Field notes, v1400
Page 479
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus May 9, 1946 Nr. Famoso, Calif. in that area - there were 10+ buzzards scattered also in that vicinity. 2:23, again saw 2 condors in same vicinity- one spiraled down sharply, wings flared, feet feet down, as if to land; & the other continued soaring back & forth at 300' altitude. The latter circled & rose down- wind until at about 2000' altitude, then glided stead- ily toward Fulton Pk. in the distance as if "going home". A fair NW breeze continued. 2:45 I saw 2 beyond the power line about 3 miles to E. of the Corner- circling. 2:48, I saw 4 condors & 15+ buzzards circling in a loose group about 1/2 miles NE of the Corner. I watched one - it wandered about 1 mile SE, then back over the others at high altitude (1500'), at 2:58 I saw 3 condors spiraling down, legs extended, over the same area as before (out of my sight behind a hill). I drove toward that spot but the condors- 6 of them - flushed when I was out of sight so that I couldn't see up on what they were feeding (3:15). Two seem- ed to take flight 1/4 mile distant after 1 minute, & 4 adults circled near the car at 100' altitude. Two adults showed the disturbed crop area & 2 did not. ? 3:23, the 4 circled over the area 1/4 mile W. of where flushed, 3 with feet down. Perhaps they were not disturbed by the car. One parachuted down at 3:25 & another glided into the hollow with feet +three not extended. All 4 were "in" by 3:26 1/2, & the remaining