1930

V cl, IX

NOVF N 1 BE ~~, 1930

THE PUBLICATION O THE YOSEMITE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT

Published Monthly Volume IX November 1930 Number

Are the Gray Squirrels Coming Back? Ranger Naturalist Raid Michael On the morning of October 10 plumed tail curled over his back. while out for my daily walk, my at Ten years ago it was estimated tention was attracted by the inthat there were 70 gray squirrels usual behavior of a number of Calto the square mile on the floor ifornia woodpeckers. They were Yosemite Valley. Then came disease making a great fuss and I could and the squirrels died off to the tell by the tone of their voices that very last one. While no gray squirthey were reviling some enemy. refs were seen on the floor of the The woodpeckers were gathered in valley for several years there was a certain oak in the grove near the still the hope that there was enough Awahnee gate. Birds were flying seed left in other districts to evenabout in the crown of the tree and tually repopulate the valley. Of reas I approached I realized that a cent years gray squirrels have been number of blue-fronted jays had occasionally seen along the highjoined forces with the woodpeckers way leading into the valley, and and were adding their voices to the now comes after many years this din. My first thought was that the record of a fine big fellow at the birds were mobbing an owl. Not the upper end of the valley. And so, pgmy owl, however, for I know there is still hope that these beauthat the pigmies and the California tiful animals will again grid charm woodpeckers are on good terms It to the landscape of Yosemite. must be, thought I. one of the An interesting feature in conneclarger owls, or a weasel. When tion with the dying off of the gray close enough to locate the center of squirrels was the fact that the folconcern it was not long before I lowing year the little Tamrac squirspied the object that was the cause rel, or Sierra chickaree, began to of all the commotion. Much to ray appear in the valley. Year after surprise the enemy turned out to year the chickarees increased in be a beautiful gray squirrel. Gray numbers and now they are common squirrels are not popular with Calin all sections of the valley. It seems ifornia woodpeckers because of odd that these two species of squirtheir habit of raiding the woodrel could not live peaceably together pecker's winter supply of acorns. as there is no great conflict beThe squirrel was crouching on a tween them in regard to forage bah. limb with his back against the main its. During the winter months the trunk. He was securely settled and chickaree lives almost exclusively might have been enjoying the on pine nuts, while the squirrel premorning sunshine but for his torfern acorns and pepper-nuts. Should mentors. However, under the barthe gray squirrels come back it will rage of curses he remained undis be interesting to see what happees turbed and sat motionless with his to the chickarees.

A FIERCE TRAPPER OF INSECTS

George Crowe, Assistant Park Naturalist. "Doodle bug! Doodle bug'." Just about two inches in diameter. the name caused many visitors to Late in the summer many colsmile, while out on our nature walks onies of tiny pits were seen, all within a radius of one or two feet. about Yosemite valley this summer. The freshly hatched larvae dig their To some folks it sounded like a pits immediately. They are formed joke; to others it brought back by throwing the sand with a viomemories of childhood days when lent backward flip of the head, they used to lie on their stomachs while the larvae back around the in the woods and call the doodle circumference of the pit as it deepbugs out of their little sandy pits. ens and tapers to a point. The doubters were never fully These fierce little miners also satisfied until the ranger-naturalist throw the sand to confuse and knock down their victims strug- :` Jryt; : gling on the steep slopes of the pit r 1; ~

in a desperate effort to escape the clutches of the cruel jaws at the bottom. The mature insect would never mil :_-.:•.._.' be suspected of having sprung from the ugly, cruel larvae, for their;.. 1 frail bodies are adorned with deli cite, many-veined wings, and they ~~ :,•';., :,>. spend little time on the wing. ~.`'. Another species, Vermileo opacus,

CROSS SEC T ION OF PIT WITH LARVAE AND ANT

is found in the Yosemite region had captui ed a specimen of this from 6000 to 9000 feet in elevation. weird looking creature, more gen They are especially noticeable erally called an ant lion. about Sentinel Dome and Mount

Watching one back under a small Hoffman. Their pits have more vermound of sand, while held in the tics] walla palm of the hand, or witnessing the This fly larvae is of particular tragic end of a poor ant as he disinterest because of the fact that alappeared in the clutch of the ant though so different in structure, lion at the bottom of one of the litthe insect has adapted itself to extle pits, demonstrated that doodle wetly the same habits as the ant bugs are active members of the life lion. It is difficult to locate this of the forests larvae, as they assume a most curiHundreds of the little conical pits ous hook-like attitude and are yelor traps were in evidence in the lowish, stick-like individuals. fine soil about the yellow pines or The "doodle bugs" are much easin the dust along the edge of the ier to find and will always prove trails. Some were found above the of interest to the visitors in Yosem7000-foot elevation. The largest were ite valley. The gorgeous autumn colors mostly reds An azalea bush at the Museum just eto• and yellows, will soon be gone. ppcd blooming a second time this year.

MANY DEER_ IN SEPTEMBER

By Enid Michael, Ranger-Naturalist During the last week of the month there was a noticable increase of deer on the floor of the valley. Among the new corners were many grand bucks, some with still the tawny summer coats, and others garbed in the sleek "blue" winter pelage. At this time of year deer are often seen munching acorns under the Kellogg oaks. And by the way, the Kellogg oaks produced a fairly good crop of acorns On the other hand the Chrysolepis oaks produced practically no acorns at all. While seine of the bucks still have antlers in velvet others have hard and polished antlers that are to car-y them thrt.s the rutting season. The first indication of the approach of the rutting season. was noted September 25. On this date a dozen bucks of various sizes were seen in mad pursuit of an attractive doe. Although the bucks appeared greatly excited there were none among the band eyes that corm? with the" rutting seawith swollen necks and the bleary son.

HORNETS WAR ON YELLOW JACKETS

C. C. Preanall, Assistant Pa :k Nat uralist In the autumn yellow jackets are jacket through the air, pounce upon a troublesome pest around camps, it suddenly, cut off its head, and but Ranger Jack Moody has found carry away the body. Moody saw many yellow jackets meet therr an easy way to exterminate themfate in a similar manner, and was just find a nest of hornets, bring even able to distinguish the movethem in and sic them onto the ye)- ment of the hornets' mandibles in low jackets. biting--off the heads of the yellow Ranger Moody reports that yeljackets. low jackets have been very bad at Why the hornets were doing this, the Buck Camp outpost station, Reor what use they were making of cently, however, some white-faced the headless bodies is not known; hornets (Vespula Infernally) have but Jack knows the yellow jackets been destroying them, A hornet are disappearing, so he is strong was seen to lazily pursue a yellow for the hornets.

EXCEPTIONAL SPECIMENS MOUNTAIN HEMLOCKS

By Assistant Park Naturalist C. C. Presnall The mountain hemlock is known and admired by all Sierra mountaineers, but most of us think of It many of the conifers. It does, however, attain large size in certain potected locations. I chanced to find such a favorable spot one July day while clambering around the flanks of Tenaya Peak. The descent of a very steep coulior on the north face of the mountain brought me into a level rock rimmed basin embracing per haps three acres of alpine meadow dolted with hemlocks (Tsuga Mertensiana ). These trees attracted me by their unusual size, several having a diameter of over four' feet, and all exhibiting the heavy, bold strength usually associated with sugar pines. The largest one measured 19 feet in circumference four feet above the base. The meadow where it grows is about 9400 feel above sea level. It is interesting to note that John Muir has recorded an even larger mountain hemlock : "The very largest specimen I ever found was 19 feet, seven inches in circumference four feet from the ground, growing as a slender, graceful little tree, on the edge of Lake Hollow, at an possessing none of the massive size elevation of 9250 feet above the and rugged qualities seen in so level of the sea." Flight of fowl and habitude, Of the tenants of the wood: How the tortoise hears his shell, How the woodchuck digs his cell And the ground mole sinks his well; How the robin feeds her young, How the oriole's nest Is hung." —Whittler

YOEMITE NATURE NOTES

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A MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY

R. H. Rose, Ranger - Naturalist One afternoon in early June, The mountain weasel is favored near the Glacier Point Mountain by nature in many ways. It is exHouse, an unusual opportunity to ceptionally lithe and strong of body observe the mountain weasel (MusDuring the summer months its tela arizonensis) presented itself. characteristic color is a dull brown The usual early afternoon quietness on top, which blends very effecwas interrupted by cries of alarm tively against the drab forest floor. of the little golden mantled ground and cream colored below. During squirrels. Looking in the direction the winter months the brown and of commotion, we saw as many as cream colored fur is replaced by a a half dozen squirrels, perched like white coat, which adapts the animal picket pins, looking about uttering to the white snow background. excited cries while a little farther Thus, the mountain weasel is adaptdown slope another was running ed to moving unobserved in his enfor its life from a mountain weasel. vironment in both summer and Seeing the predicament of its felwinter. low clansman, a second squirrel The weasel is very bloodthirsty. gave chase to the weasel until the This seems to be realized by the latter pounced upon the neck of its smaller burrowing animals and the prey. With a vicious thrust the birds, for the presence of this arch weasel's teeth pierced the skull of enemy is immediately announced its victim just behind the ears. The by cries from these little denizens. little fellow that was giving chase The weasel makes his home in rock to the intruder became frightened, piles, decayed logs, or about buildand with all his fellows scurried to ings. His slender body, agility, safety. strength, and adeptness at climbWe moved closer to get a better ing trees, give him a wide variety view. The weasel resented the inof bird and mammal life upon trusion by climbing a little fir tree, which to prey. leaving his prize on the ground. The After observing the crafty little lithe little animal looked much like animal on the limb of the fir tree a "vest pocket edition" of the mounfor about ten minutes we withdrew taro lion as it stood a short disa little farther away. With seemtance from the body of the tree ing fearlessness he came down the upon a low limb, licking its chops. tree, picked up his golden mantled The coloration was a uniform shade prize, and ran to his den among of brown on its upper side and a the rocks more than fifty yards rich, creamy yellow below. Its body away. A full grown weasel weighs was about eight or nine inches in between seven and twelve ounces. length and its tail about five inches. A full grown golden mantled ground Its slender body and small head squirrel weighs between five and enagle it to go into the burrows of eight ounces. It was astonishing to ground squirrels and othor small see how easily the weasel carried animals. his prey, weighing two-thirds his

own weight, to his den. The blue home among the rocks, taking his jays fussed vociferously, sweeping game with him. Shortly the excited down several times flogging and jays quieted down, thus dropping the curtain signifying the end of peeking at the head of the wiry in one of Nature's tragedies that betruder, forcing him to drop his burfall many of her citizens of every den to protect himself. Yet the clan from the largest and most cunning and bloodthirsty little anipowerful down to the smallest and ins] soon succeeded in reaching h r, most insignificant.

RECENT MUSEUM ACCESSIONS

Through the generosity of Mrs. Valley and Mariposa Grove of Big E. E. Brownell of San Francisco Trees for the years 1880, 1882, 1883. two collections of very rare pie1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, tures have been added to our 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898. museum. Eighteen pictures 7x10/ Seven copies of "Proceedings of inches together with section seven the Society of California Pioneers' of "Picturesque California and the for the years 1893, 1894, 1895 and Region West of the Rocky Moun 1898. tains," edited by John Muir, and + A description and guide for the set of 28 photographs 17x21 1/3 in Calaveras Cave, printed in earl; ches taken by Eadward Muybridge days. in 1871. This set is in especially. A tourist guide to the Yosemite good condition because it has al Valley published in 1877, written by ways been kept in a mahogany die Mr. Hutchings; also some early play case which Mrs. Brownell also letters and photographs of Mr. donated to the museum. Hutchings, recalling the time when Through the courtesy of assishe was guardian of Yosemite. taut to the superintendent, James C. W. Mitchell of the Whitlock V. Lloyd, an enlargement of y Mining Company presented a gold photograph of Director Albright quartz specimen mined near Man was presented to the museum. posa in the Spread Eagle mine this J. E. Patterson of Pinehursa year, containing $I6 worth of gold Ore., presented four stereographs in a 7.1-ounce specimen. This quartz taken during the early days of Yo.. is now on display in a special exsemite. hibit in our history room. Charles Francis Saunders preJohn Wegner of Yosemite pre sented a copy of his newest book. sented one-quarter ounce of placer "Finding the Worthwhile in Callgold which he took from the Mer fornia," which is just off the press ced river rock and gravel at Bagby HUTCHl1N(;<S' ItitEAITENTOES recently. This gold is also on exMrs. M. W. Walkington of Lon hibit in our history room. don, England, a daughter of Mr. J Paul Eastman Richards, a memM. Hutchings of early-day Yosemite ber of the 1930 c'ass. Yosemite fame, presented a number of earls School of Field Natural History, Yosemite records and reports. presented us with two electric quesamong which I list the following tioners which will be used to stimBi-ennial reports of the commis• ulate interest In our animal e ::hib:t sioners that managed the Yosemite room.

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BIRD REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER

ENID MICHAEL Ranger-Naturalist During the month of September normal weather prevailed in Yosemite Valley--that is to say the weather was mostly fair, with few showers and no freezing nights. Early in the month there were occasional threatening skies, but no rain actually came until the 24th of the month. Then came again a stretch of fair weather, but the month came to a close with 48 hours of almost steady rain, a rain which revived Yosemite Falls. Blue-fronted Jay As the month drew to a close the first spangles of autumn color began to appear in the exotic trees along the village street. High on the cliffs the maples were beginning to show faintly golden a ed in the forest dogwood flashed occasional sprays of fiery color. The end of the month found the bird population of the valley at a very low ebbNever during the last 10 yens vim e birds quite so scarce during the September month. This condition, however. was to be expected as the bird population was far below normal during the spring and summer months. The blue-fronted Jay was the most common bird this month and the cnly bird that held to numbers comparable with other years. With the Ahwahnee Hotel grounds securely fenced against the deer, and with wild flowers coming back to this Election, we find conditions within the enclosure favorable to certain kinds of birds. Here we find hummingbirds, goldfinches, and several kinds of sparrows. In fact during this month the Ahwahnee grounds were the most "birdie" section of the valley.

BIRDS NOTED.

Great Blue Heron—The great blue was the only one seen on September 5, although fresh tracks were seen on later occasions. Band-tailed Pigeon—A small flock of a dozen birds was probably present throughout the month. The larger flocks of other years were missing. Mourning Dove—A lone bird seen September 29. Cooper Hawk—Three birds were seen on September 29. Sparrow Hawk—Rare. Lone birds occasionally noted. Horned Owl-,1-gn three diferent nights. On the last night of the month there was a serenade. Pigmy Owl--A lone bird seen September 24. Belted Kingfisher—No change in status. Always to be found in the usual haunts. [lorry Woodpecker—Probably a few birds present throughout the month. as we could always fin() a bird or two in certain cottonwood groves. Willow Woodpecker—No doubt a few present throughout the month. White-headed Woodpecker — A lone bird frequently noted about the mouth of Indian Canyon. Red-breasted Sapsucker A lone bird noted in the apple orchard. No doubt this bird was present for a number of days. as his workings there were quite extensive. Pileated Woodpecker---A lone male bird noted September 5,

Calliope Hummingbird—Fou birds present in the Ahwahne primrose garden during the la. week of the month. Black Phoebe--A single bird not ed on three different occasions. Wood Pewee—A single bird note September 24. Trail] Flycatcher—A single bir• noted September 25. Blue-fronted Jay—The most corr. mon bird of the month. No appal ent decrease in -numbers. Meadowlark—A lone bird note September 24. Bre r Blackbird—A small flue] noted SepfetSb f- &228. Evening Grosbreak—Large flock on the first day of the month; afte this date only scattered pairs. Green-backed Goldfinch -A floe] of at least 25 birds probably prat.-:,t throughout the month. Alway to be found in the primrose garde] in the Ahwahnee grounds. White-crowned Sparrow--A smal band present in the primrose gm den from September 24 until en, of month. Individuals occasional] noted elsewhere. Chipping Sparrow—Lone bitd noted September 3 and 5. Sierra Junco—Not numerous, bu present daily. No large flocks. Song Sparrow—A lone bird note September 24. Lincoln Sparrow—Three bird seen September 25 and 27. Sacramento Towhee—Rare. Lon birds noted on four occasions. California Woodpecker--Common in the Kellogg oak groves on the north side of the valley, but there was a noticeable decrease in num bers toward the end of the month_ Red-shafted Flicker — Several birds likely to be noted on an hour's walk, White-throated Swift--Three birds seen September 24. Anna Hummingbird—A lone male noted September 1 and 2. Green-tailed Towhee—A lone bird was seen in the primrose garden September 1 and 3. Black-headed Grosbeak—A lone male bird was frequently seen at the mouth of Indian Canyon. Not otherwise noted. Wabbling Vireo—A lone bird seen on September 5. Cassin Vireo—Rather common the first five days of the month, and song heard daily until the fifth. Hutton Vireo—A pair noted on September 27. Yellow Warbler—A pair of these birds seen September 27. Audubon Warbler—Began to appear early in the month. Fairly common the last week in the month. Hermit Warbler—A handsome male bird seen with a flock of Gnu. den-crowned Kinglets on Septete. ber 27. Water Ouzel—Back on the main river the last week of the month. Three birds noted along a mile of river. A bird in full song September 28. Western Tanager---A male bird noted September 1 and 3. Canyon Wren—Rare, but indivr duals always to be found in certa :_r talus slopes. Sierra Creeper—Rather common. Likely to be found in any section of the valley. Red-breasted Nuthatch — Rare Lone birds occasionally seen. Mountain Chicadee--No doubt present daily. More numerous.he last week of the month. Golden-crowned Kinglet----A flock of six or eight birds twice noted during the last week of the mon. h Western Robin—Rare, but n, doubt a few birds present througn. out the month.

This is the official publication of the Educational Depart, ment of Yosemite National Park It is published each month by the National Park Service and its purpose is to supply authoritative information on the natural history and scientific features of Yosemite National Park. The articles published herein are not copyrighted as it is intended that they shall be freely used by the press. Correspondence should be addressed to C. A. Harwell, Park Natura:i: t, Yosemite National Park, California

C. G. THOMSON

Superintendent

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