Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus
April 9, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif.
perched at Big Cave area but frequent shifting. saw an
adult leave fast of pool. 4:55, at least 1/2 at Big
Cave area & much shifting still - 1 atop lost tree, now at
pool, 1 circling fut down, 5 on whitewash ledge, 2 on ridge
over cave, 7 atop cliff (2, 2's). 5 p.m. - also 1 adult flat
on top branch of Flat Ro. & another circling above W.
West Ridge. Light breeze still, smokey haze in deep Canyon.
So - at least 15 condors seen. Returned to base camp.
April 10, 1946 Hopper Canyon, Calif.
At 7:25 I was in car blind about 1/4 mile E. of the
horse carcass. 3 ravens & 3 turkey vultures were feeding
on the carcass at that time. Sky clear, fair E. breeze,
very dry 54°F. 7:55, 6 ravens & 5-6 turkey vultures
constantly at carcass - occasionally a t. v. pecked at
a raven & drove it back. I saw 1 adult - then
2 adults & we min. at 7:58 - over the Rim SW of carcass.
They soared 100 ±' above the brush & rocks to N. rim,
than cut back & skimmed 50 ±' above rocks near
the carcass (8:03). 8:09, the 3 skimm'd 30 ±' over the
carcass, min. especially close, but not down,
min. following pair. 8:12, one adult alighted atop
the rock point about 50 yds. S. of the carcass,
4 min. beside it. Ravens & t.'s continued feeding.
The min. launched to edge of the cliff almost imme-
ediately & by 8:15 was (?- down near carcass?). Neither
dist was landed. Adult stood alone, puff ups. A turkey