california condor Edwin Medmillan 9 September 1964 A letter from H. Elliott McClure of Box 6119, Yamato, APO 323 - US Forces, Tokyo, Japan, with photographs of Condor he had taken on April 23 1949 at the Bofer Ranch at Rancheria about 15 miles East of Bakersfield, Kern Co., and also notes of Condor observations he had made in Kern County. 'The Condor records that I have are as follows: On April 10, Mr. Martin (I do not have his initials) who lived near Granite Station saw 20-25 condors on his ranch above Granite Station. He wrote to the "Californian" (Bakersfield) about it. The Editor of the "Californian" contacted me on April 13 and printed a story on April 14. Mr. Rofer in the Tehachapi area called me about 14 Condor on his place on April 15, we went up at 2 P.M., and saw two. We went again on April 16 but saw only one. On April 23 when the photos were taken there were six in the ranch area when we arrived about 9:00 A.M., and Mr. Rofer had seen 26 there the day before. On April 17 I met Mr. Martin at Edna Williams' place and we discussed the birds, the birds. His ranch is several miles north of the Rofer place. His largest count was 32 at 2:20 P.M., on his place on April 26. The birds were apparently feeding on dead animals at both ranches where people were watching but protecting them. After this date they moved away and I have no further reports of them. I must say that seeing these gigantic birds and marveling at their flight control by manipulating their primaries was the greatest thrill of my three years in Kern County. I did not see any sick or dead condors but there were reports of them in newspapers at this time and I remember that one was killed by making contact between highline wires as he soared through them. H. Elliott McClure -