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Field
Guide IDs: BREEDING:
Mountains, to
moderate elevation, esp brushy or rocky outcrops
with ample ledge and cliff nest sites. 0 or 1
brood. DISPLAYS:
In courtship, male
faces female, wings outstretched, tail dragging,
and approaches her with his head bent exposing back
of neck. NEST:
On inaccessible
cliff, cave floor or cavity in giant sequoia. Egg
laid on bed of coarse gravel, with few twigs,
leaves, etc. Most perennial. EGGS:
Greenish-white/bluish-white.
4.3" (110 mm). DIET:
Dead red meat,
salmon; does not eat most birds or squirrels. Group
of 4 known to drag 100 +-pound body of grizzly 200
yards. CONSERVATION:
Winter resident.
Endangered Species; only recently returned to
the wild. NOTES:
Although usu breed
only every other year, capable of successfully
nesting annually; rarely do so but can lay
replacement clutch within breeding season.
Long-term pair bond. Likely average output is 2
young every 3 years. By fledging, wing span 8',
weight 20 pounds, length 46", but able to fly no
more than a few yards; dependent on adult for 6
months postfledging. Soar to 15,000'. ESSAYS: Conservation
of the California Condor;
Birds
and the Law;
Variation
in Clutch Sizes;
Coloniality. REFERENCES:
Ogden, 1985b;
Snyder and Hamber, 1985; Snyder et al., 1986;
Wilbur and Jackson, 1983. |
