Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gymnogyps californianus
February 12, 1946 Whiteacre Pk, Calif.
wing. 30+ sec. later turned about, facing seen.
A raven perched 3+ toward trunk from adult - no
reaction (adult preened) until raven flew off; then
adult's wings flew up (balancing). Adult turned around
again (facing ?) & both adults were in air about
1:48. They circled over head of a steep canyon near
their perch until at Rim level. One had feet down.
One showed "croft ledge". One with feet down held
close to them together. This one also excreted in air - a watery
substance. Earlier the ? excreted over edge of cliff;
the excrement going straight straight down in a stream.
The two circled rose over me to 1,500+ above me,
then flew glided to NW toward San Rafael Pk. area.
(gone at 1:55). Breeze very light still. In calm
air dihedral seems greater than in wind; & more
primaries bent up (only 3+ when flying gliding in
wind). A duck hawk soared within 50 ft. of
the condors several times without attacking -
condors showed no reaction. Both adults seemed
to have all flight feathers. About 2:30 left for
Hopper Basin. Saw 2 over W. Rim heading SE
about 2:45. At 3:30 reached road. Too air
dead calm but cool. 3:45, one adult circled
& rose to about 4000' level above Arundell
Cliffs, then glided NW until over me, then circled
& rose over W. Rim, then glided SE just W. of