weissler@randvax.UUCP (Robert Weissler) (05/28/85)
Over the Memorial Day weekend, a friend of mine and I went out to the Mt. Pinos/Frazier Park area to look for the almost-extinct California Condor. At the first of two observation sites, i.e., on Mt. Pinos, we sighted many Violet-green Swallows, a couple of Clark's Nutcrackers, a Red-shafted Flicker, a Nuthatch, several Scrub Jays, a Robin -- but no condors. We weren't terribly surprised since there are supposedly only 11 or so remaining in the wild. Fortunately, at the other site located just at the exit of the Los Padres National Forest before reaching the junction of highway 166, we spotted 3 of the rare vultures soaring high above us. From pictures we'd seen, we remembered to look for the characteristic white, triangular patches underneath each wing. Those marks were quite pronounced even from a half-mile away or so, the closest they came to us (directly overhead). We drove several miles further and located one perched on the tower of an observation station. It wasn't clear if this was one of those that we had spotted earlier or yet another condor. The size of these birds, and especially their majestic posture during flight, is an awesome sight. It's an experience we won't soon forget. -- Robert Weissler ____ ____ / '\ \ ARPA: Weissler@Rand-unix " UUCP: randvax!weissler