Among its many efforts in support of the California condor, the National Audubon Society produced educational pamphlets for the public. In this post I note pamphlets published around 1970 and 1980 (the pamphlets are not dated).
The older pamphlet is of bifold design. The “cover” features a fantastic illustration by Bob Hines and poetic prose about the condor from William Leon Dawson’s The Birds of California (1923).
The opposite page presents basic natural history, 2 population estimates – 60 birds in 1950 and 40 birds in 1964, and a statement of purpose:
This leaflet is designed to enlist the cooperation of sportsmen in protecting this great bird.
The text goes on to attribute the population decline to shooting and describes the legal protections afforded the condor. This page concludes with:
Your help is needed also; learn the flight silhouettes of all the large dark birds and help stop unnecessary killing of condors—
DON’T SHOOT ANY LARGE DARK BIRD
The reverse side details the distinctions between condors and other birds in flight, concluding that:
Eagles and vultures, even Swainson’s Hawks, can easily be mistaken for condors – or vice versa – by inexperienced observers who jump to conclusions.
(It’s unfortunate that any of these species were so in danger of being shot at this time.)
The more recent pamphlet is of trifold design and includes photos by John Borneman and Keith Axelson.
This pamphlet is a “mini-guide” to finding California condors. There’s information about condor natural history, efforts to aid the condor, and threats to the condor’s survival. There’s also a map and driving directions to viewing sites.
As in the older pamphlet, one page shows flight silhouettes of the condor and related species:
The silhouettes are accompanied by this:
Condors, hawks, owls, eagles and turkey vultures are protected by California State and Federal law.
I discovered the 1970-ish pamphlet in my parents’ home after they passed away. I imagine it was acquired during a visit to a ranger station on one of our many family camping trips in the Los Padres National Forest. I bought the 1980-ish pamphlet from an online bookseller. If other such pamphlets were published by the National Audubon Society, I would be grateful to learn of them.
Pseudogryps 