California condor survey field notes, v1477
Page 539
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
California Condor Eben McMillan 29 may 1964 was present. The Condor was at a higher elevation than was the plane. At 4:25 Another Condor was sighted over nearly the same point on the ridge, to the west side of the Canyon in which I was walking, as was the Condor when first sighted at 4:00 p.m. This second Condor also showed gaps in the feathers at the end of the right wing. I was not close enough to identify just which feathers were missing. This second Condor was also an adult, was flying close to ground, over a point in the ridge to the west. I would think both observations could be of the same Condor from the feather gaps in the end of right wing. The plane had left the area when the second Condor observation was recorded. During my search on foot this afternoon I observed the bodies of three dead squirrels, one Kangaroo Rat, and one Wood Rat (Neotoma sp.). I dissected the kangaroo Rat and found it had no Poison Grain in its Pouches, but did have a considerable amount of undigested grain in its stomach. Buzzards were about the area during the time I was hiking today. Undoubtedly Buzzards fed on poisoned ground squirrels although I have not witnessed them in the act of tearing the carcass of a squirrel apart yet. I returned to Horse Thief camp at 6:05 p.m. to find Warden Reed waiting for me. The squirrel poisoning crew of Ret Ellsworth Ranch were in camp. Warden Reed told of seeing lots of hawks & buzzards during the 75 minute -