California Condor Eben D. Millan 14 November 1963 It was calm at the lower elevations on the east side of the Sierra Nevada range at sunrise in the area about Saltdale in Kern County, California. The sky above was clear but storm clouds could be seen hovering above the high Sierran peaks. At 8:30 A.M. when crossing from Jaw Bone Canyon over into Kelso Valley strong west winds were blowing. Recent rains had sprouted grasses and in some places plants were blooming and already developing seed. I spent some time in Kelso Valley and in the Kelso Creek drainage but saw no large birds flying - it remained windy in the passes until 3:00 P.M. When I left the area and headed west, rain commenced falling just as I arrived home at 5:30 P.M. Few mammals were noted on the desert and in the Kelso Valley area - Jack Rabbits appeared scarce and Rat signs were lacking - A heavy rainfall that had occurred some months back, probably on or about August 7 or 8 of 1963, did considerable washing throughout the east slope of the Sierra from Tehachapi northward to Wallace Pass, I suppose this drowned many small mammals as well as those like Rabbits and squirrels - Erosion ditches are everywhere as a result of this flood and great amounts of Granite Soil was carried down from the mountains and deposited in the lower areas. These conditions must be hard on all wildlife.