knows of - cotton & potatoes now cover much of the former sheep grazing grounds. As to sheep move- ments; generally the transient flocks winter on the west side of the San Joaquin (Coalinga), then move east to alfalfa & green feed area in Lompoc valley, then to the desert. On San Emidio Ranch, Blackie Morgan, formerly, knows the country well & is a good observer. To get in the ranch, one must have permission of Mr. Hugh Allen of Bakersfield. Latta said the Kern Co. Land Co. people in general were very uncooperative & hard to get along with & that Dumble was the only one who ever gave any help. The Fickerts who own most of Bear Mtn. are also no- toriously uncooperative. I do I left cards watching instructions for Blue Mtn. Lookout at the State Div. of Forestry office. Called at Breakman District Ranger U.S.F.S. office & found that they had sent a letter to us dated July 15 telling of about 15 carders being seen by ranger Droge & a Mr. Dean near Round Mtn. this month; 41 seen from Oak Flat Lookout. I drove them to Oak Flat Lookout. The relief lookout was on & knew little of carders but thought he had seen a few around. The

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oford 3278 Gymnogyps californianus Oak Flat Lookout Bakersfield, Calif. July 18, 1946 Sky was 1/10 alto-stratus & pir boyz - soarability apparently poor. Saw no soaring birds (carried about 5:30). Phoned Breckenridge Lookout - he said he had seen no condors but two people told him they had seen a "male & female" below "the subdivision" recently. July 19, 1946 Oak Flat Lookout, Kern Co. At 7 a.m. I started watching the area from Lucar Creek canyon to Mt. Adelaide, anticipated line of flight. This was about 8 miles, & across Kern River canyon, from the lookout. Sky 1/10 alto-cumulus & cirrus. About 65° & fair N. breeze at 7 a.m., & visibility fair. At 7:45 I saw two turkey vultures soaring about 2 miles E. of Adelaide mtn.. By 8:30 saw a few more turkey vultures. Air hot, calm, & sultry - probably poor soaring conditions. By 9:30 saw no condors, watching constantly - and now by 11 a.m. Thunderstorm over Breckenridge mtn., working west. I left the lookout & about 3 miles down the road stopped at Dean Lorch & talked with Mr. Dean: He said he had been there 5 years & had occasionally seen 1 or 2 possible condors but the recent bunch (about 30 he said) was the only group he had seen. The spot where he saw them was about 200 yds. N. of the road near 3 water troughs & a tank about 300 yds. South from the lowest oak trees, in open rolling - grassland

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Gymnogyps californianus July 19, 1946 Oak Flat Nr. Kern River, Kern Co. country. Dean seemed truthful but not especially interested in wildlife. I am inclined to believe his report but doubt the 30 count. I drove to the Henry Costo ranch on Cottonwood Creek. A caretaker was there who said that that Rednich (sp.?) had bought the place & others in the area about 2½ years ago. There were some cattle about 5 miles further up the canyon, he said, & about July 1 he had heard there were 15 head dead of 300 in one group there. The deaths were supposedly due to food shortage - this may have attracted the condors here early this month. The caretaker stayed at his house & did not travel about. He said he had been there 2 years. I told him about condors & he said that about 2 hours ago a huge bird with white under its wings had flown down to the creek from the slope opposite his house. He had sneaked up on it as it flopped heavily down the canyon, then soared when above the trees. He noticed no head color. He marked off the estimated wingspread - about 9 ft.! Up to that time he had seen nothing like it, he said. We searched the creek area but found no footprints or feathers or carcasses. There was clear open running water however. The man had seen buzzards often & was sure it was not one. He was sure it was a condor when I showed him a picture. Vic Barn (sp.?) now a book

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Gymnogyps californianus July 19, 1946 Nr. Adelaide mtn, Kern C. Keeper in Bakersfield & raiser of fighting cocks, was raised at this spot, the old boy said. I drove on up Breckenridge Mtn., & hit the rain about at Pine Saddle (local name) about 5 p.m. Camped at head of Lucas Canyon. The rain lasted about an hour only. July 29, 1946 Breckenridge Mt., Kern C. I drove down the road toward Pine Saddle and at 6:10 a.m. 1 immature condor perched on a limb of a dead pine in bottom of Lucas Creek canyon about ¼ mile NE of the road. At 6:30 I saw another imm. on top top of a similar tree 300 yds. further downstream. At 6: This one had wings & as if sick drying them. Sky 9/10 alto- stratus cumulus. At 6:40 I saw 1 adult about ¼ mile further downstream, also on a limb of dead pine near creek bottom. By 7 p.m. the lower of the two imm. had left, but at 7:15 all 3 were in sight, the (same) two imm. in one tree 300 yds. upstream from adult. These were easily seen from the road about ¼ mile above Pine Saddle. Breaze point, temp. 60°F. These croft trees are among the first pines encountered going up Lucas Creek. The slopes below them are clear for flight, being largely grassy with scattered oaks & brush. About a dozen pine croft trees here, all near canyon bottom. Most are straight with broken branches, & conspicuously whitened, ¼ to ½ mile from the road. The canyon is steep so that a

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Gymnogyps californianus July 20,1946 Breckenridge mtn, Calif. clear flight path is provided. Large lead conifers higher on the slopes, & near the road, showed no whitening of corvus-like nature. Condors, like aircraft, have a certain "radius of action" and must have bases (roosts) from which to wake. These are distributed throughout their range - Indian Creek, Breckenridge mtn., Bopper Canyon, Sigquice, McCheney mtn., Castle Mtn. - 4 possibly others - all rather equally distributed in linear miles. The two immature had worked their way to top of their tree - about 7:30 they left from a perch on tip top of a green pine 100 ± yds. downhill, then left about 7:35. The adult remained on same perch or when I first saw it, & preened. Sky 4/10 alto - cumulus + clearing; no wind. Though near the road, these roost trees are well screened from public view by large conifers near road side. Little traffic on the road no - since 5 p.m. yesterday, perhaps 5 cars beside mine. There are granite outcroppings in Lucas Creek canyon which might afford nesting cover, but no whitewash apparent on these. The roost trees are conspicuous by their whiteness - they are barkless & mostly quite straight, about 100' high, with few sparse or stub branches of about 4" diameter (perhaps 6"). A man who had a house at Pine Saddle rode by; I asked him if there were any condors around here - he said "no condors, but quite a few eagles". I didn't disillusion him. 8:05, the adult lay flat on its limb perch, facing up canyon. Air calm still. Perch branch was about 6' from top of the

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Gymnogyps californianus July 20, 1946 Breckenridge Mtn., Calif. Tree. It is perhaps notable that the 2 immatures perched further up the canyon than adult, at higher elevation, & were much more active in moving. Some cattle are ranged in this area- I saw 3 Shryford's about 1/4 mile from adult. Sky 9/10 alto- stratus. 8:30, I saw that one imm. was perched flat on a lower branch of tree 200t yds. uphill from adult- it had only one left there about 7:30. Adult sunned self- in this morning when sun was out, but not since clouded up. Adult had a bit of down as a small feather sticking from its frontal feathers - this caused no apparent discomfort. 9:05, the imm. had moved to a 3' higher branch & stood facing E. (about 3 yr. imm.) 9:24, the imm. was again on its former branch & crouched flat. 9:44, diffused sunshine, faint breeze; the adult rose & stretched right wing down & somewhat forward so that it lined against perch branch- [illegible], then folded again. Clouds breaking up. 9:48, two imm. not standing in the upper tree, about 2+3 yr. old?, one 6' above other 4' 20' below tree tops. 9:59, the upper (2 yr.) down to same branch as other imm. 9:53, sunshine - adult sunned under side. The immatures stood with wings spread, nearly facing, & one several times snapped out at other with bill. Both about 3 yr. old - orange necks but black heads & poorly defined [illegible] bar. 9:56, adult sunned block, left wing tip on opposite side of trunk from body of bird. 9:38, occasional puff of fair breeze. One imm. took off

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Gymnogyps californianus July 20, 1996 Breckenridge mtn, Kern C. but soared low block up canyon near perched birds. The adult & other imm. stood facing down canyon, adult preening. 10:03, adult stretched left wing out & down. Normally it seems each wing is stretched once before first morning flight. 10:05, other imm. off. Adult did asleep "wind blow", tail flopping up high, then re- sumed standing - about a minute later it was gone. I saw two then, circling very low in the canyon below these roost trees & the slope near them. One sighted in a dead pine about 200 yds. down from adult's perch - then off in about a minute. About 2 minutes later two appeared below & too behind adult's roost tree & flap-glided down Lucas Canyon over the S. slope with increasing speed, 50+ ft. apart - this appeared to be the two immatures. Perhaps this roosting area could be better viewed from the more open area of the N. side of Lucas Creek canyon. I drove down to Wheeler Ridge & up Salt Creek Canyon. Stopped to talk to "Salt Creek Pete" who has been in this area 23 years & has prospected much. He was very active & intelligent & friendly. He said he sometimes saw condors in spring over his place as if they were coming from Dead Man Canyon - there were many large limestone cliffs there. About 6 weeks ago, he say he saw 12 over his place, high up. Six years ago when many cattle died of bloedely he saw them feeding on the cattle. He recalled having seen more in other areas

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Gymnogyps californianus July 29,1946 Salt Creek, Kern Co. be prospected, including the Tehachapis. We estimated the under wingproof of "about 8 feet" - the first underestimator I have en- countered. I drove on then & dropped down into Pleito Canyon, Gene Harris place. He proved to be a cousin of Walter Harris of Bryan. Ne & especially his wife, were very interested in birds. Harris said he had been living there for about 25 years. For the last 3 years he had worked for Kern's Land Co. & rode the upper hills. He had worked in Devil's Kitchen area for some time but never saw any condors there. The only bunch he had ever seen was about 10 years ago when he flushed about 15 from a dead steer in Salt Creek Canyon - near road, in ( late spring or summer ) open rolling grassy country? Otherwise he had seen 1 or 2 occasionally in last few years, & occasionally 3 or 4 about 6 or 8 years ago. Harris said there used to be sheep in these mountains until the feed dried up. When Weigh Allen took over the "Land Co.", the sheep were dispersed of ( possibly about 1925 ). Cattle are in the mountains here except in winter, Harris said, but he has seldom found any dead. He believes cattle numbers less now than formerly - the range used to be overstocked more than now. Harris rides the hills often & seems observant - his lack of condor sightings indicates there are not many of the birds here. He believes the lack of sheep might explain this. At Chuckapate Ranger Station I talked with Ranger Bill Meyer. He said that about

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Gymnogyps californianus July 20, 1946 Nr. Frazier Park, Calif. 1942, in summer, he saw 3 condors near the road on Frazier Mtn. One was in air, one in a tree, & one on the ground. About 200ft. from the bird on ground was an old deer carcass - a couple of years old & picked clean, Meyn said. He found no other carcasses. During the war, Frazier Mtn., Thorn Pt., & Mt. Pinos were manned in winter as plane lookouts. Thorn Pt. only is manned in this ranger district now. The lookout was said to have taken a close pic- ture of a perched condor there this year. A guard said he saw a condor & buzzard on a carcass back (W. of) La O'Neil Canyon, 3 miles air-line from L.E.B.) Dec pumping station, about 2 weeks ago. Meyn said that last year he saw a condor (adult) perched on rocks near Thorn Pt. Lookout, & tried to sneak up on it to get a picture- the bird flew, but M. got a distant flight shot (I saw it - a condor adult). July 21, 1946 Nr. Frazier Park, Calif. In Cuddy Valley I visited R.C. "Bob" Cuddy, about 70 yrs. old, who was born & raised there. He was interested in birds somewhat & told me that curlews, egrets, stilts, & oth er shore birds used to land there. He said his father was a "cattle king" there but that the "forest reserve" put them out of the cattle business. There used to be sheep there too, run by Kern C. Land Co. & several Frenchmen. He said flocks of 25 to 50 condors used to come in 4 con- tinuie month, & that they perched on rocks on Sounill mountain. When working about 6 yrs. ago near the head

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Gymnogyps californianus July 21, 1946 Nr. Frazier Park, Calif. of the "Escapura" (sp?) - Salt Creek area - he saw 4 condors perched on high cliffs. Last time the weather he saw only 3, he said, so figured I was shot. They were not there in winter but came in in spring, he said. Once he found a dead one (about 10 yrs. ago) which he thought was shot. I doubt any of this information is accurate but record it anyway, Ck. I phoned Rex Coppennall, lookout at Tejon Lookout (county - Borman). He thought he had seen a condor there once this season. Cuddy said he had read an article (in a paper) by Condon (Jerry?) once which said that condors wintered in the lower slopes. I drove to Liebre Mtn., near Sandberg's & talked with L.A. C. fire woman there; he had been here several years but took no interest in birds. He thought he had seen 1 or 2 occ- asionally. At the weather station were two men & wife of one; they had been here 2 years but had seen no condors. One gets a good view of the W. end of Antelope Valley & S. side of Tehachapis from here (Bald Mtn.). The Bailey Ranch is now G.E. Kinsey's road. Apparently only cattle are run there, & but I saw only a few. July 23, 1946 Nr. Squaw Flat, Ventura Co. Drove up the Squaw Flat road from Fillmore. There was a locked gate with several locks at Oak Flat. at 10:20 left my car at foot of Whiteacre Pk. trail & hiked up the canyon to

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Gymnogyps californianus July 23,1946 Nr. Squan Flat,Ventura C. cast toward #13 nest. By 10:40 I could see the nest cave. At 11:20 I was on the slope about 200' below and 300 yds. E. of the nest cave. I saw the chick standing about 2' back from entrance, quietly. It was dark gray & down covered, with a fringe of 3+ feathers on wing. It stood sideways to entrance for about 15 minutes before changing position. Neck appeared dark in color, I saw no corders at the root wig trees near nest. Day warm & muggy- overcast with alto stratus, 9/10, but quite bright, & little breeze. There was considerable whitework at cave entrance, running down the rock for about 3'. Chick -> [illegible] whitewash About 11:50 the chick went back out of right - perhaps it was just out to watch me. At about 12:30 I moved to foot of Deer Meadow, about 150' below & 400 yds. W. of nest. I saw chick standing about 4' from entrance at 12:30, & quietest - gone from sight a few minutes later. 2 p.m.; sky 7/10 alto stratus & alto cum- ulus; fair W. breeze. At 2:05 one adult circled over the ruin above #13 nest, then over #13 nest roast trees, then continued on to S. - feet were never down

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Gymnogyps californianus July 23, 1946 Nr. Squaw Flat, Ventura Co. stretching leg simultaneously. Preened between wing feathers from front + outside, bill probing + nibbling between feathers. 3:37, chick stood at very brink of cave, facing in; a few silby filaments on pygostyle waved in the breeze. 3:40, again stretched right wing to floor + refolded it. 3:43, stretched left (or both) wings high - touching the ceiling. 3:45, faced out of hole again. Stretched wings up, wrists apparently touching ceiling. Retired nearly out of sight, then out to edge again at 3:46½, then back in shade about 4' from entrance (3:47). The chick is quite active at this time, apparently. No crop bulge noted. 3:53, front 1/3 out back in sunshine, 4 chicks preening vigorously. About 3 1/4 mile away, 4 easily visible, a duck hawk was att- acking an eagle, but the chick paid no apparent att- ention. 4 p.m., chick 1/4 in sunshine, standing, head moving about occasionally. Light W. breeze still. Chick preened for several minutes, + poked about the rock at S. side of cave with bill. By 4:30, chick was at same spot & had shown little more action. Stay 9/10 alto - stertus again. 4:32, chick out of sight in cave. Perhaps the adults do not roost close to nest at this stage as there has been no sign of them. Saw no more of chick either by 5 p.m., so left. Anita Peyton accompanied Vorhies of Univ. of Arizona up to Napper Rim recently. They stayed around

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otford 3290 Gymnogyps californianus July 23,1946 Fillmore, Calif. Pemberton Rocks & saw several condors, Sid P. told me, Ranger Lyda & Gene Percy were riding on Hopper Rim & in Big Meadow today - they saw no condors but did see a bear. July 24,1946 Nr. Hopper Mtn., Calif. Cd Harrison arrived at Fillmore about 12:30. We did the calf at Sid Rayton's & drove to Hopper Rim, arriving about 3 p.m. Air hot, sky completely overcast with alto-stratus. We repaired the blind in Big Meadow & left calf equipment there, then went to head of canyon to camp. We saw no condors though searched with binoculars - visibility poor because of haze. July 25,1946 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. Cd Harrison got in the blind in Big Meadow, & I set the calf out about 150' from blind on the open slope. Wired calf down at chest & groin, & cut belly & ribs open longitudinally. Carcass was stiff now and weighed about 70 pounds. Warm, no clove, but considerable haze so visibility poor. I left calf at 7:20 & went to Pyramid Lookout to watch. From there I could see the blind but not the par- case. I could not spot any condors roosting. Occasional light E. breeze by 8 a.m. By 9 a.m., sky No cumulus, occasional fair E. breeze - no condors or buzzards seen so far. Water at Carson

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Gymnogyps californianus July 25, 1946 Hopper Canyon, GliT. Falls appeared not to be running. At 9:20 I saw first (?-long range) turkey multivires soaring. 9:24, one adult condor ap- peared just beyond Rim to W. of me, soared back & forth, then S. into head of Parking Canyon as if to cross the pass there or to slight. Rather large dihedral angle, & this bird had feet down for about 1 minute once. No crop bulge. Breeze became more steady about this time. 9:31, I saw one adult circling 400±' over Spring Canyon Mdw. work- ing up the slope to W.. When 300±' above Rim, it glided N., then circled above N. Rim, then headed in a straight glide to over East Canyon. Here it joined, & chased, another condor at 9:42, then, de- sending, glided to 300±' over Crundell Ridge & was joined by another (9:47). at 9:50, the two circled & rose above Crundell Ridge. 9:48, one adult soared 500±' over Big Meadow - it circled lower & passed 100±' over the bait, then landed in next to highest Near Root Tree at 9:50. At 6:30 I saw 3 seen at once, at least 2 & probably all adults. 9:55, one circled over Spring Mdw. Canyon & rose to 1000±'; then N. & circled over N. Rim to 1500±', then glided S.E. to about over East Canyon, then broke over Spring Mdw. at 800±' at 10:11. The perched adult 100± yds. moved up to highest root tree (Near Root Tree) at 10:10. The 9:31 bird passed at me twice about 1½

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Gymnogyps californianus July 25, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. mile from + in plain sight of self, but apparently did not see it. 10:27, an imm. (est. 2 yr.) circled 1/4 mile NE of me, then over Rim, then headed N. 10:28, no adult in highest Near Roost Tree, but one 100+ yds. down from it + another in a tree 100+ yds. further down. The upper took off, circled 100+ over the blunt & blind, then glided low over Rock Ridge & circled there (10:30). The other took off about 10:30 & glided fast down into Water Tank Canyon, turned on circle, + disappeared heading N. as if to alight in cliffs at N. side of Water Tank Canyon appx. opposite foot of Rock Ridge (have seen this before - nest?). 10:41, one soared 5. about 300' over me; two circled low over Big Meadow, + I saw 2 now perched in Near Roost Tree (5, all adults). One or two air- [illegible] feet down at times; one wandered off over Porcupine Knoll. (10:47). Fair W. breeze, sky 2/10 cumulus. 10:48, all 3 with legs down, 2 circling low over carcass (100+)' & below tops of Near Roost Trees. 10:59, the two landed in sears at this height of these roost trees, so 7 perched within 1/4 mile of carcass at 10:50 (to windward of it). Cool now - perhaps 70°F. 10:59, one of highest pair took off + circled about over car- cass & blind. Lowest left about 11:01, + next to lowest about 11:02 - to? I saw 1 adult perched on top's [illegible] top of a stub about 1/2 mile SE of carcass - this

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oford 3293 Gymnogyps californianus July 25,1946 Hopper Conyon, Calif. one appeared: on 40' stub & was off by 15.03. The last perched one, from Near Roost Tree, took off down canyon at 11:00, glided feet over Rock Ridge & circled over E. slope of that ridge with another adult. 11:11, one circled 300' over Big Meadow; then with another, both with feet down, circled low about 1/2 mile SW of camp & disappeared behind Parking Knoll (11:15). 11:18, I saw 1 adult was perched on top branch of Parking Roost Tree, & another circling 300' over. Sait again. 11:22, I next to highest saw 1 adult on top branch of Near Roost Tree again, preening. 11:25, an adult soared up canyon over Near Roost Tree, then down, then up & swooped to a landing there - so 2 perched, the one in Parking Roost Tree gone, & 1 soaring 3. near W. side of Parking Knoll. By 11:30, one again perched in Parking Roost Tree (3 visible perched). Fair cool W. breeze - very hazy to W. 11:39, I saw there were 2 adults in Near Roost Tree, so 4 perched visible. 11:52, the adult in Parking Roost Tree left & soared N. just W. of Rim. Two golden eagles soared above it for 1/2 mile, at times within about 100', but no interaction. Adult had feet down for 1/2 mile. It circled & rose to W. of Old Cabin, then circled again & rose in Small Meadow vicinity until 1500' above Rim, then headed N.E. as if toward the Rim (12:02). The 3 perched adults as before, 1 squatted flat on branch. 12:15, the lower bird on Near Roost Tree had apparently moved to

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Gymnogyps californianus July 25, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. the third highest tree there. With a crouch & spring, this adult jumped to 35' higher perch in same tree - and 3t' higher yet by 12:20 (a stub branch, 12±"long). It is about 200 yds. from closest condor to carcass. 12:24, this last adult crunched flat on perch. 12:25, this adult took off quickly soared low over the bait, & continued across Hopper Canyon - I lost it at 12:30 against dark brush. The next highest adult left about 12:30- to ? - leaving 1 only perched; & this last left about 12:45. 1 p.m., I saw that 1 adult was perched on a top branch of dead Ps. about 150 yds. NW of carcass & facing it. Have seen no turkey vultures or ravens in the carcass vic- inity today, or anywhere near it. 1:12, an adult now also on Near Roost Tree. Yet another condor was atop a live oak about 100 yds. uphill from carcass. At 1:21, highest adult took off & skimmed this oak; the other took off & both swooped low over blind. Third adult also took off, & all 3 landed in a tall dead Ps. about 100 yds. NNE of bait, separated vertically about 10t' one (middle one) 15'. By 1:27, upper two had gone, leaving only vis- ible perched (adult), 1:36, this adult moved to 15' high branch & stood facing carcass. 1:49, I saw a third adult in Near Roost Tree. By 2 p.m., no change - all 3 adults stood facing away from bait. Heavy semi- blue clouds to NW; fair cool W. breeze; visibility good in Hopper Canyon. 2:30, the adults quite in -

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Gymnogyps californianus July 25, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. active, occasionally preening. 3 p.m., still no action - 1 adult was crushed flat & another had shifted to another branch at some lower level. One adult preened at jump, head down back, tail brought forward to side [illegible]. Then brushed back with shin & neck, from scapulars back, over right then left sides, about 4 wipes per side. Later preened side from our back, wing slightly out from body. Then anal region with tail fanned & held nearly vertically & brought forward [illegible]. 3:12, a third adult now in tree 100' yds. NNE of bait. One about 4' above another, reaching its hill down toward the one below. The lower sprang up to higher perch & the upper flew off, circled back, & landed 20' lower in same tree. Fourth adult above as before. 3:19, I saw one descend from 1 branch to another about 3 "steps" of about 4, 5, 48', each by carefully looking our next step, then jumping with feet together, wings moving in falling, & landing on the new perch. In moving out a branch, adult sidestepped, moving 1 foot at a time. Three were 10' apart in lower tree; middle had descended 20' & seemed very interested in the lowest; lowest seemed to look over the middle one; both of these off at 3:25, to ? Two, probably some, circled & rose over the E. Rim opposite me at 3:28. Two adults still perched, 1 on flat on the branch (exp 3:31) - the latter took

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Gymnogyps californianus July 25, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. off Damhill & soared SE over Big Mdw. - by 3:34 there was another adult on its perch (in Near Roost Tree). The perched adult NNE of bait now lay flat on branch (3:35). Apparently the cormorants are not ready to take the bait yet - not "ripe" enough? 3:44, now 2 adults at some level about 6' apart on roost tree nearest bait, 4 this far before. By 4 p.m., no change in these 3. Fair wind from W. now. About 4:10 one of the 2 left & the one in Near Roost Tree, so only one adult left perched near Big Mdw. 4:15, I saw 1 cir- cling & rising over the E. Rim. It headed N. over Coat Can- yon & circled briefly with 2 others, then 5. for about 1 mile & circled with 1 other, then headed W. with several dips & swooped up to land in Near Roost Tree! The other adult (perched) as before. Soarability of air apparently good - very clear in canyon, & fair wind from W. 4:30, the adult 100' yds. from bait was flat on branch, facing the sun, the bare crop bulg- ing over front of branch. 4:35, this bird rose, extended wings V, folded them, again raised them, & took off to NW, circling turning Damhill quietly & sliding fast downhill toward Rock Ridge. 4:40, adult (same?) glided over Big Mdw. & landed in Near Roost Tree. The 4:35 adult showed crop bulge even in flight - Ed had flushed this bird by leaving blind. I left lookout & went to Parking Place. Met Ed there. We had seen 3 cormorants in Near Roost Tree & 2 in lower trees on the

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Gymnogyps californianus July 23,1946 Hopper Canyon, CaliF. way up the trail. At 6 p.m. there were 2 in Near Root Tree & 2 in double-topped tree about 300yds. further damself. I went down & covered calf carcass to discourage sayotie. Saw one canda cross foot of Big Mdw. & circle law in South Canyon at about 5:20. at head of trail saw only 1 left in Near Root Trees - adult in the double topped one. Breeze light & sley nearly clear. Went to camp. Ed said that when he left the blind he kept trees between himself & the nearly perched cador & it did not flush until he was about 1/4 mile away. We discussed communication of food finding between birds - Ed said that when working with TRP in the Cuyama, he noted that when one cador found food the others quickly gathered in that vicinity. July 26,1946 At about 6:30 a.m. Ed N. was in the blind. I covered the calf which was already swarming with about 100 flies & wasps, was swollen, & stinking so that we noted adr 200 yards uphill. Coyotes had not molested the carcass. I went then to Pyramid Lookout, arriving 6:55 a.m. Saw no perched cador. In South Canyon noted I could see no whitened trees in- dicating little or no roosting there, but many whit- ened trees in the Big Meadow area - Near Root Trees of the dead Bandedtanges below the meadow. At 7 p.m. sley clear, light w. breeze, about 65° F. I saw

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Gymnogyps californianus July 26, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. water running well at Coldwater Canyon falls, dry at falls at Oilwell Point. 8:25, breeze faint; I saw one adult soar out of foot of South Canyon & alight atop a stilb about 3/8 mile SE of the lait & possibly in sight of it. 8:27, a second adult perched 100± over lait, rose above the Rim, then soared 200± over me, then about ½ mile SE & back, then ½ mile NNE where it circled 200± above Rim (8:40). 8:41, the perched one was gone, & 2 adults circled 200± over head of Big Mdw. There 2 circled & rose above Parking Knoll, & 1 passed N. 200± over me at 8:45, then headed E; second headed SE about 1 mile, then N, then back to W. in South Canyon as if descending. Breeze faint to light from SE, sky 1/10 serena. 8:55, I saw 1 atop high foot dead tree atop Rock Ridge. 9:05, I saw 2 perched in shade about 8' S. of the middle pool at Carder Falls - saw none there yesterday, but cool so maybe not thirsty. 9:10, one was about 1 ft. from pool edge. Second walked to pool edge at 9:20. Both possibly drank and/or bathed - in shadow of rocks. 9:20, we walked into sunshine at N. side of pool. The other emerged from pool flapping, as if having bathed, then walked into sunshine beside other & shake up its feathers. 9:26, one apparently in pool, flapping; it emerged & flapped wings 7 times as if to dry them, then walked & hopped up rocks to a point about 15' S. & 8' above pool (in shade).

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Gymnogyps californianus July 26, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif. 9:30, one at that point flapped wings, held high, 6'tenice as if to dry them; 4 repeated at 9:32. 9:35-one in sunshine about 15'N. 4 8'above the pool; 4 1 or 2 in the shade siaps on points to S. of pool. 9:40, I still atop tree at Rock Ridge. 9:41, I saw one flap down canyon from shade near Condra Falls—by 10 a.m. I saw no more cordons there. 10:33, the perched one on Rock Ridge took off, circled & rose over the E. slopes until 500' over me, bore N. until over N. Rim & circled, then to over Whitesere Ph. & circled, then in a long glide until disappeared at 10:50 apparently crossing top of Cobblestone Pits.. By 2:30 saw no more cordons. Ed left blinds we returned to Fillmore. The bait now was in very striking state & we did not believe cordons would come to it. July 27, 1946 Nr. Gorman, Calif. At Tejon Guard Station I phoned Thom Point Lookout, a man named Johnston (or Johnson). He had been there since June 16 & had watched for cordons. The most he had seen at once was 3, 2 adults & 1 immature. They seemed to appear in late afternoon, around 4 p.m., & headed S or SE. He thought they came from the Scope to W. of Lookout. Within the last two weeks he had seldom seen one except that on the 21st. one immature alighted on the rocks near the lookout & some pictures were taken of it. He thought this bird must be sick to allow

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Gymnogyps californianus July 27, 1946 Mr. Gorman, Calif. such close approach. Occasionally he had seen cormorants perch on rocks to the SE (?) of a lookout, but some distance away (a fair hike). This man had pictures & description, so I believe his identification accurate. The guard at Tejon Guard Station said he occasionally saw cormorants high overhead in that vicinity, & once saw 3 or 4 at the same time circling. He too had seen of my cormorant pictures, but I have some doubt about his identification. In Bakersfield I again visited F.F. Latta. Recently he had asked Mary Pohet, a Wuckcheumne Indian woman, about 80 years old, about cormorants. This tribe is on the Tule (sp.? ) River & Mary lives near Woodlake. She said they had no cormorant dance or song but did have a story. Henry Lawrence of Visalia, a Yokutumne Indian, told him a blind Indian at Tule River used to put a cormorant feather in his hair every morning. He said he used to see a cormorant dance in which they wore 1 feather in their hair (a mid-water dance). The cormorant is called "Wee-itch" by the Indians. An old timer named Wahn (sp.?) thought told Latta the cormorants disappeared around 1850 & he thought this was caused by the putting out of poison bait for coyotes. Latta thought that John Peabody Harrington of Santa Ana might have gotten some cormorant dope from the Indians; David Bleyers of Santa Barbara (museum) knows his address.

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Gymnogyps californianus July 27, 1946 Bakerfield, Calif. may also have some condor information. The Indians around Bakersfield, the Yokutumne, had a condor dance & song & story, said Lotta. Lotta also said that at Canfield Ranch between Bakersfield & Maricopa he saw 3 condors on a carcass in May, & [illegible] others in air there. August 22, 1946 N. Castle Mtn, Monterey Co. Allie Lewis, who lives near Turkey Flat & rides the hills near there, said he saw 3 condors at a water trough about 2 months ago - I rather doubt this as it sounds like a story he told me before. He said the condors were on trough & he at first thought they were catching frogs. Aug. 24, 1946 Castle Mtn, Kings Co. Spent the 23 & 24th hunting deer in the Castle Mtn. area including the cliff tops at head of Arrayo Pinos, & looked down several times on the coast trees there. The trees had bare whitewashed branches where the condors formerly perched, but I saw no condors during this visit. There were about 150 cattle on the mountain above Dark Hole spring, many in poor condition. August 31, 1946 N. Porterville, Calif. I drove up the Tulare River to home of Walter Richardson, 5 miles ESE of Porterville,

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Gymnogyps californianus August 31/1946 Nr. Porterville, Calif. and saw perhaps 50 turkey multures over the valley. At about 10:15 at Richardson's house I saw about 6 multures & an immature condor circling over the dry oat hillsides about 1/4 mile SE of the house, about 10:20 I saw two 2 in air there. At one time I saw 1 perched on hillside near a rock anterapping there. I talked with the bird man, Mr. Birchfield. He said his son Jim (16 yrs.) worked at squirrel pasing this year,& saw large multures with white patches which were probably condors. He first saw these about 1/2 mile E. of the power line which is about 2 miles E. of Richardson's house. Later he worked east of Cyster & saw them there - up to 6 sure at once - and seemed to hang around especially early & late. There were seen during August & reportedly seen up to a week ago. About 11:00 I saw 2 condors, adult & imm., circling at 300' about 3/8 mile S. of Richardson's house over the grassy hills (10+ turkey multures also). Birch- field thought they probably had been pausing west. His son had seen the condors in Yoleal (sp.? )Valley on the Gill Ranch on the road from Cyster

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Co ford 3303 Gymnogyps californianus August 31, 1946 Nr. Porterville, Calif. to Springville (first about 3 miles toward Springville from main ranch house). About 11:15 I saw an adult 4 min. together about 300 yds. S.W. of Richardson's house. About now I walked up into the dry oat hills S.W. of the house where I saw about 25 turkey multures circling. I found one dried up ground squirrel carcass, hide turned inside out, & a multure feather near it. Saw but 1 squirrel the many trails & burrows. Found yellow "roats", the kind used by "1080" poisoners, at some holes, 25 squirrels are probably what the multures & condors are after here. This is a clear warm day with fair breeze from W. After about 11:30 I saw no condors - left about 12:30. December 27/19476 Carmel, Calif. Visited Lloyd Tevis and his father who live close to Carmel Mission. The elder Tevis is of a family that owned much of Kern Co. Land and Cattle Co., He used to live at Stockdale & roamed the hills of San Emigdio Ranch to collect reptiles & bats for J. Brinnell. He said that Jack Doug- las, ranch superintendent, told him that con- dors were formerly all over the ranch (told

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Gymnogyps californicus December 27, 1946 Carmel, Calif. when Tevis a boy). Douglas was a good observer and interested in wildlife, Tevis said. Tevis said his father told him he had seen condors in Devil's Kitchen. Once J. Brunnell told Tevis the condor was practically extinct (about 1907-08). A few days later on the way to "Oole Spring" (see north of Devil's Kitchen (San Emigdio canyon), Tevis saw 18 or so SE slope and approachable within about 40 yards (with team?). The condors flew from the steep rise. No food or water were evident. About 1905-06 Tevis said he saw one on a hillside and thought at first it was a boulder. He practically "knew every rocks in those hills" at that time. The bird flew - it was identified as a condor; Tevis told Brunnell of this. As Tevis may have seen condors on other occasions but could recall none; he had not known or looked for them until Brunnell told him of them. Lloyd Tevis (about 26 yrs.) said he saw 1 condor in the Sequoia in summer in 1938 (near South Fork Camp apparently). January 17, 1947 Berkeley, Calif. Having just reviewed some literature on the "Sewall Wright effect", it occurs to me that this effect might apply to condors. In a

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Gymnopus californianus January 14, 1947 Berkeley, Cal. population of a small effective breeding po number, certain genes tend to become fixed & others lost, by chance, regard- less of selection. Do - non-adaptive differences might became fixed. The species would lose its variability - became homogeneous. Success in selection passo It mo eventually would wander from its adaptive peak & possibly thus became extinct by non-adaptive change. If environment changed, the species would not be able to change & adapt itself to new conditions. Perhaps Wright's concept would fit cardos - in certain respects. They do seem to be an isolated interbreeding group. To pre- serve cardos we might find ourselves chang- ing the environment to suit their non- adaptive trends. Cardos do seem to be specialized - especially physiologically - in comparison with more successful kinds. January 17, 1947 Berkeley, Cal. Mr. Cronemiller, in charge of wild life in the forest region including the Los Padres, visited the M.V.Z. to discuss cardos with me.

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Gymnogyps californianus January 17, 1947 Berkeley, Calif. We talked of various aspects of life history as related to protection. He seemed very interested and anxious to take action, especially as to closing the Hopper Canyon area and closing the road to that area. I gave him a condor photo (11x14). January 22, 1947 Berkeley, Calif. Crenemiller phoned from S.F. and said he had seen Work's condor film at Stanford last evening. He had been annoyed at the rough way the chick was handled. The locale was kept a great secret, especially as Crenemiller had warned Wiggins (Stanford botany prof who introduced Work) about this. The show was apparently some weekly gathering including townspeople. Crenemiller was stray for the sanctuary and had written Washington a preliminary letter. His idea was to include Whiteacre Peak & to tie in with the Sage Some Refuge, but he had not recommended specific boundaries yet. He believed it may be necessary to get funds from the N.A.S. for a patrol as the Forest Service can't handle this entirely. The area, Crenemiller believes, is

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Gymnogyps californianus January 22,1947 Berkeley, Calif. not one in which they want hunters + other persons even regardless of condors (fire hazard high). Wahr was coming to visit Crenemiller this day. January 23,1947 Berkeley, Calif. Had a talk with T. Wahr at C.O.C. meeting. He said he will send me some of his con- dor notes and a set of photo prints for perusal. He had talked to Crenemiller about condors a few days ago - Crenemiller had not mentioned that he thought the pict- ures showed rough handling of the chick. I warned Wahr about publicizing poster toward closing a forest area, and requested him to omit my name from his film or talks on condors. He said he saw 26 birds in Hopper Basin a couple of weeks ago. February 17,1947 Hopper Canyon, Calif. At 3:15 p.m. arrived at Hopper Rim having seen no condors on the way. Clear day; sky 3/10 cirro- stratus; light E. breeze. At 3:20 from Pyramid 10 I saw one perched in a tall dead Pseudotsuga about 1/4 mile S.E. of Big Meadow. Apparently some water running at Condor Falls. The Pole Canyon road dry and in excellent condition (comparatively). I

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Gymnogyps californianus February 14, 1947 Hopper Canyon Calif. got the key to the road by merely asking Mrs. Frank Philips for it, without even stating my bus- iness. The key is kept on a nail in the chicken house, accessible to anyone. The above condors still there at 4:20 - perhaps a lethargic immature. At 4:03 we came 5 over Hopper Rim about ½ mile N. of the lookout & when last seen (4:10) was descending slowly feet down, as if to alight on Arundell Ridge. At 4:30 I saw an adult - same? - stop a green tan stone on Arundell Ridge. Fair E. breeze, & cool. Fair E. breeze, & cool, at 4:45 when I left the lookout. Saw no more condors. Camped at head of canyon. February 15, 1947 Morning clear and warm. At 9:30 a.m. we left the car at head of the tractor trail & biked toward Big Cave along cliff tops. At 9:50 we saw 10 condors, 4 over Hopper Mtn. and 6 over Arundell Ridge, all circling as if recently leaving the roosts. At 10 a.m. I saw 7 in one bunch high over Arundell Ridge, circling & rising. Apparently all worked up over the W. Rim. At 10:12 I saw 5 over the W. Rim near Old Colin. At 10:25 we arrived at the pool stop Big Cave. The water was clear, but only a trickle ran over the falls. We found no tracks in the sand of the pool or near it, nor any footline

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Gymnogyps californianus February 15,1947 Hopper Canyon Calif. or fresh whitewash there. Whitewash Ledge did not seem to have any fresh whitewash. My old blind was still atop the cliff as before. We descended the cliff and searched for feathers below the cave & ledges - we found no fresh feathers. Perhaps the birds are seldom using the cave area for roosting this year. At 10:40, as we were about to leave cliff top, an adult passed about 150' over us, then turned W. and descended to alight stop Flat Pa. on Cr- undell Ridge. We were at the pool below falls at 11:00, then hiked downstream to tractor trail (11:30), then up this trail to the road (12:10). It was rather sultry, overcast with cirro-stratus, thin. As we drove from the North Ridge area, two adults soared 100' over us & circled over North Ridge (not our car). We left for Fillmore & saw T. Work's car parked at Barling Place. I suppose he was trying to get feeding pictures in Big Meadow. February 21,1947 Berkeley Calif In the Milton Bay collection given to the MVZ. is one mounted condor, "MCZ 171768" on bottom of stand, in a standing position - a fairly good mount. April 13,1947 Bitterwater, S.Benito G. I talked with Dave Salbke, game manager

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oford 3311 Gymnogyps californianus April 17, 1946-1947 Bitterwater, Calif. in large doses only. There is a Fish & Wildlife Bull- stin a "1080" Sellock said. May 28, 1947 Berkeley, Calif. Mr. H.L. Willman of Ewalala dropped in at M.V.Z. to tell me of some condor experiences. He was an active man about 50 yrs. old. He was rais- ed on a ranch near the foot of Willman Canyon in the lower Seigque country & was well acquint- ed with that region. He said that he used to see condors often in the Manzana & near Bald Mtn. there. (405 yrs. ago) He said a pair nested near the river on Wheat Peak for several years. A group of mammals lived in that area then. He said eggs were taken & sold for $25-$50. These eggs came from the lower Seigque, not Falle Canyon. Once about 1920 he saw 38 condors near Seigque Falls, he said. Berniell, he said, had several pictures of Seigque Falls copied from some of Willman's. Willman said the condors apparently fed largely on deer kills. Stockmen in that area argued about whether they killed stock or not - some claimed the birds struck animals with their wings knocking them over cliffs & then fed on them. Some also claimed the con- dors had a mating whistle similar to the

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33/2 Gymnogyps californianus May 28, 1947 Berkeley, Calif. "Keyoke" of a mountain quail. Willmann said condor sometimes flew back & forth in small valleys as if having difficulty in getting out. Some must have had a wingspread of 20 ft., he said. Once he saw a go bald eagle on the ground under a tree & a condor diving at it; the eagle left & the condor landed under the tree. The Willmann threw stones at the condor & drove it off. The carcass there was a coyote with a small hole in its side, heart & lungs pulled out through the hole. In 1928, Willmann said, he saw 2 condors near the west side of San Rafael Mts.. With his mother, about 1941, in Sept. or Oct., he was driving near Jenner when they saw 2 condors — no doubt, he said — both he & his mother knew condors. He also saw 2 on Mt. Diablo in April about 1938, he said. The Wheats had a pet condor near What Peak about 1902. Willmann undoubtedly knows condors & was well versed in the Sonoma country. His observations were not too accurate, however, so I doubt his Jenner & Diablo observations. Stock was grazed in the lower Sonoma & Santa Cruz in the old days, & up into the heads of the canyons in dry years. Robert

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oford 33/3 Gymnogyps californianus May 28, 1947 Berkeley, Calif. Castan of Santa Maria is acquainted with Wildmoun. June 15/1947 Drove from Delano via "Retroph Corner" to a hilltop Famoro about 10 miles E. of McFarland. From there I had watched cardos last year. Squirrel holes showed evidence of poisoning this year - perhaps a month ago. We saw scarcely a single squirrel or turkey vulture. There was a fair N. breeze at 10:25; sky cirrus overcast (thin) & temperature 90°+. I saw 2 single turkey vultures. At 10:40 I saw 1 carder circling 100' over the McFarland road no 2± miles E. of "Retroph Corner". It circled & rose, to 500', then soared E. with occasional wing dips until about 1 mile W. of Mt. Posa. Then it circled & rose with 1 turkey vulture & then apparently continued southward (10:50). By 11:15 we saw no more carders. We drove to Fountain Springs, & later to Walter Richelson's place near Porterville, - I saw carders at both of these last year summer - but saw no carders. June 17, 1947 Mr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo Co. With Jan McMillan & Mary K., drove up the Cholame- Parkfield road and at 8:30 saw 2 soaring carder. Sky clear, no breeze, warm. Jan & I watched

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Gymnogyps californianus June 17, 1947 Mr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo C. The 2 condors over the E. edge of Cholame Flat. One descended and dove at the other - then they separated & descended separately to alight about 1 mile N. of the big corral (about 4 miles N. of Cholame). We drove around to the E. side & to about ½ mile E. of carcass. We saw 1 condor in air, rising, & working away to the west; 4 2 adults at the carcass, with 7± turkey vultures and 3± ravens. The condors stood 6±' from the carcass as vultures fed. Then we drove to within 250 yds. of the carcass. One condor hopped atop the calf, & ruffled down, pulled several times at the side just anterior to leg of calf. The other adult stood quietly, ruffled up. Turkey vultures hopped off of carcass, without protest, as condor mounted it. The condors left the carcass after 3± minutes, took off to N. with 3± hops part 30 flaps before gliding. It landed about 1 mile N. of carcass on slightly higher ground. The turkey vultures again mounted the carcass. The second adult then hopped on the carcass & fed as the first had it in about 3 minutes it too took off with 30 flaps, a glide, then 6, 11, etc. flaps. It landed beside the first adult. We approached the carcass & flushed the turkey vultures. The carcass proved to be a bare yearling calf, lying on its side on open flat ground. It had little adorn apparently had been dead about

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Gymnogyps californianus Calif. June 17, 1947 Nr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo Co., 2 or 3 days. Death was apparently from recent castration. The anus was opened, there was a 2" hole at the sacral area, a 8"x4" hole just anterior to thigh in side of old cow, & a 9"x5" hole at side of rib basket. The intestines appeared mainly intact. The ribs were picked clean when opposed. Eye was gone but lips & gums were intact. There were several turkey vulture feathers nearby. We left carcass at 9:05; the 2 adults were together as before them. We saw several swan-like birds & 100+ ravens over Cholame Flat this day - probably feeding on grasshoppers. So, at least 3 condors seen, & feeding close to the spot where Don & I observed feeding last year. Apparently casualties caused by causing & cutting & browsing furnish carcasses at this time of year. Cholame bond still uses old fashioned methods, said Don, & this loses cattle from castration such. June 18, 1947 Calif. Nr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo Co., with Dan McMillan, Maryk, & McMillan kids, drove to Cholame Flat to view the site where 2 condors were seen at a carcass yesterday. Clear, warm, no breeze. At 9:15, when about 1½ miles SE of carcass, we saw 5 condors walking up a grassy slope just W. of the (Nancole Ranch) road. These were joined by a sixth, 100 yds. or so behind. All ascended the 10% slope

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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.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 18 1947 Nr. Cholame Calif. After 2+ minutes, they began to fly, a few at a time, until all but 3 immatures were in air. These 3 clustered about 100 yds. S. of calf & seemed to be feeding at part of it. Dan said he saw 1 of these with a piece of gut. Most that left flapped heavily northward for 1/2+ mile, then landed at var- ious scattered spots in the closely cropped grass. We drove to about 150 yds. W. of carcass. A lone, dark sooty immature (? 2nd year?; good plunge) remained until after we stopped, then flapped away to W. with 28, 11, etc. flops. Feet were seen to be together as this imm. & some pre- vious adults took off. We visited the spot where the 3 immatures were but found only tracks, no meat. The calf carcass we found over half consumed. The upper side was opened from thigh to neck & the upper fore- leg pulled inside-out through the hide. The backbone (= neural spines) and ribs were cleaned of meat; all organs were gone though intestinal contents partially filled the cavity. Tails were intact. There had been some mildly at upper ear & at gums. The carcass had apparently not been moved. Later we saw one coyote — it may have helped clean the carcass. Pelvis were embroden though several were pulled free from sternum. We left them — several cordon scattered in air & several on ground 1/2 mile or more from carcass.

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Gymnogyps californianus July 12, 1947 Nr. Cholame, Calif. At 3:50 p.m., from the Parkfield road, on Cholame Flats, I saw 2 condors over Gold Hill. There were 1000' head of cattle on the flats & nearly hills then. Drove them to the Gold Hill area & at 4:15 inspected a bull carcass toward which one of the condors had seemed to descend. There were about Turkey mulitures at this carcass which lay about 100 yds. N. of the road, near Gold Hill, an open ground, on a 15+ % slope. The bull had apparently died from castation about 3 days ago. Penis was pulled out, anus was open, & eyes were gone - otherwise the hide was unbroken. We found some condor down & troches near the carcass. Some troches seemed to be of a running bird or the front claws & ends of toes were dug in. We saw a Swainson's hawk nearby. We saw no more condors so left. Sky clear, breeze light. Ian McMillan told me that some local men reported seeing 4 condors over Shandon recently, from an airplane. He also said that he had looked for 2 mornings at Cholame Flats & also at Shale Hills for condors, not long ago, but had seen none. Laird Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Lelby were with us.

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oford 33/9 Gymnogypes californianus July 13, 1947 Nr. Cholome, Calif. Just south of Sold Well on Nanocde Ranch at 9:35 a.m. We saw no censors but an occasional turkey pul- ture. No ravens or turkey muttons seemed to notice the bull carcass. At 9:41 a.m. I saw 2 carcers soaring about 1 mile east of us. They circled over a brown hill, & rose, then at 9:03 headed straight toward us (4 bull carcass). There was a fair W. breeze. One, dark headed swim, had minor right sector secondary & an outer left secondary missing; the other, an in-between, also had minor left right secondary out and had ragged left secondary tips. At 9:06 they again circled, 1/2 mile east of the bull carcass. 2 turkey muttons circled near them. The dark swim soared 15±' above the older bird, 4 muttons above. 9:10, the 2 glided 1/2 mile S. The older flopped 10± times & overtook the other which lodged. 9:13, a third (also dark head) appeared over the for hill when first seen. It soared straight to below the two, circled up & joined them. There did not rise in altitude. At 9:16 all dropped below the horizon. Don McMillan saw them go down on a ploughed ridge about 1 1/2 miles from us, so we drove that way. At 9:55 She came upon the 3 carcass with several ravens atop a ploughed ridge, far from cover, about

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Gymnogyps californianus July 13, 1947 Nr. Cholame, Calif. cleared from the ribs but no ribs broken. Meat cleared from neural spines. About 1/4 meat gone from upper shoulder & haw. All viscera gone. Pelvic cage still intact. No legs yet turned inside out. Neck + head skin embroken. A hole at anus & a few smaller "lutes" nearby. This was fresh but relaxed meat - no bad smell. Probably death about a day. Apparently the carcass had been dragged about 30' so far by the birds. Perhaps they had found it yesterday when descending in this direction. Meat enough left for another meal - only about 1/3 total carcass. Inguinal region & area posterior to penis with skin not broken. We left the carcass at 10:31. It apparently lay about 1/4 mile or so from the descending in this direction. Meat enough left for another meal - only about 1/3 total carcass. Inguinal region & area posterior to penis with skin not broken. We left the carcass at 10:31. It apparently lay about 1/4 mile or so from the descending in this direction. Meat enough left for another meal - only about 1/3 total carcass. Inguinal region & area posterior to penis with skin not broken. We left the carcass at 10:31. It apparently lay about 1/4 mile or so from the S.L.O. Co. line. Fair S. breeze. Dilly had shot 17 pictures & may have got something. Feet down in 2 when they were 300+ feet in air. One man had a short rectrix left of center. Oldest had featherless ring just above ruff. Sky clear; day warm. We left. December 2, 1947 Gorman, Calif. At 12:20 p.m., when stopped at Gorman for lunch, Allan Watson & I saw one adult at the head of the canyon behind the Gorman restaurant (about

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Gymnogyps californianus December 27, 1947 # Gorman, Calif. ½ mile east of the highway 99). It soared S. about 1 mile & joined another condor ¼± mile west of the highway. The two circled for 3± minutes then bore E. across (1000±' above) 99 again. One disappeared to E. behind a hill, the other return- ed to the circling spot (12:25). Two turkey vultures had circled beneath them. Day very clear with a fair breeze from S & SW. Reason- ably the condors flopped. Temps. about 65°F. This is the first time I have seen condors from the Ridge Route. San Joaquin Valley was fog filled yesterday & today. At about 4 p.m. we arrived at Wappler Bowl & visited with Lore & Reith Percy. They said that they occasionally saw 1 or 2 condors over the ranch, that the children had seen a bunch of feathers in lower Wasky Canyon earlier this year as if a condor had died there. Percy's had lost about 3 cattle within the last month in the canyon east of the house, & that Lore had seen a couple of condors in the trees near that area one day (possibly fed on the carcass). This has so been a dry year so far - no green grass high enough for cattle feed yet. They Percy's had cut, their cattle herd drastically to save feed, and even trucked in hay for the cattle. Percy's

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Gymnogyps californianus # December 27, 1947 Hopper Ranch, Ventura Co., Calif. Believed there would be many cattle deaths this winter because of food & water shortage. December 28, 1947 Nr. Hopper Mtn, Ventura Co., Calif. Allan Watson & I hunted quail on Hopper Ranch & in Wesly Canyon. At 8:30 a.m., sky cirrus overcast, calm. Same at 10 a.m. when we first reached Wesly Canyon. A road from Percy's goes goes into Wesly Canyon to the site of the old oil well. We saw 3 deers & a golden eagle. At 10:54, saw one adult (?) circling over S. Ridge, 4 at 10:56 another. Both disappeared N. of this ridge. At 1 p.m. we arrived at Pyramid Lookout on foot. A survey revealed 7 condors:- 2 ad. & 2 immature perched in separate dead trees at Near Boost Trees, 2 imm., and 1 adult on Double Pa., 4-2 adults (perhaps 3) circling over Arundel Ridge. All perched ones were gone by 1:35. 1:40 I noticed our stop the nearest conifer at SW of Parking Place - it took off to S., circled & rose over Parking Knoll. 1:45 I saw 5 just above horizon, possibly just entering the Hopper Basin area. 1:55, I sat atop the Lookout - only one perched visible - on next to highest Near Boost Tree. 2:06, 2 adults soared S. about 700' overhead & joined 6 others near head of canyon just SW of Parking Place. All 8 circled about 700' over me, the hissing of their wings being plainly audible (one perched still). Of the 7, 4 ad. 2 imm.

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Gymnogyps californianus December 28 1947 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. one was a dark headed imm., one a near-adult (dark in center of wing patches), 47 adults. One adult briefly chased another, the hum of their speed sounding like a diving plane. Air calm, sky 7/10 serene & cirro- stratus. 2:14, 10 were in air about 1/4 mile W. of Lookout, 4 11th still perched. Fair SW breeze - no direct sun- shine now. 2:25, 2 adults & 1 imm. perched in Near Roost Tree. The one in next tree downfield (100±yds.) was on tip top, wings halfspread. This one took off with 12 flaps went (slightly down in level) to lowest branch of Near Roost Tree. After 2± minutes it began working up the tree, springing from branch to branch for about 8 "steps" until at level of next to highest limb (lowest on imm. now). To climb up, adult stood with head pointed up toward higher branch & moved head about as if looking over the situation, wings halfspread & somewhat down & back. Then it gave a quick crouch & spring & flap (wings only half out), landed with feet widespread on next branch, & sometimes put bill to branch as if for balance. Then got ready for the next step. Wings were not folded between "steps". At 2:30, only imm. & 1 adult in this tree, then another adult perched between their levels. Some of the scarers had bulging "crops". The imm. in Near Roost Tree seemed about a 3-year old. There were (2:40) 2 adults perched in Saddle Ba., 1 adult &

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Gymnogyps californianus December 28 1947 Hopper Canyon Ventura Co. inm. stop a green B.o. on Drundell Ridge. Relatively inactive period. Light breeze from W. 2:49, the inm. had moved downhill; tree from Near Roost Tree, the 2 adults remaining as before. The two gave from Saddle B.o., adult & inm. as before, 41 adult was atop Flat B.o. but left. Apparently no water at Big Cave Condor Falls, 4 no condors yet seem to perch a roost there. Use of Big Cove as a roost may not commence until there is water there. 2:55, three condors soared by 300 yds. to W. going S., then wished N. at that level, N. to W. of Flat Knump, then circled & came. One adult stop Parking Parcel Tree — then 10 condors of the 11 accounted for (2 sure inm.). 3:05, now only one on Near Roost Tree, none on Drundell Ridge. 3:15; 2 adults in Near Roost Tree, 1 inm. in first tree below (stop), 1 adult in dead B.o. below Big Mdw., 1 inm. on a whitened branch of dead B.o. below Rock Ridge (1/4 mile from adult). The 3 fliers had worked back near us, still just W. of & below the rim. One was atop a rock knoll 600' back from edge of N. Bro Drundell Ridge. Direct sunshine now; light W. breeze. 3:40, the 6 at before, & 2 adults on Saddle B.o., one lying flat. 3:51, the 5 in the Big Mdw. area as before, 4 in Saddle B.o. Two man-in Roost Tree at Big Cove. Fair W. breeze — sunshine still but cold (perhaps 60°F). 4:03, the one furthest down canyon

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Gymnogyps californianus December 28, 1947 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. Below Big Mdw. was gone; an adult, near the other adult here. The 2 adults 41 min. in Near Roost Trees so before, & there in Roost Tree & Saddle Ps. as before. One adult on Saddle Ps. had descended, 10 ± 4' was crouched flat, f.: 24; 3 at Near Roost Trees or before. Dark alto-cumulus coude covered area. One adult from below Big Mdw. changed to dead Ps. 1/4 ± mile further down canyon. None visible on Arundell Ridge or Roost Tree but one in pothole at Whitework Ridge. Becoming quite cold. We left for Hopper Ranch at 4:30 (Fair W. breeze). In South Canyon I saw 3 condors (at least 2 adults) perched in 2 dead Ps. well below the level of South Ridge. At Hopper Ranch, Dave Percy said he had seen 2 condors over the ridge N. of the house this morning. He said that even in summer 1 or 2 were seen almost every day. Perhaps any well located carcass does not escape detection for long in this third. December 29, 1947 Hopper Ranch, Ventura Co. About 9 a.m. the Percy children told me that they saw 2 condors perched in a sycamore about 3/4 mile SE of the house near the "sulphur water" while doing chores this morning. I hiked down the road and at 9:26 was opposite the 2 adults perched on top of a bare-topped sycamore about 250 yds. E. of the

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Gymnogyps californianus December 29 1947 Hopper Ranch, Ventura Co. road. The tree was 10'+ higher than surrounding ones. They took off within 3 minutes - probably disturbed by our presence (we were indeed uphill from them too)- and soared down the canyon to E. Cool NW breeze, sky 3/10 cumulus. Later investigation revealed that these birds were about 50 yds. from an overflow- ing water trough. I found no feathers or twigs near the water. They were about 150 yds. from a cow carcass. The carcass smelled and was several days old. Eyes were gone, nose & lips seemed to have been chewed, one ear was half nibbled off, & there was a 18" diameter opening above the ribs,& most of the upper ribs bare only shade of meat. I saw no feathers or other evidence that cadavre had eaten on the carcass. Probably these cadavre raested there last night. With Allan Watson I hiked up the canyon W. of the ranch house. At 10:25 slope at I saw 1 adult fly-gliding over the head of this canyon. At 10:45 we crossed the ridge into Wasley Canyon & saw one soaring, wings outspread, facing SE, perched on a limb of the dead P.S. Highest on South Ridge. There were low cumulus clouds over the Leeman area & the radio had reported a light snow there. Fair cool NW breeze. About 11:10 I saw 2 working over the slopes of upper Wasley

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Gymnogyps californianus December 29,1947 Hopper Canyon Ventura Co. Canyon, slope at 100' altitude. At 11:45 one was circling over Wooly Canyon & another about 1 mile south over the ridge, both adults. About 12:00 I saw an adult & a dark imm. soaring over head of Wooly, We had made quite a rocket shooting quail in the canyon. I hiked toward top of Hopper Mtn. & at about 12:15 saw 2 adults in 1 dead Ls. & a dark imm. in another (adjacent) in highest dead Ls. on South Ridge. At about 12:40 still there, 3 to 3 ravens were in same trees, sometimes above, below, or at same branch as cadors without notable section. Two soared over Arundell Ridge, high, at some time. About 2 p.m. I again saw 2 over the slope to N. of the ranch house, & again about 3:30 when we returned to the ranch house. Still cool (perhaps 45°F.) with fair E. breeze. Mrs. Percy thought the condors unusually frequent over the ranch canyon the past few days (because of good E. winds?). February 19,1948 Hopper Ranch Ventura Co. Talked with Leona Percy at Hopper Mountain Ranch. He said he had seen occasional condors since my last visit but none perched in trees on the ranch. There had been a storm bringing about 2" of snow and sleet and rain about February 5, and cold weather for several

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Gymnogyps californianus February 19, 1948 Hopper Ranch, Ventura Co. days about that time. The drought this year was the worst since 1877 (chack year) according to Fellmanites. Percy said his grandfather had 10,000 sheep in S. Ventura Co. in 18-(?), a drought year, and only 300 by the end of the year (much corder food then). Two horses had died on the ranch just before the storm. They were cut open & autopsied & pushed over a bluff about 1 mile E. of the ranehhouse. I examined one carcass - exposed & intact corders - but found no corder sign. Percy had seen corders circling that area one day and believed the birds had found the carcasses. Many ravens had fed at carcasses. Percy had been at this ranch since 1930. I drove to the top of ridge between the routh house & Wazily Canyon, arriving 8:45 a.m. Sky 8/10 cirro- stratus; calm, warm. 9:05, Fair E. breeze; 2 adults over circling & rising just E. slope of South Ridge. One soared up Hopper Canyon, the other worked W. over Flat Hump. Outside edge of tail tilted down & held thus before turn. Inner side primaries sometimes dipped down at start of turn. On one turn, both wings flattened (in dihedral) at start. In general, altitude lost & speed gained in turning. I liked

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Gymnogyps californianus February 18, 1948 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. up trail toward Hopper Rim. 9:15, I saw one adult perched on branch of dead Lo. near crest of Flat Knapp, an immature in similar spot 200±yds. down slope to N., 4 another adult 100±yds. further down slope. All stood quietly, upper 2 facing E., lower W.. Faint breeze. All 3 on steep slope - perhaps the 2 flying adults perched. Small patches of snow in protected spots on trail. Passed 3/4±miles W. of perched birds. Air calm. 9:30 reached Pole Canyon road. Only the imm. still perched, it appeared. Light SE breeze. 9:45 one visible in Saddle Lo. 10:00, arrived at Pyramid LO; faint SE breeze. Saw 1 perched just W. of Rock Ridge in dead Lo. (immature). 10:15 adult with 2 right secondaries and #4 right primary out soared toward LO from over Parking Knoll; 2 others soaring over South Canyon. Soaring slow and smooth but apparently very so if soarability of air good. Near adult dropped legs briefly as it passed E. of LO (100±over Rim). It joined another over Spring Canyon Mdw. 10:20, an imm. passed 50±' over LO heading N. too. First adult now over Old Cabin where it had risen in company with a circling red-tailed hawk. 10:24, this (?) over, still with hawk, circling at extreme head of Hopper Canyon (white Point area). 10:25, the imm. small low at N. Bt. Still one perched at

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Gymnogyps californianus February 18, 1948 Hopper Canyon, Calif. Rock Ridge. 10:30, one (min.? same?) now on top top of Flat Ps. Water visible at Carder Falls. Moderate white- weak at Big Cave - not evidence of concentrated roosting there. Sky V/ocino-stratus - faint to light SE breeze. Estimated 60°F. 10:38, 2 circling over E. slope top of Hopper Mtn. Five cards minimum present. Two adults atop Flat Ps, Carder To sun. 10:40, 2 circling high over Spring Canyon Mdw; a red-tailed hawk circling above them; both adults. One soared S. about ¼ mile E. of lookout, crops bulging (how come if indicative feeding?). Tilted right side of tail down, pointed bill 45° to left, then turned left. Descended E. over Rock Ridge - gave a dip; feet down; wings up though descending. 10:45, turned back W., gave 2 dips, 4 swooped up to land on branch of dead Ps. near Rock Ridge, 100±' from perched min. and 20±' above. 10:47, min. there extended wings ½ way as if begging. 10:48, the min. hopped to a 6±' higher branch facing adult. 10:59, min. off to S. and turned a large circle, taking 21 flaps in first half, then swooped to top of dead Ps. 30±' from 4 15±' above adult. 10:51, min. off to ¼± mile S., then circled & rose. Another min. + adult circling & rising over Spring Canyon Mdw., and 2 others joined there at 10:57. 1 adult (other) landed atop Flat Ps. Imm. from Rock Ridge above Horgan; adult perched as light.

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Gymnogyps californianus February 18, 1948 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. Seven condors, 3 or + imm., present (minimum). 11:00, 3 circling over Rim at head of Hopper Canyon, 3 others over Parking Knoll (I chased another several times), + 2 separate perched adults still - so a minimum of 3 condors. Breeze light, sky overcast. 11:13, 2 min., under wing patches △, circled slowly 500+ ' above Rim near 1.0. No apparent feather gaps - very perfect plumage - and both soared well (over 1 yr. old). A single turkey vulture, first seen today, soared near them. The 2 followed vulture about ½ mile 5.4 leader down slightly toward vulture (vulture flapped & rose). One imm. chased after briefly, both flex-gliding and twisting and, losing 100+ ' altitude. Then the two circled and rose together over Parking Knoll (11:18). 11:20, 2 perched adults as before. 11:25, the 2 min. circled 200+ ' over 1.0. 11:35, a possible condor perched atop Whitesacre Pk. Breeze fair + cool, from E. - most so far today. Claude Lanning - alts-status + alto- cum- ulus. 11:40, 2 perched adults as before. Perhaps these fed late yesterday or early today. About 11:55 the 1 adult disappeared from Flat Co. 12:09 one adult still on Rock Ridge and 1 (?) atop Whitesacre Pk. I left & hiked 2 miles down road to Pete Lagan's. No gates locked or signs up yet. Hiked back to Hopper Band trail and started lawn at 1:30. The road, incidentally, show.

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Gymnogyps californianus February 18,1948 Hopper Canyon, Calif. ed car tracks made since the last storm (who?). I saw an adult 4 1/2 yr. min. (under wing patches light tips to greater secondary coverts, tail with a point) soar N. over head of Wavily Canyon. Crops of both bulged, that of min. being a button V-as if skin tighter. Imm., then adult, lit in top of high heat dead Co. on Flat Ramp of South Ridge. Imm. begged, four adult, giving gentle "feeding flaps". Both shifted perch so that at about 1:50, chick faced adults' left side. There was much begging but heads mostly obscured by tree trunks. Flaps increased at times, apparently when feeding contact broken, then declined to none or nearly no flaps though wings always extended. I saw adult's head pump eye & down & twice saw adult head forced high by chick's bill. So without doubt a feeding of a 1947 chick. By 2:00, both quietly standing on same limb. Chick scratched side of head with foot. I was on open hillside 1/4+ mile away at same level. 2:19 adult gone. 2:15, it (same?) was atop dead Bo. 100± yds. from min. 2:29, one from that area flew slid fast to SE for about 1/2 miles (near Wavily Canyon), joined another, and both circled together working up canyon. Sky 1% alto stratus; cool fair S. breeze. (At 2:30)

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Gymnogyps californianus February 18, 1948 Hopper Canyon, Ventura Co. saw imm. (?-same?) stillor before.). At 2:30 I reached car. I saw then 3 condors circling together over the head of Models Canyon about 3 miles east of Happen ranch house. These worked slowly to- ward Bally as if the birds were returning from Tapo Ridge or some such area toward Hopper Canyon; on this way "home". Now at least 15 seen today. April 23, 1948 El McMillan Ranch, San Luis Obispo Co. I questioned El McMillan about sheep distribution. He said the sheep in the foothills near Coalinga now were probably on Carrizo Plain S. of Soda Lake in winter (Elis great great (?) uncle had raised sheep on Carrizo Plain about 1950 (?)) By December of a normal year, El said, the sheep were around Blackwell's Corner for shearing & lambing. Carl Twisselman's sheep were generally near Tomblor Ranch & Santa Maria Pass in winter, El said. These facts seem to indicate favorable condor food (sheep) conditions near Carrizo Plain in winter - but for condors, El thought that Carl Twisselman had a record of 5 condors for February of this year. From many occurrences, and lack of them, El believes the condor flight line from McCheaney Mtn. is straight out nearby over Nulibard Hill to the Tomblor Range, thence NW up Bitterwater Valley. Condors seen from Els Ranch & home (near Palo Bria Pass) many times, but very rarely over the San Juan River west of Led Bella or

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Gymnogyps californianus April 23, 1948. Eb McMillan Ranch, NE San Luis Obispo Co. near Shandon. On several occasions Eb has seen condors in Sands Creek area (W. of Paso Robles). One year he saw a single condor feeding in that area several times; but their flight seemed to fly straight toward McKeeney Pits, when it left (Eb thought it might be nesting time). In 1933, Eb saw one roosting in a dead tree just into Marling Canyon from Beartrap - possibly nesting? This year, Eb had seen 2 condors near the ranch already - (see letter information file). We visited the carcass of a calf about ½ mile W. of ranch house about 5 p.m. A golden eagle was feeding there, but there was no sign of a condor visit. April 24, 1948 N. Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo Co. About 10:30 visited Buckhorn Ranch area - fair weather - and searched for condors but saw only turkey vultures (few of these). Went to a calf rodeo & barbecue at Weldon Ranch & talked with many cattlemen & old timers. One of the Rector brothers (75± yrs. old) was raised on the Santa Margarita Ranch. He said condors were there when he was a boy. In 1929, he said, 29 condors moved onto Carrizo Plain & he saw them from the San Juan south. Rector's observations on other birds were poor, so condor data probably of little value. Bob & Walt Lewis - of Lewis Ranch near Simmler - said they saw a few occasionally. Roy Green of San Juan Ranch said he had seen more for 3 or 4 years. Mr. Jardin of La Panza Ranch has no recent records or

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3336 Times Daylight Saving Gymnogyps californianus April 29, 1948 Mr. Simmler, San Luis Obispo C. information. The cattle men in general knew of condors & were mildly interested in them, but apparently they paid little attention to birds. I looked about for condors occasionally until about 2 p.m., but saw none. In the late afternoon visited Painted Rocks. Saw no stocks to speak of. Elb said that cultivation in Carrizo Plains has increased tremendously since about 1970 - (get figures to check this, if possible). April 25, 1948 Beartrap Canyon, San Luis Obispo C. With Elb & Don McMillan and families, drove into lower Beartrap Canyon. Donald McMillan & I hiked to a hill from where we could watch the top of McChesney Mtn., Beartrap Canyon & part of Marting Canyon. At 8 a.m. we saw turkey multitrees perched quietly. About 8:45, I was watching for condors with telescope & binoculars. Clear, calm, warm day. We saw no condors by about 11 a.m., so Don & I descended to canyon & joined the others higher up the Beartrap Canyon. None saw any condors tho we saw golden eagles above McChesney Mtn. Apparently no condors roosting here now. We left about 3 p.m. & returned to Elb's ranch. Some stocks and fair feed conditions on La Panga Ranch near the condor roost areas. Elb told me that about 3 or 2 or 3 years ago a man at a ranch on Carrizo Plains (W. side near Wells place) told him he had run over two condors with

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Gymnogyps californianus April 23/1948 Mr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo Co. a plow. The birds, the man said, had been shot by a shepherd. Elb asked the man to get every part he could find, but later the man so told Elb he couldn't find the parts. Elb believes this man shot the condors but became fearful when told the birds were protected, so did not attempt to recover the remains. May 7/1948 Pacific Grove, Monterey Co. At the annual meeting of the Cooper Club, I talked with Collo Beck. He said that he did not remember ever having shot a condor but that he had bought them for $5 and sold them for $25. All had come from Big Sur or Jolon. Near Big Sur some condors were collected by a man named Hopkinia, Beck believed. Beck thought 2 of his condors went to Girtanner (sp.?) in Switzerland, and 1 to Dwight. Beck said he saw condors at Big Sur & south and John and south, about 1900 or earlier. He thought he saw 20 a 30 at Jalon including one young one in a low tree that he approached so closely he could have lassoed it. Beck does not remem- ber these things too clearly but has some notes that he said he would send me. At second hand I heard that Otto Bahn had been up the dis- quota in 1896 and had seen condors there. Clark Streator said that from 1883 to 87 he lived

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Gymnogyps californianus May 7, 1948 Pacific Grove Monterey Co. at Santa Barbara, Colonel Ballister had a new novel at a near Cooper Ranch near Isleta, & a condor was seen (by Streets?) at a carcass, supposedly gorged so that it could not fly. Streets said he mounted a male weighing 20 lbs., wingspread 9'1", while at Santa Barbara, that the bird went to CP Rowe the author (?). Streets's mind is not good & he is very talkative, but in general he seems accurate in what he remembers. He said he had published an article once in the Oologist (?) stating that condors were rare (1896±?). I saw 400' of 16 mm. moving pictures that Ed Harrison had taken in April 1946 (13th+14th?) from a blind atop the cliffs at Big Cave. These showed an adult brooding and carrying a feather out of the pool in its bill. Immatures brooding and playing. Dark headed immatures playing with orange head ones. About 15 condors on Whitewash Ridge & top of the cliff. Walking; flight; takeoff; soaring from below and above. A very brief shot - about 1 second - of mating display. Feather deficiencies in several birds are shown. The back view of an adult sunning atop Root Tree. Most of the pictures are clear. Ed has some kodachrome stills to go with them. These were taken with lenses up to 20' in focal length.

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Gymnogyps californianus August 13, 1948 Salinas Valley, Calif. Driving between King City and Paso Robles, I saw no cattle or other stock but much wheat. No canda food. At El McMillan's August 13, 1948 Nr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo Co. Talked with El McMillan at his home. He said that yesterday he saw 2 candra near the Rinde Ranch, and that candra had been seen there several times lately. El had lost 4 cattle from anthrax recently and the candra & turkey vultures fed on those. The candra seemed to show no fear of the ranch buildings or cars on the road, but flew quickly if a car came off the road toward them. El saw me go through the dust of a passing car in landing. This season he had seen seen only one candra which was surely a dark headed immature. One time he drove up on 12 or 15 in a ditch at a car- casa. The birds seemed to come from the direction of McCheaney Mtn. and disappear in the same direction. They usually arrived about 11 a.m. or noon. (A hired man at his ranch said that he saw one lunch at 11 a.m. recently). Lon McMillan said he thought there were few or no cattle at Cholame Flat. The animals were mostly shipped to Oregon

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Gymnogyps californicus August 14,1948 Nr. Cholame, San Luis Obispo C. before branding time. Ad Grant had sold his sheep, Ike said, & he used to furnish much car- da food. He said the eagles didn't bother the carcasses at the cattle carcasses near (1/4 mile) the ranch house but did at the sheep car- casses (near Paso Ortiga). August 15,1948 Pinole Land & Cattle Co., S.L.O. Co. Visited ranch run by El McMillan at N. end of Carrio Plains. There was a large cow carcass atop a knoll of plowed ground about 1/4 mile N.E. of the ranch buildings. It smelled very foul & was running juice from both ends. There were many turkey vultures tracks & feathers about but the carcass had scarcely been touched. At 11:00 a.m. there were about 15 turkey vultures over the carcass. Day clear & warm. We went carcass one could look directly into Beartrap Canyon & the condor roosting areas there. We visited El working in the fields. He said that the condors had come down near the house to feed on offal from steer slaughtering not long ago. They were flushed by two people on foot at close range but returned to the forest a few minutes after the people left (Mrs. McMillan saw). El thought it very unusual that the birds re-

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Gymnogyps californianus August 14, 1948 Carrizo Plains, S.L.O. Co. turned to the food. On another day he put out some jockeablelite and the condor fed on there, dragging them about. In setting the affolfitbody nothing was left, said Elb. He saw condor tracks indicating that one condor had dragged a steer head weighing over 20 lbs. Another time he saw about 5 condors at a sheep carcass near the road a few miles W. of the ranch house but did not have time to watch them. The rancher told him later that the condors were around all day. One rancher said that nearly running feeding condors were not disturbed by a tractor, Elb had noted the same thing in Sandhill Cranes. We revisited the carcass about 2:15 p.m. and flushed about 15 turkey multures from the carcass, but no condors. Saw about 500 head of cattle on a ranch just SE of the Pivole, in open rolling hill country suitable for condor feeding. We drove of cattle dock toward Chalone & saw about 1000 head in two bunches in Betterwater Canyon. Elb said the weather had been windy for several days be- fore today. Perhaps today the condors took a different route because of the change (eastly wind today; NW before). One group of condors flushed by Elb flopped heavily heavily & made for some nearby hills.

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Gymnogyps californianus August 14, 1948 Nr. Cholame S.L.O. Ca. They found ascending currents & rose. El told me that the furthest west he had seen a condor in the Shandon area was about 3 miles W. of Shandon. We revisited the cow carcass about 2:15 and flushed about 15 turkey vultures from it. Then we drove about 7 miles toward Brimble, stopping to search for cairdary, but saw none, so drove down the Rittlewater to El's house. Saw about 1000 head, mainly in bunches near buildings, along this route. At about 5 p.m. we drove up the Parkfield road and viewed Cholame Flat. These were perhaps 200 head of cattle there. I saw one milling flock of about 50 turkey vultures. In the evening, at Shandon, Kenneth Twisselman told me that his uncle had 2 bunches of sheep in Carrizo Plains near Soda Lake. El knew of other bunches, one near Painted Rock, & supposed that this might be 6000 sheep in the plains now. Per- haps this is where the condors are feeding primarily- Carrizo Plains, or sheep, & roosting at Mt. Shoney Mtn. El said they burnt the carcasses of the anthrax, killed cattle. August 15, 1948 Cholame Ranch, San Luis Obispo Co. At 9:20 I turned off the Cattawood Pass road into the Cholame Flat road, and immediately started watch- ing for condors. Day clear, warm, calm. I saw-

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Gymnogyps californianus August 15, 1948 Cholame Ranch, San Luis Obispo. A few turkey vultures soaring slowly & steadily, air- dicating low soarability of the air. I saw 50+ ravens, mainly perched on the ground, & 2 swanian hawks, riding. The hawks could easily be mistaken for condors by a novice because of the light buff area anterioly beneath the wings. The hawk wing is more point- [illegible] than the condors (or red-tailed hawks), + the tail is light colored. By 11:40 I had sighted no condors though I kept watch on Cholame Flat & Castle Mtn. Breezy nil to fair, warm, clear. August 16, 1948 To Cayoma Valley, S.B.C. May & I drove up Bettewater Valley to Finale. The [illegible] carcass at Els McMillan's had been burnt up, we saw no condors there about noon. We drove thru Carrizo Plains but saw no condors nor bands of sleep (may have missed them as the plains are large). Saw 500+ cattle on the plains, much wheat stubble, & much undeveloped land. We stopped at Cayoma Ranger Station and talked with Ranger Boyce & a guard (corssaint?); named Flynn. Flynn said that at Bega Peak about July 1 he saw 6 condors (1 evening & next morning). In flying, they "grunted like pigs" he said. This sound was apparently the sound of flapping from the way he described it, + he said it was what the wings were flapped (sound probably good - so occasional

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Gymnogyps californianus August 16,1948 To Ojai,Ventura G. roasting near Reyes Peak. Boyes said that condor had been seen in Boncho Nuevo Canyon, that this was whitewash on rocks there. Boyes said there were no sheep in Cuyama Valley & that few caribou had been seen in the Big Pine area. Only McPherson, Nordhoff, & Thorne Pt. Lookouts were manned- most fire search was done from planes from Santa Barbara. We called the lookouts by radio; McPherson had seen 1 or 2 this season, Nordhoff about 15 this season, & Thorne Pt. quite a few- up to 5 at once. Boyes said most reports had been from near Tapatopa ridge at Thorne Pt. this season. Boyes was friendly & the lookouts apparently famil- ian with caribou. We drove over Cuyama Mt. to Ojai & I talked briefly with Langer Lyda. He had been to Nordhoff Pk. recently & said the lookout had told him of seeing occasional caribou there, that the lookout knew them from buzzards. A trail crew had worked over Whiteledge Peak last winter and seen caribou on several occasions. The petroleum men at Noppa Canyon had found no evidence of trespass though some car of oil geologists had gone in & out (due to July). The oil leases at Bucksnort & Agua Frio were active & this would probably be drilling there. We drove on to Fillmore & saw Ed Rayton. He had not been out

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Gymnogyps californianus August 16,1948 To Mr. Fillmore, Ventura Ca. much lately but May 8 had seen up to 5 at once at Hopper Rion, including adults & immatures, + figured about 9 condors total there (some in Big Cove area). We drove to Hopper Canyon & visited Eugene Percy. He & son Stephensaw 3 condors a few days ago perched in 2 dead big saw spruce in head of Wasiily Canyon. Water this year is low in Hopper Creek (Dry at Cada Falls?). August 17 & 18/1948 Hopper Ranch, Ventura Ca. In 2 days at the ranch, not going into Wasiily Canyon, we saw no condors. Weather clear + warm. Aug. 22/1948 Tejon Ranch, Kern Ca. At headquarters of Tejon Ranch, I saw 1 condor at 12:20 (daylight saving time). It approached from E. at about 1000' altitude & headed toward the group of turkey vultures at the trash dump 1/4 mile W. of the building. Again at 1 p.m I saw 1 overhead (adult), & it bore off to E. (toward Cummings Mts.?). At 2 p.m. I saw 2 adults heading NE from the same area at about 1000' altitude. I think the condors (2 or 3) were attracted by the activity of the vultures. The condors apparently did not land. Perry Sprague said he saw 43 condors at once last November not far from headquarters at a carcass. Cattle fed optimally short this year though a normal number of cattle were present. Sprague said that the ranch had

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Gymnogyps californianus August 22, 1948 Tejon Ranch, Kern Co. 297,000 acres. Of course much of this was leased to people growing potatoes & cotton & drilling for oil. Some of the wells near the ranch headquarters were producing well; 4 more holes were in the process of drilling. Sprague said he had seen 5 condors near the ranch house about 2 weeks ago. Sept. 2, 1948 Berkeley, Calif. Al Wool of San Jose called. He said he had been to Happer Canyon Mar. 24 and again in May, up the first occasion he saw up to 16 condors, mainly roosting on "Grundell Ridge" in the Big Cave area. He looked at #12 nest hole but saw no signs of nesting. The May trip he saw only a few birds, and little activity near "Big Cave", but about 6 p.m. he saw one descend to the #12 nest hole, and there was whitewash there - probable nest. Wool intended to take another trip to this spot in October, he said. He saw no evidence of fox- passing in this area. December 29, 1948 Cholame, Calif. (Elan McMillan) Elen Mc Millan said that he and others saw 3 condors over the San Juan River near the foot of Kelly Canyon on December 11 while quail hunting. Two of the birds appeared to be dark immatures. This was the first time that they had seen condors.

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Gymnogyps californianus December 20, 1948 Cholame, Calif. in that vicinity (San Juan River). Reviewing his notes, Elb told me that there was scarcely a day in July or August when condors could not be seen near the Pinala Ranch. The day that he drove up on a group of about 12 at an anchorage killed, they rushed back forth like Turkeys who alarmed, then took off down hill to the east, and soared low into the canyon before rising. The Dec. 11 birds seemed to have much difficulty in flying in the east wind, losing altitude rapidly when heading westward. They finally disappeared in the direction of the Cheaney Petr. Elb thought that the birds had been feeding before they saw them. Today there was fog over the San Joaquin Valley, had been for about 10 days. At Elb's ranch & Bitterwater Camp there was cold fog most of the day. Fog might affect the winter distribution of condors. At Los Banos yesterday I talked with Peter C. Manson who had been in that area since 1987. He said that in the early days he saw a herd of about 150 antelope near Firebaugh. He had never heard of tule elk or condors. He used to work for Henry Miller - there were many sheep, horses & cattle in the western San Joaquin Valley. December 22, 1948 Nv. Shandon, Calif. At about 2 p.m., Dan McMillan & Donald McMillan saw two condors soaring about 2 miles south of the San Juan Ranch headquarters. They were quiet hunting at the time.

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Gymnogyps californianus December 23,1948 Arroyo Grande, Calif. I talked with Fred Ross, game manager, who lives at 1 Kaley on. He told me that he had been a trapper in the Cholame area from May 1942 to spring of 1943. He often saw carders over Conijo Bluff he said. Six was the most he saw at one time. In Steil Canyon (not far from Antelope Valley near Cholame) he once came upon 4 carders on the ground feeding on a skunk he had trapped. That was in July 1942. Ross information seems to be reliable. April 5, 1949 Ventura Co., Calif. With John Baker, Rickel (Supervisor Los Padres N.F.), Laffney (Asst. Sup), Lyda (Dist. Ingr., Ojai), and Crone miller (Asst. Regional F.S.), drove to Happen Canyon via Pale Canyon road. Crone miller said that 2 men in his office, Jay and Strathkin, had seen 7 carders roasting on Breakbridge Mtn. recently. Lyda said that on March 25, Near Whiteside Pk., a trail crew (including Dalkley, the carder area patrolman last year) saw 24 carders. A few hundred yards inside the forest boundary on the Pale Canyon road, there was a wire cable across the road, locked by a U.S.F.S. lock, and a sign stating that the Despo wildlife area was closed except by permit from the Forest Supervisor.

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Lynxnygypa californianus April 5, 1949. Further out the road we met a Fish & Wildlife Service trapper named Dilzan. He said he had seen no cardos in that area but had caught several wildcats and foxes and a few coyotes. The carcasses he threw over the bluff. He used only scent, not bait, but said he sometimes caught turkey vultures. The normal set was double, but the animal usually sprung both traps — this would probably prevent catching vultures which fed on animals in the traps. The forest service men had no knowledge of the presence of the trapper in this area. Croninville said he would see the man who was in charge of their work and have trappers kept out of the cardor nesting area. At 1:05 p.m., we saw 1 adult over Parking Place — center rectrix missing. At 2 p.m. we saw a juvenile — pointed tail — soaring well but with much tail tilting over North Ridge. Then we saw another adult (2:10 p.m.) in the same area. There was water in North Creek but I could see none falling over Big Cave (from a distance). The last rain, about ¼", was about 2 weeks ago (acc. to Lydia at Sjai). According to the F.S. people, the area could not be closed to game wardens. We agreed that Benson and Percy who own cattle in the Despue At Wildlife Preserve, should have permits to enter, & that permits should not be required of persons owning land within the area (or in Little Despue

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Lymnogyps californianus April 5,1949 Ventura Co, Calif, region). Baker was for including everyone and showing no preference. Rickel wanted to do nothing until a policy for the area was written. The F.S. people said that actually there was no way in which a man could be succe- sfully prosecuted for entering such an area. Dallin would supposedly go on duty as cador patrolman on April 11 after numerous paper machinations in San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Ojai. Rickel de- splored any additional closures - there always brought criticism of the F.S. by stockman and hunter organ- izations. Rickel said that the man who fly the fire patrol (2x a day in fire season) say that they often see cadors, especially near Topatopa ridge. Overcast, ciris stratus, but fair breeze today. I saw no perched cadors in Popper Canyon from 12 to 7:30pm. May 25,1949 Cholame, San Luis Obispo Co. At Cholame Flat, watched from about 8am. to 11am., searching for cadors, but saw none. About 100 sows, only 2 or 3 turkey vultures. At least 500 cattle grazing. Clear warm day. Evidently the cadoras are not at present feeding in this area. Dan McMillon with the Eric Reynolds', watched here earlier in the month but saw none. Dan says that from Cuyama Valley to S. Monterey Co. there are many cattle carcasses. The cattle have been dying of lack-

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Gymnogyps californianus May 25, 1949 San Luis Obispo Co spur poisoning. El McMillan, Jardin of La Banza ranch, & others corroborate this. We drove to Pinole Ranch. El said that turie this spring (me april 24), a condor was seen at midday in the head of Cedar Canyon (WOL. of Pinole Ranch in San Joaquin drainage), & one day 2 (?) were flushed from a calf coyote carcass near Willow Canyon on La Banza ranch. We drove to La Banza ranch & talked with the manager, Jardin. He said that he saw 2 condors dragging a calf near the San Juan Creek near Beartrap Canyon about 2 months ago. He said he tried to keep track of the condors because many people were interested in them, & that his impression was that they arrived about November and remained until spring. Once in a while he saw a few, never many - usually near Beartrap Canyon. In a fair E wind, we watched the roosting area at head of Beartrap from about 3 to 4 pm but saw no condors. May 26, 1949 San Luis Obispo Co., Calif. El yesterday said that the coyote carcass upon which con- dors were working was old - the hair was slipping, - but not flyblown, & that the birds had apparently dragged dragged the carcass but had not yet eaten it. From least lawn in Beartrap Canyon I watched from about 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saw Turkey vultures (10) but no condors. Clear, warm, slight breeze. Of course 1 or 2 condors could have left, not

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Gymnogyps californianus May 26, 1949 San Luis Obispo Co., Calif., passing over the lower canyons, without being seen — essentially no condors present; no evidence of nesting. Nesting previous year, an imm. might be seen in area. Dan McMillan says that the 5 condors which Buch Kester (of Parleyfield) reported were the first ever ever reported near due to his knowledge. This indicates some change in the range of the birds. Kester was a rider in Stone Canyon for years & never saw condors there (about 1915-20 I don't think). Dan thinks Kester a most reliable observer and me who pays attention to wildlife. Dan does not regard reports of condors further N. in Matting Co., as infallible — even those by Dave Delcher. My belief is that except for vagrants, condors now do not range north of Castle Mountain.

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Gymnogyps californianus June 5, 1950. Berkeley, Calif. Bass Welch, game warden at Porterville, phoned long distance to tell me of a reported condor nest in the northeastern part of Tuole Indian Recreation near Mule Peak at the 6600 foot level. A man whom he considered to be reliable had told him of a condor which roosted was seen to leave that area daily at about 3:30 p.m. The man had picked up cedar feathers from beneath the tree and Welch had seen them and was sure they were of condors. Welch was going to try to visit the area and watch the bird. He had seen 5 condors recently at same place he saw 12 last fall. Believe nest is in hole in redwood tree - cavity similar to cave.

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Gymnogyps californianus Porterville, Calif. August 19, 1950. Visited Raewell Welch, game warden at Porterville and asked him about the supposed condor nest on Tule Indian Reservation. Welch had no recent news about it and rather doubted that it was really a nest. I went to Tule Indian Reservation and drove up the road about 20 miles beyond headquarters to a logging camp at Redwood Canal at the head of Redwood Creek. The upper part of this road was built last spring by a logging company. I found Leo Claude Rauch, Jr., son of the owner of the Rauch had climbed a pine tree "about 30 feet" from the nest and looked in. He was sure he had seen a fuzzy gray bird there. Rauch also said that in June he had seen 5 condors at once in the Redwood Creek area. He showed me the tree with nest. It was a Sequoia about 12' d.b.h. and 170+ feet tall, living, with green foliage. About 80 feet up tree on S.E. side was a hole about 4" in height (Rauch thought perhaps 6 ft.). A large branch had apparently broken off and fire had burnt out a hole at the base of branch. I saw a young condor in the hole while standing on the road. Its head was grayish flesh-color indicating an age of about 18 weeks. Breast was dark gray fluffy down. Tree was on N.W. side 100 feet from the logging road; its base about 20' above level of road. Tree on moderately steep slope (N.W. slope). At base of tree were a few condor feathers. The ground was much beaten by caterpillar tracks and trees within 50 feet had been felled. The men said that blasting had been done on the road near the tree. The disturbance must have been considerable. Rauch had not seen more than

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Gymnogyps californianus August 19, 1950 tulare Co., Calif. Tule Indian Reservation, one adult at this tree. Another man said the birds absent- and the nest by across a similar hole just above and SW of the first. There was a pine tree (18") about 25' from the nest hole & directly in front of it. A large stub branch extended from a cut 6' hole from just below the nest. I supposed the young one would eventually perch there. One man said the adults sometimes perched in another redwood about 200' downhill from first. Forest less of yellow pine, bigtree, Douglas fir, & sugar pine. The bigtrees were supposedly not to be logged but some were sawed & fence posts had been split from them. Rouch said that logging commenced about May 1 and continued until stopped by rain+ snow (Oct. to Dec.). Elevation at tree about 6500 ft. Lola Location 1 mile NW Parker Peak. Rouch's address: Box A, Springville, Calif. The existence of this young bird in nest shows that a nest, once started, can stand very strong periodic disturbances, even blasting, without causing adults to desert. It may be that disturbance was slight until after egg hatched. Trees around nest tree hide it from observers except from a few points so that bird at nest may see few men. It will be important to note whether this site will be used again after sustaining so much disturbance. The existence of this nest shows means that there may be nesting in the Tehachapis or Kern Canyon areas and that all condors seen in this part of their range are breeding birds with nests. It is

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Gymnogyps californianus August 19, 1950 Tule Indian Reservation, Tulare Co. also evident that it is the form of the cavity which makes it suitable for nesting, not the fact that it is in rock. To a cardo, a huge tree is as steep as no different than a cliff. August 21, 1950. Los Angeles, Calif. Attended open hearing on whether to withdraw from mineral exploration the land in the Sespe Wildlife Reserve. Russell, a Ventura Co. promoter, presented letters & clipping's showing cardo reports from Bakersfield area (Granite Star, Kern Co. Park, Tegui Ranch). Evidently cardos still subsist feeding in that region in numbers. Ed Harrison said that a man had written him that he shot some squirrels & put them out (near Bakersfield) and that the cardos came down to feed on them. Apparently there have been a few squirrels about cardos in Bakersfield California this year. September 13, 1950. With Glen and Jan McMillan went to Tule Indian Reservation to check status of cardo nest. Claude Rouch, at the logging camp, told us that about 2 weeks ago Ed Harrison, Shuffler, and another man came up, that Ed climbed the tree with the help of Rouch, & that Ed took many pictures of the young bird in the nest. Rouch said that the young bird and an adult had been seen at the nest yesterday. Mr. & Mrs., Rouch believed that road work near the tree commenced about between May 1 and 15. This would be shortly after the egg hatched so probably adults were not kept from brooding the chick as they are usually very bold at this stage. We went to the tree about 11 a.m. and Glen McMillan and Rouch climbed

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Gymnogyps californianus September 13, 1950. Tule Indian Reservation, Tulare Co. dark gray. Tree about 175' high, I judge. September 15, 1950. Letter from Rozwell C. Welch (Sept. 8, 1950) tells of seeing 10 cormorants about 10 miles east of Patterson, about 2 miles NE of Success, on Sept. August 19. Two at same place August 18. September 13, 1950 Shandon, Calif. Elen McMillan told me that on Sept. 12 he saw 4 cormorants over his house. He had heard earlier report of 5 being seen by a man named Davies at Annette. Mrs. Dave Rambo saw 5 on water trough south of Cholame Ranch about July 27. September 14, 1950. Cholame, Calif. On way back to Hastings Reservation, looked for cormorants at (D.S.T.) Cholame Ranch from 9:50 to 10:20 a.m. None seen. About 500 cattle & several old carcasses on Cholame Flat. Turkey multivus (10±) and ravens (5±) present there. September 24, 1950 Tule Indian Reservation, Tulare Co. With Elen McMillan visited the cormorant nest, arriving about 8 a.m. (Standard time). The young bird now perched on a branch about 3" in diameter, about 20' directly below the nest hole. Some whitewash on ground under bird but I could find no bones or pellets. Measured height of nest hole as 95' from base tree by taping base-line and taking vertical angle of 45°. Practically everyone absent from logging camp today. We waited on the road about 100 yards from nest tree and at

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Gymnogyps californianus Tulare Co., Tile Indian Reservation, September 24, 1950 about 10 a.m. heard and saw a condor soar 2000' above us and soon away down the canyon. Probably adult leaving to forage; perhaps kept from chick by us. We left. El told me that 3 condors were seen near his house a few days ago. October 12, 1950. Card from Elen McMillan tells of visit to the Big Tree nest the Thursday before Oct. 10 (letter dated Oct. 10). No sign of young condor. Loggers, including Rauch, had seen no strangers about. Much more droppings under tree than on September 24, 50. Youngster probably stayed in tree to October 1 or later. El could not find the young bird in 1 hour of searching.

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