California Condor Eben Jachmillan 22 June 1963 All hands were up and had finished breakfast by 8:30 A.M. At 10:00 A.M. Ranger Norris, John Holman, Bob Marshall, Gan and I headed up the Sisquoc River on horseback. Two Red-tailed hawks were seen circling above the west side of the river gorge about ½ mile above our camp. We lunched at Cottonwood Camp, proceeded on up river to within a short distance of Bear Camp when the hour of day forced us to return to South Fork Guard Station before dark. One Red-tailed Hawk seen on return down Canyon. The day remained cool with some light clouds at times. Observation Conditions were perfect throughout the day, a brisk west wind commenced blowing in the evening. At dusk a Poor-will flew in and alighted on a rock within 50 feet of where we sat eating our supper. This Poor- will flew away when Bob Marshall walked towards it. During the night a Fox called from the darkness nearby the Cabin. During our trip, or ride, up the Canyon today, Ranger Norris stated he considered himself an expert on all things dealing with forestry or the management of a Forest. When asked what the name of a certain shrub was he identified it as an Elder from the berries on its stems. The shrub he identified as Elder was, I am quite sure, Ceanothus leucodermis, or, Chaparral Whitethorn, a very important successional plant in the forest lands of Interior California. Mr. Norris also identified an Amorpha as a Locust. It is known as a mock Locust, but it's not a true Locust. Mr. Norris can identify very few birds, he not knowing the difference between a Crow and a Raven. In fact his knowledge of the living animals and plants of the area in which he works is very limited; surely not a man to be trusted with determining the ecological values of any given area; But here he is apparently foot-loose and fancy free.