Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
29/6
Gymnogyps californianos
March 3, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Glitter
Knoll - 500+ above creek bed. The same app.
seared to face W. and had a large (6'tall) mouth,
5' high
was apparently quite shallow. The adult was
still in this cave - a small part of bird visible -
at 2:32. Sky 4/10 cumulus, fair breeze, at 2:30.
Retrogressing - at about 1:40 I saw 4, all adults
apparently circling flapping often
next over SE corner of North Slope. One seemed
to be chasing another while rising & flapping.
Flaps were about 6/2½ seconds - 7 maximum
number of consecutive flaps seen. Once the
chased bird flapped faster than the normal
tempo for 6+ flaps - as if to elude pursuer.
I went higher on North Slope to view White-
wash Ledge & #11 nest. Counted 16 condors
total - 7 in air - at Big Cave area at 2:50.
The 7 next circled over foot of East Canyon
and grew to 10, then over Brundell Ridge & grew
to 13. 11 were on cliff - so at least 24
condors, & at least 5 of these immature.
One imm. had orange head but sooty or if
still covered with black small feathers. The
cave where lone adult was perched proved to
be well whitened at mouth and apparently
a pathole roost. I have seen condors roosting
here on previous occasions. The lunch episode