Past on Parade: Old book noted rarity of condors

[Donna]

The picture is from a book written by Elliott Coues, published in 1890 and titled "Key to North American Birds."

In the 1890s in Pasadena, this book was treasured by boys like Joseph Grinnell and Ralph Arnold, bird collectors and future scientists.

The book covered the description and scientific classification of birds and also "Field Ornithology: A manual of collecting, preparing, and preserving birds."

Most birds were so plentiful in the Pasadena area then that the boys had no qualms about collecting birds and their eggs for study.

The California Condors are believed to have once been found along the entire West Coast and inland to the Rockies. They soar to great heights and feed on dead animals. By the 1890s, they were scarce.

Joseph Grinnell wrote the bird section of Reid's 1895 History of Pasadena.

"The California vulture (Condor) is one of the rarest birds, as it is seldom seen, and then only in the mountains. It has the general appearance of the turkey vulture, but is very much larger, having a stretch of nine feet and even more, and a length of four and one-half feet."

Added is a note by Prof. C.F. Holder, written in 1888 after seeing a specimen. In part he said, "The strength and power of the bird is almost beyond belief. Four adults have been seen to drag the body of a grizzly weighing over a

thousand pounds, two hundred yards. The bird is rare in the San Gabriel valley, and the present specimen is an unusually fine one, a young male in complete plumage, and perhaps three or four years old."

Another note says, "In 1878 E.W. Giddings shot one of these birds and it measured ten feet, three inches from tip to tip of the wings."

Two bird photographers in 1906 obtained a valuable set of pictures of condors nesting in Eaton Canyon.

Today, Condor sanctuaries have been designated. Condors bred and hatched in captivity are released to these areas.

It is still unknown if they will survive. One cause of death is lead poisoning from dead animals shot with lead bullets.

This picture is of the California Condor, the largest flying bird in North America and the rarest.

[Judi]

If one would like to read an excellent history of condors - and learn how the Audubon Society got started - pick up the book Condor - To The Brink And Back - The Life and Times of One Giant Bird by John Nielsen.  It has the history of the California condor from the beginning to the present and exactly who started the captive breeding program (hint - it's not JUST the San Diego Zoo!).  Excellent book!