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Home , California condor

The in ,

Are there any still living in this vast wild area? A current assessment.

Sanford R. Wilbur and Lloyd F. Kiff

NTHE NINETEENTH CENTURY, theCali- seen by an observer who had seen con- Martir. Short and Banks (1965) made fornia Condor ( califor- dors previously, (2) that the observer detailed observations of all in the manus) occurred in western North was thoroughly familiar with other large foothills of the Sierra San Pedro Martlr America from southern British Colum- soaringbirds that might be seenin Baja April 20-29, 1964, and Short and Cros- bia, Canada, to northern Baja Califor- California, (3) that a recognizablepho- sin (1967) spentmost of April 1967in the nia, Mexico (Koford 1953, Wilbur tograph of the was available, or (4) hill country east and south of Ensenada. 1973). By 1940it seemedto be restricted that the bird was seen long enough or Again, no evidence of condors was to the State of California between 34 ø well enoughthat the observercould give found. and 37ø N., roughly from Los Angeles a detailed descriptionof it. Condors found in Baja California to Santa Clara counties. Koford (1953) after 1910 were probably mernbersof an knew of no condor records for Baja isolated resident population. Since con- Cahfornia after 1937. ITaMIGHT9-foot BEwingspanTHOUGHT couldthat notabird be withmis- dors had disappeared from adjacent In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a taken for anythingelse. On the contrary, parts of California by then, it is unlikely number of travelers in Baja California in our more than 10 of observing that non-residentbirds were wandering reported seeingor hearingabout large both condors and condor-watchers, we several hundred miles to that area when birds that might have been condors. have found that even moderately-experi- there was much more hospitablehabitat Most were from areasformerly occupied enced observerscan be deceived (at least closer to home. Although there are no by condors, raising hopes that there momentarily). Golden (Aquila certain breeding records, condorsprob- might still be a residentpopulation out- chrysaetos), with their large size, flat ably nested in the coastal mountains sidethe United States. To clarify the sit- soaring plane, and (in immature birds) near Ensenada (Appendix). With sum- uatlon, we checked as many of the re- white wing patches, can be especially mer records from the high mountains, ports as we could, and alsoparticipated confusing, but so can Turkey and two of the three definite winter rec- in five trips into Baja California to ( aura) and even large hawks. ords from the lowland areas, an annual search for condors. Because almost all Seldom does one see a condor close cycle very similar to that of the current acceptedreports of California Condors enough to distinguishthe yellow-orange California population (Wilbur 1978) is in Baja California were from the Sierra head, white wing linings, and finger-like suggested;i.e., while somecondors were San Pedro Martir (Fig. I and Appen- primary .In fact, mostrecent re- nesting in the lower coastal mountains, dix), we concentratedour efforts there. ports from Baja California are no more the nonbreedingbirds movedto summer We made three trips to the summit pla- specific than that the bird in question feedingand roostingareas at higher ele- teau area (May 15-20, 1972, LFK; May was extremely large, dark, and soared vations. In winter, they moved back to 2-5, 1975, LFK-SRW; August 3-11, very steadily. None that have come to the lowlands to a less rigorous climate 1977, LFK-SRW) and one to the can- our attention give an irrefutable descrip- where food was likely to be more avail- yons at the base of the eastern escarp- tion of a California Condor. able. Sucha residentpopulation with no ment (November 25-28, 1971, LFK). A Other ornithologistsworking in Baja recruitment from outside the area would reconnaissancetrip was made to the California since 1940 have failed to re- have been seriously affected by food Sierra Juarez April 26-30, 1979 (SRW) port condors. For example, Hill and shortagesresulting from reductions in to see if habitat suitable for condors ex- Wiggins (1948) travelled through the both native and domesticungulates fol- ists there. Sierra Juarez, Sierra San Pedro Martir, lowing overgrazing in the 1920s (L No condors were seen by us, and we and connecting lowlands October 3-21, Huey field notes, Western Foundation were unable to find adequate support 1946, recordingall birds seen,but specif- of Vertebrate Zoology) and a long-term for reports by others. None of the re- ically gatheringinformation on the con- drought in the 1930s(Scott 1936, Koford ports checkedby us met what we con- dor. They had no success.In the summer 1953). During that same time period sider to be basic requirementsfor such a of 1949, Koford (1953) was unable to lo- there was apparently considerablemor- record to be accepted:(1) that they were cate condors in the Sierra San Pedro tality from shooting (Scott 1936). Sev-

856 AmericanBirds, November 1980 •lf $^N DIEGO 1. There is very little suitable habitat. very few places in Baja California that --Although there are thousands of we think are suitable for condors. Those square miles of relatively uninhabited places have been visited regularly by us terrain in northern Baja California, and other ornithologists. A population much of it is desert. The region has that has sustained itself without outside never fully recoveredfrom the drought recruitment since before 1940 (the last of the 1930s. Native are published dates of occurrence) would scarce,and livestockgrazing is localized. have had to consist of more than a few Condors, particularly nesting birds not individuals. Lone birds or pairs might free to forage great distances, would have gone undetected, but groups have great difficulty finding food regu- should have been seen. larly. We encourge ornithologists visiting There is no other area in Baja Califor- Baja California to keep looking for con- nia comparable to the Sierra San Pedro dors, particularly when in the Sierra San Martir, the location of most historical Pedro Marfir, the Sierra Juarez, or in condor sightings.The Sierra Juarez, for the coastal mountains between Ensen- example, lacks the high mountain mea- ada and San Quintin. However, we do dows with seasonallylarge numbers of not expect you to find any. In the unlike- . The coastal mountains have po- ly event that California Condors do exist tential nesting sites, but little food. in Baja California, they must be in even 2. There is little likelihood of vagrant more precariousstraits than the remnant birds coming from California.--Very population north of the border. few California Condors have been re- I...... ported south of Los Angeles since 1910 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Figure 1. Northern Baja California, Mexico, (Koford 1953). There are no confirmed showing locations of California Condor recordssince before 1966(Wilbur 1978)ß Our activities in Baja California were reports. 1, Valle San Rafael; 2, Sierra de los While a condor has the capability of funded jointly by the Western Founda- Cocopah; 3, San Pablo Peak; 4, Guadalupe soaring great distances, and they do tion of Vertebrate Zoology and the U.S. Valley; and 5, San Fernando. sometimesappear in unexpectedplaces, Fish and Wildlife Service.We are espec- eral local populationsof condorsin the in general they are traditional and pre- ially grateful t-o"Chuck" Vernon for in- United States became extinct from com- dictable in their movements. For a Cali- troducing us to the wild wonders of the parable pressuresduring the Nineteenth fornia bird to appear in Baja California Sierra San Pedro Marfir. Others who Century (Wilbur 1973). would requirea minimum flight of more participatedin the studywere: Keith Ax- than 300 miles, in a non-traditional di- elson(2 trips), John Borneman(2), Bill E CANNO'[POSITIVELY SAY that rection, and over considerable terrain Clifton, Deborah Davis, John Helms, there have been no California that we think would have little or no at- Tom Howell, Tom Howell Jr., Shirley Condors in Baja California in recent traction for a condor. Iresand (2), Antonio Landazuri, Eben years, but we think it is doubtful for the 3. Resident birds would have been McMillan (3), Greg McMillan, Linda following reasons. seem--As mentioned above, there are McMillan, John Moss, Glenn Olson, Richard Philibosian (2), John Schmitt, David Siddon, and Ron Walker.

LITERATURE CITED

ABBOTT, C. G. 1933. European Widgeon recorded from Lower California. Condor 35:204. ANONYMOUS. 1929. Youth fights condor to win thousand dollar . Popular Mechanics 52:708. ANTHONY, A. W. 1893. Birds of San Pedro Marfir, Lower California. Zoe 4:228-247. ß 1895. Birds of San Fernando, Lower California. Auk 12:134-143. BELDING, L. 1890. Land birds of the Pacif- ic district. Occas. Pap., Calif. Acad. Sci. 2:1-274. GOLDMAN, E. W. 1951. Biological investi- gations in Mexico. Smithson. inst., Washington, D.C. HILL, H. M., AND 1. L. WIGGINS. 1948. Ornithological notes from Lower Califor- nia. Condor 50:155-161. HUEY, L. M. 1926. Notes from northwest- ern Lower California, with the descrip- Figure2. La Encantada,Sierra San Pedro Marfir, siteof manyof the Baja Californiacondor tion of an apparently new race of Screech records. Owl. Auk 43:347-362.

Volume 34, Number 6 857 NORTH, A. W. 1907. The uncharted Sierra de San Pedro Martir. Bull. Amer. Geogr. Soc. 39:544-554. .1910. Camp and camino in Lower Cali- fornia. Baker and Taylor Co., New York. PHILLIPS, A., J. MARSHALL, AND G. MONSON. 1964. The birds of . Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson. SCOTT, C. D. 1936. Are condors extinct in Lower California? Condor 38:41-42. SHORT, L. L. JR., and R. C. BANKS. 1965. Notes on birds of northwestern Baja Cali- fornia. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 14(3):43-52. and R. S. CROSSiN. 1967. Notes on the avifauna of northwestern Baja Califor- nia. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 14(20):283-299. STONE, W. 1905. On a collection of birds and mammals from the Colorado Delta, Lower California. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scœ Phila. 57:676-690. SWANN, H. K. 1924. Monograph on the birds of prey. Vol. I, Part I. Weldon and Wesley, London. Figure3. La Grulla,Sierra San Pedro Martir, basecamp for mostbiological expeditions into the TAYLOR, H. R. 1895. Habits of the Califor- mountainsof Baja California,and an area usedregularly by condorsprior to 1940. nia Condor. Nidiologist 2:73-79. WILBUR, S. R. 1973. The California Con- KOFORD, C. B. 1953. The California Con- NELSON, E. W. 1911. A land of drought dor in the Pacific Northwest. Auk 90: dot. Natl. AudubonSoc. Res. Rep. 4. and desert -- Lower California. Natl. 196-198. LUME, C. R. 1938. Stalking America's Geogr. 22:443-474. ß 1978. The California Condor, 1966-76: mightiestbird. Travel Mag. 70(3):30-31, . 1921. Lower California resources. a look at its past and future. North Amer. 52-53. Memoirs Nat'l. Acad. Sci. 16:1-194. Fauna 72.

APPENDIX Reportsof California Condorsin Baja California.

The following recordsare principally from observersfamil- was his "first evidence" of condors in Baja Califor- iar with condors,or who were in Baja California specificallyto nia, but Taylor (1895) quoteshim as sayingthat it was make observations of the faunaß Less definite reports that in 1887. According to Anthony's own publications have been cited previouslyor that provide additional interest- (1893, 1895), he was in Baja California in (at least) ing information are also included. April, May, June, and October 1887; as the next specimenwas found "later", this one was probably 1879-- An uncle of E. A. Mcllhenny reportedly took four seen in the spring. California Condor from northwesternMexico. 1887-- Anthony (1895) found a "recently killed" condor Letters from Mcllhenny to W. L. Chambers in Sep- about 20 miles north of San Fernando, at about 30 ø tember and October 1902 (in Bancroft Library, Uni- N. The natives said this occurrence was very unusual. versity of California, Berkeley) state that the eggs Judgingfrom Anthony's known itinerary, this prob- were end blown and had the date and locality of col- ably occurredin early summeror in October. lection written on them. The Mcllhenny Collection is 1893-- Anthony (1893) reportedthat condorswere seen daily now at Louisiana State University, but neither condor (as many as 3 at once, Taylor 1895) on the Sierra eggsnor collectiondata have been locatedin it. Pedro Martit meadows.This presumablyreferred to 1880s-- Anthony (1893) reportedthat his brother W. W. An- his May 1893 visit, but he was also in the Sierra San thony sawcondors near Real de Castillo,Valle de San Pedro Martit in May 1887, October 1887, and April- Rafael. May 1889. 1884-- Col. N. S. Goss told Belding 0890) that one or more 1905-- S. N. Rhoads reported seeingone condor at the east pairsof condorsbred near Crosswaith'sRanch about base of the Cocopah Mountains in February (Stone 60 miles south of San Diego, California. Gosswas in 1905). This is an unusualdesert location for a condor, that area in late March 1884, but it is not known if he but there are a number of possiblyvalid Arizona rec- actuallysaw the birdsor their nests.Abbott (1933) de- ords from about this period(Phillips et al., 1964), and scribed the ranch of Albert Crosthwaite as being 30 it is only 60 km from the Sierra Juarez. miles south of the International Border. 1905-- In July, condorswere "rather common" in tile Sierra 1887-- Anthony (1893) reported finding a dead condor in San Pedro Martit (Goldman 1951).One subadultwas Guadalupe Valley, 40 miles south of Ensenadanear collected at La Grulla July 22 (U. S. Nat. Mus. the coast;no date is given here for this record, which #203218),and an adult femaleUSNM 203219)and an

858 American Birds, November 1980 ported to Scott (1936) that condors were still common at about this time, and that "20 to 30" could be seen in summer. 1923-- Huey (1926) saw one condor at La Grulla, Sierra San Pedro Martit, on June 12. 1924-- Huey (1926) saw one condor at Laguna Hanson, Sierra Juarez, on July 21. 1924-- Salve Meling reported seeingfour condorsin summer, in the Sierra San Pedro Martit plateau area {J. Grin- nell field notes, October 8, 1925, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology). 1925-- C. Lamb (field notes, Museum of Vertebrate Zoolo- gy) saw adult condors in the Sierra San Pedro Martir, at La Grulla (one bird May 14, 2 birds May 18) and at Vallecitos (two on June 6 and 7). 1929-- A condor egg was allegedlytaken from a canyon 50 Figure4. Valle de Ojos Negrosfrom the westernslopes of the Sierra miles from Ensenada(Anon. 1929, Lume 1938). Pre- Juarez.More intensifiedagriculture in the largervalleys of northern sumably three condors were seen in the area. The ac- Baja California has replaced open rangeland where condors once count (especiallythe lengthenedlater version)is obvi- foraged. ously much exaggeratedand may be a complete fabri- cation, but the location and some of the "facts" fit well with earlier accounts. It is interestingthat the ac- immature (USNM 203217) were collectedin the Santa count was published twice, as a brief news article in Rosa Valley on July 26. Nelson (1911) reported that 1929 and as a feature story almost 10 years later. they watched a dozen or more condorsin flight, and 1932-- Two condors were reportedly , one at Rancho also (Nelson 1921) that the carcass of a at- SanJos• (= MelingRanch) and one elsewhere in the tracted about a dozen condors. They were told that Sierra San Pedro Martir (Scott 1936). condors nested in Santa Rosa Canyon, but they saw 1932-- Two condors were seen by G. Bancroft at La Encan- no evidence of this. tada, Sierra San Pedro Martir (Scott 1936, Koford 1906-- North (1910) reported seeingone condor in the Sierra 1953). San Pedro Martir; he was in the mountains in July 1933-- One condor reportedlykilled at RanchoSan Jose' (North 1907). (Scott 1936). 1907-- On December I an adult female was collected on the 1934-- A. Meling reported two condorsin July at La Encan- "coast of Lower California", by or for M. Abbott tada, Sierra San Pedro Martit, also one later in the Frazer; this specimenis in the collection of Virginia summer; another condor was reported at Santo Polytechnic Institute, acquired from the A. H. Helme Dumas Flats near Santa Rosa in July (Scott 1936). Collection. Another specimen, now at the Western 1935-- One wasreported at La Encantadaon November5 (S. Foundat ion of Vertebrate Zoology (Los Angeles), was Meling, in Scott 1936). also from the "coast of Lower California" and is also 1937-- W. Longhurst (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology) re- from the Helme Collection, so was probably collected ported three condors feeding on a cow carcassat La in 1907 also. Encantada in July (Koford 1953). 1909-- Or possibly 1919 (data slip entry obscure), a condor There is one adult specimenof a California Condor in egg was reportedly taken from San Pablo Peak on the Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Auto- March 15 (Swann 1924). This egg has apparently been noma de Mexico. It was collected in northern Baja lost, and Koford (1953) thought that the record might California, but no collecting data accompanies the have been falsified, but the recent finding of the origi- specimen. nal data slip at the San Bernardino Museum of Nat- dral History(by LFK) addscredibility to the record. There is a San Pablo Peak at approximately 31 o30,N, --U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1190 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, the samegeneral locality where Anthony (1893) found CA 93023 (Wilbur) and Western Foundation of Vertebrate a dead condor in 1887. Zoology, 1100 Glendon Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 1915-- Local residents of the Sierra San Pedro Martit re- (Kiff).

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