Faunal remains in California Condor nest caves

Studies of faunal remains in California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) nests in the 1980s yielded bones and hair of. a variety of small, medium sized, and large mammals, and a near absence of avian and reptilian materials. A prevalence of small to medium-sized species may reflect ease of penetration of hides of such carrion and a relative abundance of ingestible bone from such species. Remains also included metal, plastic, and glass artifacts, likely mistaken for bone materials by condors. Size distributions of bone materials and percentage artifacts among hard remains suggest an overall absence of severe calcium-supply problems for condors.