62 



THE CONDOR 



Vol.. X 



We awoke at daylight in the morning with a cold draft drawing down the 

 canyon. The old condor was still sound asleep on the dead tree up the mountain 

 side. At six-twenty, she sailed across over our heads and lit on the side of the 

 cliff. She was there but a moment when she spread her wings and dropped back 

 across to the nest where she stayed an hour, after which she took up her perch on 

 the tree. 



We examined both the old birds from a near point of view and found they were 

 almost identical. We were not positive, but took it for granted that it was the mother 

 that staid at the nest. The other bird, likely the male, seemed to be a trifle larger. 

 At this season as well as during the period of incubation, the female seemed to stay 

 on the nest or nearby, while the male did all the hunting. 



We had seen nothing of the male since the morning before about ten o'clock, 

 when he disappeared high to the east. As the mother sat there on her perch, she 



BOHLMAN PETTING THE YOUNG CONDOR, WHILE THE PARENT SHOWS CURIOSITY 



AND ANXIETY 



often turned her head and scanned the heavens, looking for the coming of her mate. 

 By watching her, our attention was first called to a mere speck in the sky. It grew 

 with surprising rapidity, and as it took better form, we could see a bird coming 

 toward us with extreme speed. Thru the field-glass, we could see that the feet 

 were dropped, and w^e knew it was the male condor, for this was the way he always 

 came. With one great slide to the west, and a long swerve to the north, he circled 

 with the curve of the canyon and brought up on the top of the dead pine only thirty 

 feet away. I never saw such a slide as that bird took. Such smoothness and grace! 

 And such tremendous speed ! 



Each day at the nest we seemed to be getting on more intimate terms with the 

 old birds. The minute we lifted the young condor from behind the rocks, the old 

 birds w^ere very much interested. They both came over to a nearer perch where 

 they could see, and they twisted their necks to watch every move we made. When 



