Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Condors feeding on whale
Date: Jun 2 17:52:41 2006
From: Dennis Paulson - dennispaulson at comcast.net


I thought this was worth disseminating, perhaps a sight that will be
seen again some day at the mouth of the Columbia!

Begin forwarded message:

> Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 11:11:19 -0700
> From: Darlene Smyth <dsmyth3 at COMCAST.NET>
> Subject: Photos: CA Condors feasting on a whale
>
> Hi Birders,
>
> Since I am currently working on arrangements for the American
> Birding =
> Association's Conference to be held in Ventura, CA in 10/07, the
> forest =
> service has sent this set of photos and the brief CA Condor
> history. =
> The photos are not for the squeamish, but are fascinating. Condors =
> feeding upon their historically documented natural food. Read the
> story =
> below, then click on the link at the very bottom.
>
> Enjoy?
>
> Darlene
>
> I am forwarding these photos to you as I believe you are all
> interested =
> in
> Big Sur and what goes on there. Recycling at its best (poor whale).
> Subject: FWD: Big Sur condor
>
> On Friday, April 29, five condors from the Big Sur flock were located
> feeding on a beached gray whale by Ventana crew members, Ryan Choi
> and
> Michael Truex. The gray whale is a full size adult (about 40'
> long) and
> is almost completely intact. There's no telling how long the
> flock will =
> be feasting on this carcass, it could last for months...its huge!
> The =
> whale carcass is above just above the high tide line and should
> stay where it
> is as long as we don't get a significant storm surge in the next
> month.
> Either way, it's an exciting moment for VWS and the condor program.
>
> Historical records:
> 1602- first written record for condors...observed feeding on a
> whale in
> Monterey Bay.
> 1805- One condor collected at the mouth of the Columbia River while
> feeding on a whale, Lewis and Clark expedition.
> 2006- Big Sur!
>
> To see the photos, click on this link: =
> http://www.informationforeveryone.com/whale/
> (Just a hint of what you'll see...the condors are
> walking in and out of the whale's mouth!)
> Photo credits: Ventana Wildlife Society- Joe Burnett, Ryan Choi, =
> Michael Truex
>
> Darlene Smyth
> Field Programs Manager
> American Birding Association
> 1-866-392-2473
> 1-866-392-BIRD
> email: dsmyth at aba.org
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