July 7, 1925

Volume IV July 7, 1925 Number 7

A PERSONAL INVITATION. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK IS YOURS! WE OF THE NATIONAL PARK. SERVICE WANT TO HELP YOU TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR PARK AND TO UNDERSTAND IT IN ITS EVERY MOOD. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE IS OFFERED TO YOU FREE BY YOUR GOVERNMENT:

Visit the Yosemite Museum! Here you will learn the full story of the Park ---- what tools were used by the great Sculptor in carving this mighty granite-walled gorge; who lived here before the white man came; how the Days of Gold led to Yosemite's discovery; how the pioneers prepared the way for you; and how the birds and mammals and trees and flowers live together in congenial communities waiting to make your acquaintance. Plan your trail trips on the large scale models in the Geography Room. The Yosemite Library in the museum provides references on all phases of Yosemite history and natural history. Popular lectures on Yosemite geology and other branches of natural history are given by nature guides at scheduled times each day. The nature guide on duty will be more than willing to answer your questions on any subject. Go Afield with a Nature Guide ! Take advantage of this free service that will help you to know your Park. A competent scientist will conduct you over Yosemite trails, and from him you may learn first hand of the native flowers, trees, birds, mammals, and geological features. See Schedule of Nature Guide Field Trips. Visit Glacier Point Lookout! From there you will obtain an unexcelled view of Yosemite's High Sierra. The binocular telescope will bring Mt. Lyell to within one third of a mile from where you stand; you can recognize friends climbing trails several miles away. The Nature Guide in attendance will help you to operate it and will explain what you see. A small library is at your command. You will enjoy the informal nightly campfire talks given here. Attend the Nature Guide Campfire Talks! In addition to the museum lectures members of the educational staff give talks as a part of the evening program at Camp Curry and Yosemite Lodge. Non-technical explanations of how Yosemite came to be; what you may expect of Yosemite bears; how the local Indians lived; what birds you see about your camps; what trout you will catch in Yosemite waters; how you may best visit the wonderland of the summit region; and scores of similar subjects are given by the National Park Service Nature Guides.

ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE BY YOUR GOVERNMENT. —TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM

Volume IV July 7, 1925 Number 7

OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ENDORSED BY PUBLIC

W. B. Lewis Yosemite National Park Superintendent Probably no one event has inaugurate the nature guide service, a added me public viewpoint on naservice conducted by experts in the •,a anal parks to a greater extent natural sciences and free to those,'a an has Lire advent of the educawho wished to avail themselves of4 Iial feature developed during the the opportunity to learn the "what" ' Y; During the few years through the nature and "why" of wild life, the flora, The service and the museum and the geology of the region. The Its of local park objects. museum followed shortly, and the Years ago interest in natural history public was enabled to make their story and the sciences as exempiistudies both in the field and under d in the parks was principally roof. confined to specialists who sought This was in 1920. In that first explain to their own satisfaction, year the interest was keen but limd perhaps the satisfaction of lied to relatively few. That seaer specialists, the reasons foe son's experience, however, demonch and such peculiarities of nastrated that here was S. field ware. The average visitor was not ranting development and predicting rticularly interested in whether a public appreciation. From that Yosemite valley was a result of glaciation, meager start in 1920 the service expanded to a point where it was patronized by more than 70,000 people in the other half of e, or why rattle snakes have in 1924. In 1925 ten nature guides ttles. Yosemite valley exists, are engaged in the work of conducting f of Half Dome was gone, and ing field trips, giving camp fire tle snakes had rattles, and there talks and lectures, explaining museum exhibits; a fireproof museum. ht the chief ranger's office, how it is available for the display of more er there was gradually accumuthan $40,000 worth of exhibits iced a number of native Indian baskets exemplifying the natural history, theemplifying the natural history, the specimens of geology, the history and native Indian artifacts of the park region; a few mounted specimens of beautifully carved rock. A particularly well-stocked library is being developed, and a school for nature guides ht, etc., and more and more people are being conducted. began to spend a portion of their The educational program in the e in studying these exhibits and national parks has been indorsed by king questions. There was a note the public. The appeal it has made ly increasing desire expressed to has fully justified the beginning of ow "what" and "why." A demand its expansion and will unquestionably justify its nature. The knowledge of the natural resources of the park was being erected The "what" and "why" of the' d, and the time came when this natural phenomena of the national and could not be ignored. An parks are being explained to thousands who are learning to "read the trailside" through private donations and the with the nature guide Cooperation of the California State Fish and Game Commission to in

THE NEW YOSEMITE MUSEUM

Recently erected by the American Association of Museums with funds provided by the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial. Exhibits from the old museum and new exhibits being prepared will be moved into the splendid structure when new cases are delivered. The Yosemite Nature Guide Service and the Yosemite Field School of Natural History are already occupying the spacious offices, lecture room and laboratories on the upper floor. "Yosemite Nature Notes" is printed here. '"James V. Lloyd Photo.•-

Yosemite Museum Library Grows. By C.P.RUSSELL Park Naturalist, Yosemite National Park

RECENTLY

many valuable books have been added to the little museum library which has for a number of years given pleasure park visitors. The reading accommodations beside the old fireplace are very modest, but nevertheless popular. The historical, ethical and nature study volumes have provided a pathway to rest hours for many visitors and the Nature Guide staff depends upon' for ready references. son's Bookshop of Los Anhas been very generous in Ing. a large number of rare editions, such as Clarence e "Mountaineering In the Sierra Nevada," Bruce's "The Yosemite," Avery's "California Pictures." es' "Our New West," Knee-. a "Wonders of Yosemite ValBunrell's "Discovery of Yoe, etc. American Nature Associapresented five excellent., volon trees and forestry,'as well ree bound volumes of its inible "Nature Magazine." Upon museum's reading tables are e of the current numbers of treasure-house of nature lore, away up.In the Glacier Point Tuolumne Meadows branch mua hikers may find the same tingly illustrated magazine tinc their pleasure. llfornlans, and all others, who not discover-ad that the Stockecord's Out-o'-Door Section ' is lllhtful record of West.'.m outactivities, should examine the Ifully bound volumes recently ed by, G. E. Reynolds of StockThiaunusual section of a Sat-_ newspaper ' has been termed ark 'Service Weekly" by nitpark officiale, but It conup• to-the-minute news of all m recreation and, conserva activities.

• Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, has given the Yosemite Museum park help in many ways. Our library has just received a copy of Opel". Birds of California, 1870" in new condition, and a complete file of "Zoe" (1890-1908) from

that institution. Both of these publications are valuable and very rare.

REMARKABLE MOVING PICTURES DONATED

The American Nature Association has presented "Animal Life in Yosemite" in pictures to the Yosemite Nature Guide Service. These unusually interesting animal pictures were made by the noted nature photographer, William L. Finley. Never did' birds and mammals behave more entertainingly than have these subjects of Mr. Finley's. His black bear cubs must have reserved their antics for weeks to have put so much vigorous fun into so short a length of film. The intimate glimpses of mountain lion kittenhood are on a par with the interesting bear cub episodes. "Teeter-tail," the Sandpiper, and "the original St. Vitus Dance" put on by the water ouzel furnish most amusing and Instructive glimpses of the behavior of these Yosemite natives. The pictures are received with great enthusiasm by the large audiences to which they are shown by the Yosemite Nature Guide Service. The generous cooperation extended by the publishers of "Nature Magazine" to making this film available to Yosemite visitors is indicative of their sincerity in furthering the nature study Idea. —C. P. Russell.

AFIELD WITH THE NATURE GUIDES YOSEMITE NATURE GUIDE

But chickarees which allow the

SERVICE STARTS ITS

timid approach of observers are not

SIXTH SEASON

common anywhere. Therefore it For the first time in its six was quite a treat for the members years of service in Yosemite, the of the hiking party on the morning of June 3, the Nature Guide Service will have to find one of these personnel sufficient to handle the little animals scurrying about crowds who seek information on among the tents at Camp Curry. the natural history of the park. So gentle was this squirrel that he Field trips are being provided entire party was allowed to approach twice daily at both of the main resorts within a distance of a few sorts with special trips for bird feet while he busied himself in students on Wednesdays and all day excursions to the rim on Saturdays, taking the nuts from the cone of a yellow pine. At no time did the urdays. Heretofore it was possible that the animal show any fear of the party to furnish field trips on alternate and even when approached quite days only at the resorts. The promptly, instead of running up into gram of lectures and camp fire talks remains the same as in former years. It merely scampered about mer years. Many are already inquiring about the seven-day trips around the hikers' camps, which will leave Mondays. Since its first discovery the chickaree has been seen almost daily in the same location and it is hoped that it will still stay there.—L. K. well be called trial schools where an intimate acquaintance with living things afield is to be gained.—

ORPHAN ANNIE

H. C. Bryant.

SCENE

BIG TREES. SANTA WHAT BECOMES OF SONG GRUZ.

Colonel Moreton. Ordnance

GIRLS' EGG SHELLS

Department, retired, discovered a At this season of the year most baby hummingbird caught in a of the bird population of the Valspider web. The spider rushes out ley are busy with nests or nestbetween struggles of the bird to lings. Each day finds another free itself and wraps more webbing brood of young birds hatching in about it. As the struggles of the the nests which have been under exhausted bird become fewer in observation by the nature guides. number it is rescued by Mrs. MoreAt none of these nests are the ton. Against the suggestion that empty egg shells ever found. Many the nearly dead bird be fed to the people ask what has happened to cat it is carried in the hand to the egg shells, since a thorough Santa Cruz to be shown to Miss search of the ground in the vicinMoreton. Still unable to fly, and ity of the nest does not reveal any cold and hungry, honey is secured. trace of them, and after numerous feedings the While following the various bird is put to bed in cotton. At trails of the valley floor, one are first. fluffy and inactive this Or eeasirnally finds a fragment of phan Annie hummingbird soon

shell, but a survey of all the poslearns to eat, and before long is sible nesting sites fails to reveal being carried from place to place the spot from whence it came, with the Moreton family in a small The parent birds, as soon as the cage. eggs hatch, take the bits of shell SCENE II.

YOSEMITE VALLEY.

in their beak and fly with it to a Annie has been adopted by the point some distance from the nest, Moreton family and has grown to where they either deposit it Upon debutante age Everyone admires the ground or at 'east a part of it. her beauty which is' enhanced by an This serves a double purpose. It Iridescent green dress. A nature is a sanitary measure and also guide pays her a visit and offers places the shells in a position so fame as an actor in motion piethat the discovery of them will not tures, a suggestion quickly acceptdisclose the nest site. ed ay her foster parents. Enclosed A Western Robin which nested In a cheesecloth cage she causes the near Camp '9 was watched and director much worry because she Is was found to carry the empty persistently more interested in shells a distance of forty-paces catching small gnats than in playfrom the nest. where it deposited ing her part At last she poises beits burden. and after pecking at it fore a flower and poises properly, once or twice. flew back to the but refuses to take a bath. What nestlings.—L. R. Wilson. the future will hold for Annie and CHICKAREE PERMITS not be foretold, but she will always

OBSERVATION

be known as one of the first to Chickarees are not uncommon on work artfully before a movie camthe floor of the Yosemite valley. era.

THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION ITS PURPOSES

To gather and disseminate information on the wild-life of the Sierras. To develop and enlarge the Yosemite Museum (in cooperation with the National Park Service) and to establish sub, subsidiary units, such as the Glacier Point lookout and branches of similar nature. To promote the educational work of the Yosemite Nature Guide Service. To publish (in cooperation with the U. S. National Park Service) "Yosemite Nature Notes To study living conditions, past and present, of the Indians of the Yosemite region. To maintain in Yosemite Valley a library of historical, scientific, and popular interest. To further scientific investigation along lines of greatest popular interest and to publish, from time to time, bulletins of non-technical nature. ' To strictly limit the activities of the association to purposes which shall be scientific and educational, in order that the organization shall not be operated for profit.

AY WE SEND YOU EACH ISSUE OF YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES?

Your check for $2.00 sent to the Park Naturalist, Yosemite tional Park, will help to pay the cost of its publication for one year and make you a member of the Yosemite Natural History Association for the same period.

FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OUT-DOOR RECREATION

Called by PRESIDENT COOLIDGE

AT THE CONFERENCE ENDORSED NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS THE EXTENSION OF THE NATURE STUDY IDEA TO EVERY AMERICAN SCHOOL AND FAMILY;.... THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUMS OF NATURAL HISTORY IN NATIONAL PARKS INCREASE THE EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL VALUE OF THE

".—Resolution of the Conference.