The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-10-21
CALIFORNIA CONDOR
FACES DESTRUCTION
Few of Giant Birds Are Left
Says Naturalist.

Washington. Walter Fry, in charge
Of the National Guide Service, Sequoia
National park. In q recent bulletin of
the American Game Protective associa4
ton, says that the California condor Is
now making its last fight for life, and
declares that only quick aid win save
the species. He offers the following
suggestions
Il. Laws to make it a felony to kill
a condor or take eggs for period Of
20 years.
'2. Laws making 1t misdemeanor
for any person to put out poisoned
bait Of any kind, except that which
has been certified for use by the prop
er authorities.
g. Signs posted In conspicuous
places throughout the state by Audit
bon societies and other interested or
CARNATIONS, carrying a colored picture
of the bird, with printed copies Of the
laws for its protection.
~. When condors are seen in any
part Of the state, the observer should
be requested to Immediately notify the
California fish and game commission
ers of the birds presence, giving date
seen. locality and number Of birds
seen"
Largest OF VuItures.
The California condor is the largest
of the vulture family. In fact, 1t is
probably the largest flying bird in the
world. 1t is heavily built, weighs about
20 pounds, and is about four feet long,
with a wing spread of from ten to
twelve feet Its bare neck is like q
turkeys. The huge bird flies grace
fully and soars for hours almost with
out Tapping its wings. 1t is scav-
enger, eating only carrion.
While the California condor has not
been found nesting in the SeQuoia No
tional park, this giant of the air has
been casual visitor to the park since
the first arrival of white settlers In
1856. Mr. Fry says:
Before the arrival Of white men In
California, the condor had little to
fear The first death trap for the
condor was man with firearms. It
was great event to kill one of these
giant navigators. Of the air, for they
were bold and came within easy rife
range. Mans next destructive effort +.
was to obtain eggs Of the wonderful
bird to accompany his specimen. Then
came the custom of the sheepmen Of
putting out poison bats In the car
cases of sheep.
mo doubt thousands Of condors met
their deaths through eating poison.
For many years there were no restric-
lions placed on the methods Of poi
soning or what kinds Of poison could
be used. ga
sThe bird is now making its last
fight for life. Unless some action is
taken to save the modern roc it win
join the dodo and the great aux as
legend instead of living example Of
the Creators handiwork This mon
strous bird is the product Of nature
working through the ages for thou
sands or millions Of years. The de-
struction Of the species thus deprives
the earth Of a wonderful organism
which no human power can ever again
restore.
Little Hope for Them.
Even under the present laws for
their protection can see no chance
for survival Of the condor. Poison
wfll do its work. They are now on the
very verge Of determination. II is
doubtful IL there are 100 individual
birds living today. Every friend Of
birds and Of the picturesque In nature
should come to the rescue Of the con-
dor before it is too late.
ION November 81, 1926, there was
unveiled at the Los Angeles Museum
Of History, Science and Art large
mural painting of prehistoric animals,
birds and other creatures Of California.
The paintings were based on skeletons
dug from the La Brea asphalt pits
near Los Angeles. Among the pictures
are those Of giant vultures with a
wing spread Of 20 feet, sabre-toothed
tigers. giant ground sloths, huge
wolves, imperial elephants with huge
curved tusks, wild horses, camels and
California lions twice the size OF the
present-day African lion.
sIn the process of evolution this ter
rible if interesting fauna doubtless had
to give way or man might not be here
today. But in the condor we have.
perhaps the last great bird Of the
Pleistocene age, just as the giant Sc
quoias are the surviving specimens of
mammoth vegetation Of past geolog-
icai period. The California condor is
not only harmless lit Is useful and
highly picturesque. Let's save this
modern roc, every sight Of which con-
jures up the tale of Sinbad the Sailor
in the Arabian Nights