December 1930

Vol. IX

DECEMBER, 1930

No.12

THE PUBLICATION OF

THE YOiEMITE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT Published Monthly Vo:umr IX December 1930 Number

CLOSE STUDIES OF THE CROUSE IN YSMITE

Male Bird Is a Friendly Soul, but He'll Chase Off Intruding Buck By Bantz^r-Ma`t't rst C. H. Oneai Boomp! Boomp! Boomp! Came eim of the basin in a true pre-Volthe va)oi:-g call of the Sierra cock stead manner and drinks h is fill of g :ieii ee to h is mate as the sun stairsoapy eater. If the pan is empty ed to ascend the eastern sky. Wf he prattles it until it is filled with elippcd on our bathrobes and care water. His meal is usually topped f+illy sea] shed the Jeffrey pine in of by a large number of nice, savory front of our tent at Glacier Point flies, i-ieects or ants. +o grouse could be seen. Again Only on one occasion have we the c e ll. But the most diligent seen h :ro eating pine needles. Then :oat-eh failed Slipp'ng back to bed, he flew up into the Jeffrey pine we v;a ited. Boomp' This time the and walked straight out to the verb ca:] Bounded closer. There on the end of the branch Here, swaying g_ound not 10 feet away was out up and down with each movement. friend But how changed! For two he p eked the ends off the needles years vie had been calling him While a heavy bird, he was a super- "Hen." Here he was displaying all acrobat at balancing. He had no his masculine glory. What an indifficulty in turning around in his j ast ` ce we had done him' He was precarious positicn and walking di siraightway christened "Henry." rectly to the trunk of the tree. Masculine-like, a few crumbs soon Henry is jealous of his prest ige caused the ardor of his wooing to at our tent. No other male grouse subside and he was once again dare appear One day an intruder "hen"-like. stole some crumbs. He was warned Each morning Henry appears for by a series of low ut! ut! uts! breakfa.t. Civilization has per. (which shook the whole of Henry's verted his appetite. Bread and body) and was politely but firmly cracker crumbs, peanuts and peelescorted to a rock below. Here he ings of tomatoes and peaches are was watched until he took flight. especially relished. After eating But the next day he was back. Th,.i crackers, he usually hops upon the time moral suasion was forgotten wash stand, places one foot on the Henry darted toward him in Pete,

anger. The stranger beat a hasty that appeared to be a piece of bark retreat to a branch in a friendly or a clod of dirt. However, It tree. Here his crestfallen appear moved its head and we recognized ante indicated his defeat. Though the chick. The hen, failing in her Henry will not tolerate a male, he quest for crumbs, walked to a will share his crumbs generously warm, dusty spot in search of bugs with his lady friends. and ants. Then appeared with dra i.fOtSTS A BUCK matic suddenness Henry in all his Usually the most docile of birds, splendor_ The resonators in his when necessity demands he can be throat were distended almost to come a worthy adversary. The bursting. They formed great light other day as he lay in the warm yellow, feather-bordered pouches sun enjoying a dust bath, a young that, at a. distance, looked almost buck ventured too close. The feathlike Sunburst roses. His tail was ers on top of Henry's head stood raised and extended fan-like, whue erect, almost Like a top-knot. He his wings scraped the ground. Over bristled all over. His warning his eyes were pouches which in the hisses were ignored. Suddenly heat of his emotion were a brilliant there was a. flurry of feathers and orange red. So great was the en a cloud of dust. Straight into the gorgement of these sacs they ap face of the buck flew the irate peared fringed like the gills of a cock. The enemy was routed with fish. In all the blaze of his mascu one attack and bounded away in line adornment he strutted bantam. hasty retreat. like but with much more animaWe have been awakened more tion. Every few minutes he woulu than once by the grouse flying upon emit his wooing call. Boomp' the tent. Here they will walk the Boomp! But his mate accepted his length of the tent, slipping and advances coolly. She was more in sliding like a drunken sailor at each terestcd in insects. Finally, h..step. Or it may be the tipping over ardor diminished by his interest in

of the wash basin that arouses us food, his resonators disappeared, At other times Henry will walk up his tail dropped and he was once into our bedroom and stand looking again our quiet, unobtrusive friend. at us first out of one eye and then Only his larger size and darker cur the other, as if to say, "Get up. oration distinguished him from thr. sleepy heads!" hen.

TLGE OHOUSE FAMILY

Of all the pets at Glacier Point, We had a fine display of the dothe grouse are most interesting mestic life of the grouse one SunQuiet, patient, faithful, they seem day afternoon. A quiet musical to enjoy human companionship. clucking caused us to invest :g ate. A short distance away a hen was Winter° has come to Yosemite calling to her chick. Seeing us site three weeks earlier this year their flew to the ground and walked last. During the recent three da y, nearer, hopeful of a few choice norsnow (November 15-17) the precip`.sels. Her chick had flown up to a tation was 4.53 inches. Three feet

young fir tree not 20 feet away. It of snow fell at Tuolumne meadav was clearly outlined when in flight, Arriving with the snowfla.lrrr :, but when perched it was almost inhundreds of juncos are appf'arinvisible. After a careful search we in Yosernita valley. Kinglets :iri• saw dimly outlined against the also nrnnf•run4. nearer side of the tree an object

Unusual Rock Basins in Yosemite C. C. PRESNALL Assistant Park Naturalist An interesting discovery was ed the top layer, beneath which was made this summer while studyhr,r five to seven inches of granite sand the remains of Indian rancherias it. mixed and blackened with fineosetnite National Park. At every charcoal. Several small obsidian ancheria several mortar holes flakes were found in this layer. The have been found, but in one loinbottom layer in the round basin eon tort there were also several lage sated of pure charcoal lumps and b:so:a hollowed out of granite bed. powder. There were many small rick similar to those described cylindrical pieces such as would Cecrge W. Stewart (The American be expected in the remains of a Amin opolegist, Vol. 31, No. 3) tram corp fire This layer was an inch the F aweah river region. deep over most of the basin, but Ti:' basins found in Yosemite,-rte was filled to a depth of four incis es heated near the Mariposa Grove cr onside The oblong basin eonJohn goer', assistant chief ang-- twined only a thin layer of sand r in lead told me about a rancher-ia coarse charcoal in equal prop. r rer.i the grove, and I supposed it tons. ertoined only the usual collection The depth of the round basin was aim tat holes, hut upon arriv,t.g tO inches, that of the oblong basin. t the longer station I was told t i ei Pte inches. The sides sloped ii, s.te in qucation there were aarercthly and uniformly to the hot-, et. eon e larger "cooking holes, to ms, ierreinding one of huge;aril The particular rancherio is locali The bottoms of the basins, ed tinee fourths of a mile southalthough smooth, were not lea_1, (real of the Mariposa Grove rands'. but bulged upwards slightly in Lhe 'eLa r and he:, on a slight elev.,- ::enters, so the center of each bestir n '.Letc•ea two forks of Little a;as nearly an inch shallower rho :, Ca mot (neck On level, sandy aril the eheir at the junction of the sr 1, moil the creck I found malty.-end bottom. es; n clips and one perfect r iThe origin and purpose of such :-,c,he e,rci The location is an td ad hard an has apparently not be 1,..a jeer en radian camp Just 'Co corned. The smooth interior sinor tie campsite is a roughly roundfaces resemble those of the small oh i:nob of granite on which I mortar holes, and might possibly qraid 25 mortar holes closatp have been fashioned in the same.t;rouped within an area of !Of) way---by centuries of abrasion with ogaare feet. About eight feet to oils a pestle or similar implement. It rode of these mortar holes I found is co-zceivable that natural depr•es. a circular basin 4 feet 4 inches clone in the granite could have been across the top, filled level full with thus smoothed and shaped without.rod and debris. Twenty feet away, the vast amount of laborwhich o1 i cropposite :ride of the morr ar would be necessary if the ont.in heir e, was another basin, ohloag basin had been man-made. C ' - feet by ii foot. A 1hird sort 1 It is possible that the location ei d dcpressian nenrhy proved 1. the basins may have some signify t.dy a let r rel hull in the gran c•atnee. All Ihal have been thus for lie reenrlied have been fnnnd in Ih' 'I'l:e contents or the two hn.dhn vlelnity or tierluuln gig :rnte1 gains gore practically tdetttlrnl An ttwit 'nu, antiquity of the basins stint,, •1 of fir gastrin rind a leaf tnuld rut In by NtnwatI IN NIIuwtl by the clrlt,..

1 08

its of volcanic ash found in them. volcanic cones nearest the Redwood To quote Stewart, "The deposits of meadows are those situated in the volcanic ash found at the bottom basin of Golden Trout creek, east of of the basins at Redwood meadow the Kern River canyon They;it, and in some of those in the Giant about 22 miles to the southeast Forest were notably undisturbed, These cones have in the past dis and unmixed, or only slightly charged large flows of lava, but vol mixed, with other materials, There canoes of this type are explosive at was, mot cover, no other loose mate times, and it is not improbable, rial under the layer of ash. Eva therefore, that they have emitted dently, then, the basins were empt. great volumes of ash, the finer pal and clean when the volcanic shower tieles of which were carried L,: fell, and this would show that they great distances by the wind. As the had been used only a short time bewinds in this part of the Sierra Ne fore the eruption took place. Fun va.da blow frequently from tin thermore, the fact that this mate south or southeast, the ash franc Taal has not been removed is proof these volcanoes would naturali.v that the people have never returned have been carried in the direction to the mountains, though they must of Redwood meadow and other pot have lived there for a long period Lions of Sequoia National Park." It may be reasonably presumed, No such deposits uccr-rri'ed in tie however, that a heavy fall of suffotwo found in;'osemiie. Th. eating volcanic dust would have would not necessarily indicate driven the inhabitants of the re. more recent orig'.n, since there gion in haste from their home, no record of volcanic activity t,. From which volcanoes the ash may this viein'.ty within recent geo :c, :' be derived is as yet uncertain. The time.

TWO NEW PUBLICATION'S

Two hooks of unusual interest are now available at the Yosemite Museum and they would he a valuable addition to the library ofany nattic lover. Address your orders to C. A. Harwell, Park Naturalist, Yo _'t,tit,•,

California. Geologic History of the Yosemite Valley – Geological Survey Profess, tonal Paper 16o, by Francois F. Matthes. Price $ 1.1o. This remarkable volume is the cu lmination of years of intensive fiel.Iwork and study, on the part of Dr. Matthes and his associates. It is pne fusely illustrated with photographs, sketches, maps. The edition is Inuit ed in number and will be in demand by those interested in the Sierra Region, so send in your order at once. Outdoor Heritage – by Harold C. Bryant, Assistant Director, Nat ional Park Service. Price $ '.0o. Wild life of the mountains, valleys, shores and deserts of ('alitrIrui,t. Intimate glimpses of the birds and beasts the traveler in (;alitornia is like ly to meet. Glimpses of the scenic wonder :, of (;ah(orni,i to~rthw with tl habits tic the wild. Big tree.; lakes; game : Iishrn; climate.

A Rare display of Waterfalls 13y C. C. YRESNALL Assistant Park Naturalist The waterfalls of the Yosemite valley have often been described so extravagantly that one wonders whether such splendor can really exist, but as if to vindicate hersel f.

the valley occasionally puts on a display of waterworks so marvelous as to defy description. All who have seen Yosemite have been impressed by the wonderful

falls, but few of the millions who have enjoyed the beautiful valley realize how magnificent the falls can be at certain rare intervals. It is only during long, hard storms that the falls show their supremo beauty. and only a few hardy natul lovers are willing to venture out into the cold and wet to feast their eyes on canyon walls that are literally covered with cascades. Spring rains, aided by melting snow, swell the falls until their roar

NEVADA FALLS

fills the valley. Severe autumn ing to the clouds and mist which storms seldom cause such floods, constantly swept the valley, often though they do revive dozens of obscuring one or both sides. springs in the surrounding mottoThe most spectacular exhibit twins. starting streams that drop seen on these seven miles of water over the valley walls in most u?tdraped canyon walls was a.n arrar, expected places, of six streams foaming down into Recently, during a protracted the Mirror lake basin from the storm in mid-November, while gonorthwest face of Half Dome. From ing from Mirror lake to Pohono a height of over 1000 feet these bridge, I counted 26 of these stormstreams came shooting clown in 'ut born falls, exclusive of six other unbroken succession of falls, run named falls that had commenced ning races with each other so fuiiflowing after being dry for several ously that they seemed in danger of months, Adding Bridal Veil and quickly draining themselves dry the two Yosemite falls to these And so they would have were it made a total of 35 falls, or five to not for the constant flood pouring the mile. Any one of them would down from the smooth dome above have been the equal of Yosetnilo Ilalf Dome seemed like a great roo t fall in midi-manner so fat as volume with the chapa rral below forming of water gees. No doubt there an Imperfect gutter that leatkivl were of Itot s that I did not nee ry badly In rlx places,

The Weasel at Sentinel Bridge By B. A. THAXTER As the writer was driving across Sentinel Bridge about 8 o'clock in the morning of July 30, a mountain weasel (Mustela arizonensis) ran across the road in front of his car. Two days later at the same time in the morning, apparently the same weasel, at the same place in the road at the north end of the bridge, was seen to cross again from the west to the east side. The next morning, August 2, as some of us stood on the bridge waiting for a group of bird students to gather, he was seen again at the base of a large black oak tree, in a very playful mood. He would run around and around the tree, through a hollow root and out at the other side. Then he would spring onto the trunk and run up it six or eight feet, and then repeat the whole performance. He seemed to be doing it for the sheer joy of playing. We watched him for several minutes, when he suddenly bounded away a hundred feet or more down the river bank, and disappeared into a hole in the bank under a mass of routs. We cautiously followed down below him to the edge of the water and waited a few minutes. Suddenly the black appearing head with its big, round ears and beady eyes popped out of another hole nearby. The slightest movement on our part and he would disappear again. A squeak would bring him back. Then two or three nearly grown young appeared and peeked at us from among the roots. We observed this curious, happy family for some time and went away feeling more kindly towards weasels in general than we had ever been before, for the weasel is a fearless, bloodthirsty animal with a well deserved reputation as a killer. Rabbits, squirrels, gophers, mice and other small rodents all easily fall prey to his thirst for blood. So it is refreshing to get another, more kindly picture of this little beast and to see him even for a few moments happily at play with the other members of his family, Only five thin hears were seen at vomiter 17 Apparently sill tho fat the hear feeding platforms on Noones have gone Into hlhrrnntinn

III

Good Interference

BAYLOR BROOKS

Ranger-Naturalist These days when we are hearing stick or stone tossed at the marmot so much about "interference" in might save his life yet it would connection with the great American ruin his confidence in her as a game of football, I am reminded of friend. Furthermore a stick or a bit of "good interference" of an stone at the fast falling bird might entirely different sort that was not serve to scare and might just called to my attention during the accidentally injure the geat fellow past summer in Yosemite. who, after all, was only following a Stopping for a brief visit at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp with a group of trial enthusiasts, our hostess there, Mrs. Silverlocke, told me of an incident that happened shortly before our arrival. It seems that this year the marmots are beginning once again to assume their proper balance in the scheme of things, and at Glen Aulin were more numerous than in past years. One fellow in particular was the favorite of our hostess, and although by no means tame he had acquired a certain degree of acceptance of the human invasion of his domain, aided quite materially perhaps by the choice morsels of food to he had by a partial relinquishment of his own exc'.ns.veness. Strolling one day in a near by open spot that was the favorite haunt of this friendly little beast, our hostess had seen an eagle, a Golden no doubt. winging his way brol: and forth across the enc losure and at no very gre et height. Little did she suspect h is purpose there until the appearance of the friendly marmot set the strge and brought the situation rapidly to a climax. The greet bird paused momentarily in his gliding, and then assuming r. elr__cst veriteal course, began descending upon the unsuspecting marmot with an alacrity bred of an empty stomach. The case of the poor marmot was becoming rapidly alarming and tensing the danger Mrs. Sllverlocko acted very qui c kly and in an Inters (-sting way. She realized that e very natural procedure. Taking a police whistle from her pocket she blew upon it with all her might. Strangely enough the noise was sufficiently commanding to so scare the eagle that his abrupt change of mind in mid air was described as even funny. Doubtless he was not in the habit of heeding a policeman's whistle. yet he :mast have instinctively realized in time, as some of us fortunate:5. do, that such is immediately demanding of respect and gracious compliance. At any rate he depa.rt_-d. erhaps angrily from the scene. The marmot was also scared and hastened to his home fearing no dobut that the doomsday for marmots was actually at hand, ns well It might have been for this fellow In particular had not a bit of "good Interference" saved his life.

OCTOBER'S FEATHERED FRIENDS:

Ranger-Naturalist Enid Michael The rueoth of October in Yosem1; : ll years. Of the CO spee'o ite valley, ac usual. was the most acted there et not a eiagle _pe delightful of all the year. It is ceo that had net been seen during October in come pra.wious year, true that at this season of the eacont the green -winged teal, which year the falls are either lacking is an entirely new record for the or at a very low ebb, but there is valley. more than more cor_ere_;oat:ion for Apparently g.ay ad'ore's are the lack of water, in the valley of coming back to the valley. Dee:dea peace and quiet that is f illed with the three gray lu_roela that T. saw a glory of at;tnrs.n color. October during the mo _ih t h ere crime to is the month of Indian summer; me reports from s-;: d'ffei, eat percloudless days of the bluest blue, sons who had seen gray squirrels cool nights, and wares sunny day during the month. _..fter the mad rush of rummer the In the bread light of day, on this October days bring serene beauty morning of October 5, a gray fox that soothes the soul of him who 'errs seen to trot across the g a'iel lingers on in the Yosemite. The bar and swine the river. rumble of tumbling watc :c belong On the afternoon of October 12 'th the hurry-harried souls who a large and ha hda..rne coyote was race about the vaflcy closing the seen hunting meadow mice in the he'ght of the tourist season. The lower end of the Leidig meadow. leisurely folk who know the YoSeveral times duria:g the month sem!te at her best sic to be found daylight trips were made to the on the deserted October trails. feeding platforms at the "bear The only stormy days of the pits." The greatest number of month were the ninth, tenth and bears to be seen on any one cloy the eleventh, and the rain that was the 13 seen on October : :0. No these days brought settled the dust cubs cf the ye p r were :icon nor and added charm to the days that were a:iy of the greet old fellows followed. There were a few frosty present. October 21 a year Igo mornings and just one morning, we estimated the number of bears October 26, when ice appeared on seen as not less than 40, l'rdring the quiet pools. the last day of the i rt'dIi a to ie Sixty species of birds were listed bear was seen at the "p is :" ar year during the month, which number :Igo there were idled n d4)0ea i;, well above the average for the :tight di cite 11111x.

BIRD REPORT FOR OCTOBER

Western Bluebird--First noted Ocnoted on two occasions. tober 17, when a flock of 15 was seen. find a single bird. Several flocks present the last few Audobon Warbler—Present daily days of the month, in varying numbers. On the last day Mountain Bluebird—A lone bird of the month hundreds were present noted October 2, and on October 12 in the oaks about the new village. three birds were seen. Red-shafted Flicker—Present daily. Ruby-crowned Kinglet—First noted Four or. five birds likely to be seen October 5. Present daily the last half on a morning 's walk. of the month, but not numerous and Anna Hummingbird--October 8 a never in flocks, handsome male came to feed on the Golden-crowned Kinglet--Common. flowers that were blooming in a win_o'lochs of 10 or 12 birds likely to be claw box. found in any section of the valley. Calliope Hummingbird--Five or six Western Robin—Present daily. In birds were present in the primrose varying numbers, however, somegarden the first three days of the times one or two birds on a mornmonth. ing's walk; some mornings 20 or 40. Black Phoebe—A lone bird noted Ratner more numerous the last few October 21. days of the month. L-iiue-fronted Jay—The most coinSierra Creeper--Present daily and 1-1on bird of the month. likely to be found in any section of western Crow—A lone bird seen the valley. October 6. Red-breasted Nuthatch—Not numRed-winged Blackbird—A lone bird erous. Lone birds noted occasionally*. was on three occasions found feeding Probably a few individuals present on the seeds of the wild sunflower, throughout the month. Meadowlark— _A lone bird noted OcMountain Chickadee—Probably a tober 8. few individuals present throughout Brewer Blackbird—Flocks noted the month. One day they would he during the first -week of the month. common and the next day they might lone straggler was frequently seen be entirely missing. California Bushtit—Only noted once during the month. A flock containing 16 bonds was seen October 25. California Purple Finch — Rare. Lone birds noted on few occasions. `'e"on - rhroa t—Had a fine view of one of these birds on the morning of October ll. Belted Kingfisher -- No apn' i'en` change in status. A bird to be found a'ong most any mile of river. Great Blue Heron —A lone individual frequently noted. Probably present throughout the month. Mountain Quail—Rare. A flock of five noted on three occasions. Rand-Tailed Pigeon—Not numerous this month. A flock containing four or five birds occasionalln noted. The largest flock comprised 50 bird% noted October 3. October 22, 40 birds seen. Mourning Dove--October 2, two birds seen, and on October 24 and 26, a, lone bird was seen. Sharp-Shinned Hawk—A lone Individ 'a,l noted on three occasions. Cooper Hawk—A single bird noted October 26. Red-Tailed Hawk—A lone individual noted October 8. Sparrow Hawk— A lone bird noted on several occasions. Golden Eagle—On October 3, two birds were seen. One was apparently a young bird. Canyon Wren—Still rare, but bird are usually to be found in certain talus slopes on the north side of the valley. pointer Wren—A lone individual d s

I I 3 PIGMY OWL

1'~t; m•:- Owl- -First heard October S. After this date the birds became,ge.rrulous and the some was frequently heard during morning hours. Never heard at night. Spotted Owl—The bird we believe to be the Spotted Owl was heard barking on the night of October 15. Evening Grosbeak—A lone individual was noted October 23 and 27. Black-Headed Grosbeak—The only Black-Headed Grosbeak that was noted during the month was a handsome male that came frequently to the feeding station.

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Green-backed Goldfinch. A flock of perhaps 25 birds was present daily in the evening primrose garden in the Ahwahnee grounds. Fox Sparrow—Twice during the ouch a lone bird was seen. Savannah Sparrow---Birds that we believe were Savannah Sparrows ii.ere present. in the meadows the first three days of the month. Green-Winged Teal—A lone bird was seen on the river October 6. Strange to say, this is our first rec.- 0_1 for this bird. Hutton Vireo—A lone bird was noted on three different occasions. ` - `loodnecker — Not numerous, but probably present daily, as one or two were always to be found in the cottonwoods. W_llov. Woodnoc•.'.:er—A few;nd'.- -'rlir e ls nrobebly present throughout the month, although there were days when we failed to find a single bird. Nuttal Woodpecker—A lone individual noted October 12. White-Headed Woodpecker - - Rare. California. Woodpecker—Colonies of five or six birds in the several Kellogg Oak groves on the warm north side of the valley, but owing to the scarcity of acorns in other sections of the valley many birds have left. Chipping Sparrow—A flock of 20 birds noted October 5. Later a lone straggler was noted on two occasions. Co'_den-Crowned Sparrow—Rare A lone bird present in a. certain thicket the last eight days of the month. English Sparrow—A pair of birds seen October 24. White-Crowned Sparrow—Not numerous, but seen almost daily. A few birds probably present throughout the month. Cicero Junco—Present throughout the month, but not numerous and no

I EWIS WOODPFC:KER

large flocks. Lewis Woodpecker—On October i; a Song Sparrow—A lone individual flock of five was seen flying up tL-c noted on three occasions. valley. Lncohr Sparrow—Pairs noted on Yileated Woodpecker — The lone 1 hree occasions and last seen Octomale bird was seen October 18. ber ll. Water Ouzel—These birds are hack White-throated Swift—October 8 on the main river. A pail' or a lone nd 9 three birds were seen, and on h rd Heel–;o be seen every mile or the morning of October 12 a flock of so along the river. 2a was noted. Red-breasted Sapsucker--Until 0e-Sacramento Towhee—A pair of tober 16 a, lone bird could usually be

b.c: always to be found in a cerfound working in the apple orchard. taro ceanothus thicket near the zoo. October 10 three birds were found Not noted elsewhere during the working in an apple tree in the Ahmonth. wahnee grounds. NOTE : We are in need of a dozen or mote copies of the August number of NATURE NOTES 1930, that various public files may be completed. The cooperation of our readers in this matter will he greatly appreciated.