California condor survey field notes, v1477
Page 261
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
California Condor Eben McMillan 26 February 1964 [illegible] Jackrabbit Carcasses. This Condor stood looking at this Carcass until a Raven came and lit below on the hillside about 30 feet away. The Condor flew to where this Raven was and drove the Raven into the air by running and flapping Towards it at 11:03 A.M. After Raven had left the area this Condor walked back up the hill near where the rabbit Carcass was and stood gazing at it then moves up and crouching with knees bent and body close to ground, stretched its neck as far as possible and picked at the rabbit carcass with its beak. In nibbling at this Carcass it was moved a bit, at which this Condor jumped back and walked away, then flew into the air and moved uphill and hovered above the deer carcass at 11:07 A.M. This Condor returned and landed near the lower rabbit carcass again at 11:09 A.M., walked near the Carcass looking down at it with head and neck stretched forward as a hawk sees turkeys do when following a snake along in the grass. Now and then this Condor would flip its wings and jump as if something had frightened it. Also now and then it would look behind itself as if to be sure something were not coming upon it from behind. At 11:12 this Condor flew from where it had been near the carcass of one of the lower Jackrabbits and proceeded to hover above the deer Carcass where several Raven were feeding, and flying. At 11:13 A.M. it returned and lit near Lower rabbit carcass again and went through the same procedure of circling this Carcass and watching it intently. It flew again at 11:15 A.M.