california condor Eben McMillan 15 January 1964 The East wind roared throughout the night. Screech owl were heard calling in the early morning hours. It remained cold. At 7:45 A.m. Two Raven flew Northward and circled above our camp. At 8:03 4.m. one adult Golden Eagle circled high above the east face of Hopper Mountain. At 8:30 A.m. one adult condor was observed sitting, or floating, on updraft of wind just North of crest of Rocky ridge to the North of our camp. This bird faced into this strong current and held its wings visibly motionless as it drifted slowly up, then down slightly, or to the left or right sideways, all motions being very slow. It would also drift upwards and backwards at the same time, or upwards and forward with seemingly total control of direction and movement at all times. At no time did I see this bird appear to be out of balance or buffeted in any way. As this hovering on the wind went on the condor slowly drifted North and West, upward, following the crest of the ridge that forms the North boundary of Sulpher creek and rises to the Northwest where it forms the North end of Hopper Mountain. After drifting up this ridge, always facing into the wind and never circling around, this condor finally ended up hovering on the wind above the top of the North end of Hopper Mountain. After remaining above North Hopper Mountain for several minutes, in an apparent motionless position, this condor drifted castward, downward, then Southward, in a big sweep, all the while facing outward into the wind until it had swung with the wind, at which time it turned Southward and raced away on the wind and passed from sight behind the hill, or the South end of Hopper Mountain, at 8:36 A.m. see diagram on next page.