Field notes, v1400
Page 577
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus March May 31, 1946 Nr. Mt. Poso Cal P. They set off in a glide toward Breckenridge Mtn. until about 7 miles from me & at 2000' altitude. at 4:22 Then they circled again - and I lost them. The NW breeze continued. The carcass was about 1 mile N. of a farmhouse - I did not have time to visit it. There were a few cattle in this area. June 1, 1946 E. of McFarland, Calif. At 6:30 a.m. I visited the carcass where I saw condors & turkey vultures yesterday - it proved to be a calf, still in the soft-hoofed stage. The hide was brown & white Hereford. The location was about 8½ miles E. of McFarland, about ½ mile W. of Porterville road, & 2 ½ miles N. of McFarland- Woody road. The remains were on a rounded ridge crowned with 3" cropped dry grass & higher dry wild volunteer oats. The slope was about 5%. There was a barbed wire fence about 200 yds. to W. & a farmhouse about 1 mile to S. The town of McFarland was clearly visible from there. The remains were in a sink for stream? about 750 yds. Apparently the carcass first lay at the uphill end. There I found many tufts of hair & hide, about 20 pieces of condor-like down, a condor secondary, 2 condor "lockets", & a few turkey vulture feathers. 100' down 50' the slope from this was one remains, & 50' further the other remains. These were nearly cleaned & appear