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From: news@ism780c.isc.com (News system)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: California Condor
Message-ID: <45549@ism780c.isc.com>
Date: 24 Jul 90 01:43:32 GMT
References: <120748@pyramid.pyramid.com>
Reply-To: marv@ism780.UUCP (Marvin Rubenstein)
Distribution: na
Organization: Interactive Systems Corp., Santa Monica CA
Lines: 28

In article <120748@pyramid.pyramid.com> sandra@pyrtech.pyramid.com (Sandra Macika) writes:
>Is there anyone who has actually see a California Condor in the wild?
>(of course the siting would have to have been earlier than Easter 1987, when
>the last Condor was brought into captivity)

Yes.  I saw a group of 5 at one time.  This was in the mid 80's.  I don't
have the exact date in front of me right now.  I believe the total wild
population at the time was about 20 birds.  The birds were on a ranch feeding
on a carcass put out by the rancher.  The ranch was located a few miles north
of Mt Pinos (~ over the n) east of Highway 5 between LA and Bakersfield.

I was able to observe the birds for about 4 hours.  During that time a golden
eagle came in to feed also.  The condors backed away until the eagle left.
When the condors finally left at about 5 in the afternoon, they were out of
sight in just about two minutes.  The only wing flapping was at take off.
The ran down slope to take off.

The birds were about 1/2 mile from were we were watching so I was unable to
get photos.  I used a 55 power scope for observation.  Quite a thrill all in
all.

BTW: I attended an LA Audubon meeting where I was pointed out that one of
the main reasons for removing the remaining birds from the wild was lead
poisoning.  Even though cattle carcasses were placed out for birds, they
continued to feed on deer that were shot with lead bullets.  And this may be
a problem if they are ever returned to the wild.

   Marv Rubinstein