California Condor Eban Mcmillan 29 October 1963 I was up at daylight from my bed where I had pitched it last night in a grassy flat about one half mile above the Humble Oil Company Oil Operation, on ridge between Plaito and Salt Creeks, on San Emigdio Ranch. Burrowing owls were heard whistling at daybreak and, Immediately following, meadowlarks joined, and made the hills ring with their clear whistles. A bit after sunrise I visited a fellow who tends the oil wells for Humble Oil Co. near where I camped. He informed me that employees were not allowed to carry firearms onto the San Emigdio Ranch property and that he abides by these rules. This fellow also told me that game is very plentiful now but that during the time the County of Kern and the California Division of Fish and Game People were managing the hunting on this ranch, game became very scarce and few wild creatures were seen about. This man also told me that the producing wells in this field were becoming less productive with each year that passes. He did not think it would last many more years. Driving on up this ridge, from where I camped, I met Take Barnes, the person who attends to livestock water on San Emigdio Ranch. He had never seen a Condor to know it even though he has been on this ranch since 1957. In his spare time he now is helping with the squirrel poisoning campaign on this ranch. He told me that several of the dead animals, that expired about the headquarters, had been cut open and that yellow Glared grain was found in only one of them. He had no explanation of why the other creatures had died. Mr. Barnes pumps water all year around for San Emigdio Ranch. Driving on up the ridge I reached the end of Navigation on a Point to the west of Neason's Flat that is located in the bottom, and near the -