September 1930

The Yosemite Museum Volume IX

SEPTEMBER, 1930

Number 9 Department of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary National Park Service Horace M. Albright, Director

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES THE PUBLICATION OF T HE YOSEMITE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT

Published Monthly T Volume IX 'September 1930 Number 9

THE LIFE OF ALBERT BIERSTADT

By MRS. H. J. TAYLOR Librarian Yosemite National Park The Yosemite Museum considers at this time Bierstadt ranked as ".... itself fortunate in possessing works one of the foremost landscape of many of the early artists of this painters in this country." (Cur. Lit. vicinity. - The pencil drawings of Vol. 32 p. 394). He was a pioneer Thomas Ayres, made while he was - in portraying the lofty grandeur of in the valley in 1855-6, gave to the the Rockies and the Sierra. His world the first glimpse of the val- pictures became famous. His canley's grandeur. Practically all of vases attracted international atthose exquisite drawings are in this tention. On one of his western museum. Many other early artists trips ".... Idaho Springs (Coloare represented here. The object rado), was visited in 1863 by Albert of this sketch is the author of our Bierstadt, the greatest American recent gift, "Looking Up Yosemite landscape painter. (He made many Valley" by Albert Bierstadt, pre- sketches)... Mr. Bierstadt soon sented to the museum by the Char- went home to New York and in a lotte Bowditch estate through So- little over two years had finished Sophie Baylor. his great pictures of "A Storm in Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) was the Rocky Mountains,. Mountains,,..., in the born in Dusseldorf, Germany. He winter of 1855-6 the picture was came to America as a babe. As a placed on exhibition in New 'York young man he studied art in Dus- .... and the proceeds from admisseldorf for four years and in Rome sion were donated to the relief of for a year. He returned to America destitute soldiers' orphans. It atin 1857. The following year he took tracted great attention and endless a trip overland by wagon. He made criticism. Its only rival. in public sketches and laid the foundation estimation was Church's "Heart of for a score of large canvases. In the Andes," then in a private gal-

ler; in New York.... Soon after the picture ("A Storm in the Rocky Mountains") went to Paris to a world's exposition, where it was almost immediately sold for $20,000. Mr. Bierstadt had recently completed another great picture "The Last Buffalo." (Mag. of W. History Vol. II P. 237). Near Lady Franklin Rock is register Rock. In the early days tolls were collected here from all tourists taking the trail to Glacier Point. '.... There is one entry upon a sloping side of rock that is perhaps worthy of notice, as it reads, 'Camped here August 21, 1863, A. Bierstadt, Virgil Williams, E. W. Perry, Fitzhugh Ludlow.' It was during this visit to the valley that Mr. Bierstadt made the sketch from which his famous picture 'The Domes of the Yosemite' was afterwards painted.' ("Heart of the Sierra" by J. M. Hutchings, p. 441). Albert Bierstadt received honors both at home and abroad. Austria, Bavaria, Belgium, and Germany awarded him medals. In 1860 he became a member of the National Academy. In 1867 he was decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor. Among the canvases of Albert Bierstadt are the following, with their time and location: 1861—Laramie Peak (In Buffalo Academy of Fine Arts). 1863—Lander's Peak (In London), 1864—North Fork Platte River (Bought by Judge Henry Hilton, New York). 1864—Looking Up Yosemite Valley (Given to Yosemite Museum by Charlotte Bowditch Estate). 1866—El Capitan and Merced River (Bought by Lucien Tuckerman). 1866—Valley of Yosemite (In New York Library); The Burning Ship (Bought by August Belmont). 1875—Valley of Kern River (Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia). 1877—Estes Park (Earl of Devonshire). 1877—Domes of Yosemite. 1878--Mountain Lake (Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C.). For the Capitol at Washington, Bierstadt painted "Discovery of Hudson River" and "Settlement of California." Albert Bierstadt About the time of Bierstadt's death in 1902, the tendency in landscape art was toward the small, quiet, more Intimate canvases. As a pioneer of magnificent scenery on large canvases, Albert Bierstadt stands secure. "Looking Up Yosemite Valley" hangs in the foyer of the Yosemite Museum. Annually thousands of tourists enjoy this picture. The museum is proud to possess a canvas by Bierstadt and is ever grateful to its donor.

Pentstemon, Hawkweed, Stonecrop, Gilia Thrive on High Perch By C. E. GRAVES Yosemite, Aug. 16.--One does not ordinarily think of climbing semite stone-crop (sedum yoseminense), the prickly gilia (gilia punHalf Dome to see a wild flower gargens), so closely resembling the alden. The trip is commonly consid pine phlox; the yarrow or milfoil ered a stunt, with the thrill of scam (achillaea millefolium) and quaning the steep, solid granite walls by titles of small sedge. By far the means of a hand cable as the main most interesting part of the floral motive. On August 5, such a trip display was provided by several was made. After a delightful climb species of eriogonum, a member of through the Jeffrey pine forest on the wild buckwheat• family. Eriogothe lower slopes, lunch was eaten num lobbii, sometimes called butteron the "quarter dome," where mag balls, is particularly showy with its nificent views of the ranges to the delicate rosy flower clusters and east and north were enjoyed. After white, wooly leaves. A dwarf form lunch the climb was made to the of "ovalifolium" presents thick pincushion-like clusters of white wooly top of Half Dome. Expecting merely to find bare granite rock and leaves and short yellow flowers. more distant views, I was pleasantly disappointed to discover that Other species were the common the entire top of the dome, covering "nudum" and the "wrightii" and an area of about 13 acres, is com- "delicate posed of disintegrating granite that the latter two in delicate dwarf forms. The ocean has filled up the cracks with excelspray (holodiscus discolor) was lent soil for alpine plants. very abundant, but the whitish The pentstemon menziesii (Pride flower clusters were mostly faded. of the Mountains) is the most Dwarf specimens of lodge-pole, showy of these plants. At this sea Jeffrey and white-barked pine were son of the year only a few of there also found, fighting for their lives were still in blossom, but enough in the narrow soil pockets Though to splash the rocks with rosy red in the profusion of color is not so many places. A yellow hawkweed great as in the well-watered alpine (hieraceum horridum) about 7 or 8 meadows yet the very restraint of inches high, was fairly common these rocky flower gardens in their and the mouse-tail (stellariopsis inhospitable surroundings gives santolinides), though its delicate them a beauty that can hardly be white flowers are not especially surpassed elsewhere. For the genuine flower lover, they very nearly culiar worm-like leaves in a basal steal the show from the glorious rosette. Other plants were the Yovistas of the distant peaks.

An Apple Tree Apartment House By B. A. THAXTER was first discovered a robin's nest While it is a common occurrence on a limb about seven feet from in certain places to see many birds the ground. This contained three eggs. On another branch about ten nesting together in large commu- feet above the robin's home, there nity groups, here in the Yosemite was the nest of a Western chipping valley one finds only the swifts and sparrow with four newly hatched the swallows and occasionally the young. The old bird was so rekingfishers nesting too close proxi- luctant to leave that she had almost mity to others of the same species to be lifted from the nest before Among birds like the thrushes she took flight. and sparrows, this community nest- About fifteen feet from the chiping is not found. Two pairs of the ping sparrow's nest, on the other same species almost never nest in s ide of the tree, was the nest of a the same bush or the same tree. A black-headed grosbeak whose brood pair of birds may select a nesting had evidently just gone. site and then proclaim to all the These three families, we hope, got feathered world, "This is the place along peaceably in their apartment we have chosen for a home. Let all house Such a find in one medium trespassers beware! " and then they sized apple tree was quite unusual. will proceed to drive away any othOn the same trip another chip ers of their kind that are rash chip- ping sparrow's nest was found, conenough to come upon their staked taining four young. This one is out claim. worth chronicling because it was Such is not always the case, howplaced in a bunch of sneezeweed. ever, among birds of different spaonly six inches from the ground. It cies. A notable example of this was is most unusual to find a nest of seen in mid July by the field school this bird placed so low down, but in of natural history as they were tak- bird life, as in human life, one is ing a bird walk through lower Sen- continually meeting with the unextinel Meadows. In an old apple tree petted.

Notelets Dragonflies are numerous about the Fish planted in the Park this year total meadows. 1,141,800. Near Wawona Road a Sharp-shinned Grasshoppers are quite plentiful about Hawk was seen in flight, carrying a dead the Valley. flicker. — Most of the Mule Deer bucks have rubbed The Bears are showing up in goodly the velvet from their horns during the numbers every night at the Bear Pits,- fat, past two weeks. With the does and fawns slick, and saucy. they are feeding in the meadows.

AFIELD WITH RANGER NATURALISTS SIERRA MARMOT AGAIN SUNRISE AT COLUMBIA POINT

INCREASING IN NUMBERS By Ranger-Naturalist C. C. Presnall By Ranger-Naturalist Paul J. White The narrow vault of sky above The Sierra marmot, often called was warm and glowing. The woodchuck and ground hog, again canyon was still cold and gloom seems to be increasing in numbers The zig-zag trail, coiling itself after a period of years during around huge boulders, would have which few were seen. The mem- seemed cool to man and beast were it bers of the High Sierra hiking not for the violent exertion of party which I conducted through ascending the steep canyon side. the six hikers' camps during the Overheated bodies, laboring in the first week in July, noted 14 mar- chill atmosphere, produced an aura mots. of vapor that softened the uncouth Dr. Harold C. Bryant's articles in appearance of the heavily burdened pack mules. The shuffling of hoofs Yosemite Nature Notes for October, 1929, mentioned the practical on the sandy trail and the creak of saddles and packs accentuated a disappearance in Yosemite of this hush prophetic of sunrise. very interesting mammal, and sug- Suddenly, like a trout leaping gested that the condition was per- from a dark pool, the pack train haps due to the cycles of scarcity moved up from shadow to sunlight and abundance known for almost The vaquero in the lead shaded his all rodents. eyes against the glare of the sun, while only six were reported as already well above the horizseen by our guides all last summer, on. The mules shook themselves and

this year at least that many were groaned with relief when permitted seen on the rock slide at Glen to stop, then stood drowsing in the Aulin High Sierra camp at one time unexpected warmth while their by my party. The members of the master gazed in wonder at what he party found them rather tame and had often seen before: an array of approached to within a few feet in sun-bathed peaks forming a golden order better to observe them. setting for the shaded green gem When not moving about deliber- which is called Yosemite. ately on its short legs, the marmot spent much of its time sprawled out on a flat rock in the The food of the marmot consists sunshine near its burrow. When of green vegetation, which it eats startled, it would come to attention in large quantities during the sumby gathering its legs beneath, ready mer season, getting ready for its to move off quickly. At times it winter hibernation. would stand erect on its hind legs The park superintendent has seen in the manner of the Belding nine marmots on his various trail ground squirrel, the "picket pin" so trips, and rangers are each reportoften seen in Tuolumne Meadows. ing several. Its general coloration is yellowish It is to be hoped that this year brown with a dull yellow chest. The marks the beginning of a cycle of white cross band over the nose and abundance for this interesting and beneath the eyes gives the animal a harmless rodent.

Yosemite Bird Report for July, 1930 By Ranger-Naturalist Enid Michael The month of July in Yosemite in the early evening the fair blos- Valley was quite rainless and the soms of the evening primrose. But great majority of the days were one must go early in the evening to see these flowers as before entirely cloudless. The days were morning every blossom will be hot and the nights balmy. The un snipped off by wandering deer. To broken stretch of summer days was realize what over-grazing will do probably favorable to most nesting to the flowering plants of the valbirds, albeit during the heat of the ley, one has but to wander along day parent birds often perched the Ahwahnee fence and compare panting on the rim of the nest to the wild meadow inside of the shade their hot nestlings. On the fence. Remove more deer and the other hand, the hot weather was flower gardens may come once apparently favorable to insect life more to the valley floor. and as a result there was an abund- JULY BIRD REPORT ance of food and parent birds had never far to forage. There were Great Blue Heron—A Lone bird days when the sandpiper with her, noted July 22 and 23. nest out on the hot sands had to Spotted Sandpiper—Perhaps four turn her eggs frequently to keep nesting pairs along the mile and them from scorching. a half of river between the Swing- Fifty-six species of birds were ing bridge and the Stoneman noted by Mr. Michael and I durbridge. ing the month, which number Band-Tailed Pigeon—A few pair's brought our July average for the present throughout the month. Nest last 10 years up to 53.5. Of the 56 discovered July 10 and it was a species noted only the red-breasted surprise to find the male bird insapsucker and the Western gnat- cubating the lone egg. catcher were unexpected birds on Sharp-Shinned Hawk--A pair the July list. The sapsucker was nested and reared a family in the never before seen on the floor of pine wood near the mouth of Ye the valley during July and the semite Creek, The family group of gnatcatcher was only once before four young birds and two parents noted during July. was seen July 25 and 26. Ornithologically the outstanding Sparrow Hawk -Three nesting feature of the month was the nest- pairs. Young still in one of the ing of a pair of Gambel's white- nests on the last day of the month crowned sparrows in Yosemite Val Horned Owl--A lone bird noted ley. Hudsonian white-crowns have July 8. been known to nest in the Yosemite Valley, but so far as is known the Pigmy Owl--On July 3 a young Gambel's sparrow has never before pigmy was seen being mobbed by been reported as nesting here. The the small birds of the neighborfamily of young sharp-shinned hood, and on the following day hawks was also interesting as was this same young owl, or another the nest of the Western gnatwas noted. catcher. Belted Kingfisher—The young The moving of a number of our are abroad and consequently kingvalley deer to the Tuolumne water- fishers are common along placid shed that took place last spring stretches of the river. has given the flowering plants aHairyWood pecker- -Present much needed chance to blossom daily. Family groups or lone birds forth. In spite of the drouth, gar- are to be found in all the cottondens of wild flowers are making a wood groves. brave show in many sections of Willow Woodpecker--No doubt the valley, In spite of the fact present daily, but there were days that many deer are still present on when we failed to note a single the floor of the valley, one may see bird.

White Headed Woodpecker-- from the lower country to take Rarely noted after the first week their places of the month. Family groups prob Evening Grosbeak—Present ably went to the higher mountains throughout the month. During the for a vacation. last ten days of the month small R ed - Bre asted Sapsucker--A flocks came each morning to feed handsome male noted July 21. on the ripening coffee berries at Pileated Woodpecker---A lone the mouth of Indian Canyon. bird noted July 13. California Purple Finch—Not California Woodpecker--Common numerous, but scattered pairs alin all the Kellogg Oak groves. ways to be found in the district Young birds still in the nest on the just below the old village. last day of the month. Red-Shafted Flicker--Present Green-Backed Goldfinch—Occadaily. Family groups frequently sionally noted during the month noted during the last half of the and on each occasion there were month. always three birds in the company month. Whit e-Crowned Sparrow—On Black Swift--Rare. Noted on July 9 a nesting pair of Whitethree occasions. On July 21 a flock crowns was discovered in a thicket of 12 was seen. at the edge of the Stoneman mead- White-Throated Swift--Common ow. If no mistake was made in the first week of the month and identification these birds were Zopresent daily until July 20 when notrichia leucophrys gambeli, and they were last noted. in this case we have a new record Anna Hummingbird--A lone male for Yosemite Valley. noted on three occasions Calliope Hummingbird—Rare this Chipping Sparrow—Not numermonth. Individuals occasionally ous, but likely to be found in any noted. section of the valley. noted. Sierra Junco----Not numerous, but Black Phoebe--First noted July likely to be seen a half dozen times 16. A lone bird noted on three oc- on a two-mile walk. casions thereafter. casions thereafter. Lincoln Sparrow— A singing male Wood Pewee--Common birds. was noted July 22. Found in all sections of the Valley. Sacramento Towhee—No change On July 30 the young birds were in the status. Family groups to be seen leaving the last occupied nest found in all the usual haunts. that we had under observation Black-Headed Grosbeak--One of Trail Flycatcher--Not numer- one of the most common birds during the ous. Of the four nests under obser- first three weeks of the month, va- tion the young deserted the last coming less and less numerous the nest July 30 last week of the month. Western Flycatcher--5 birds. Lazuli Bunting--A singing male noted along Tenaya Creek between was noted daily in the little paddock Mirror Lake and the Merced River from July 13 to July 24. on July 4. Blue-Fronted Jay--Considering Western Tanager—Rather comall sections of the Valley the jay mon during the first half of the was the most common bird of the month, but becoming scarce during month. the last week of the month. month Red-Winged Blackbird--Family Violet-Green Swallow--Occasiongroups present in the Sentinel ally seen during the first week of meadow the month. Last noted July 13 meadow until July 30, but on the Rough-Winged Swallow—July 9 next day we failed to see a single five young just fresh from the nest bird. were being attended by their Brewer's Blackbird---In point of parents. Last seen July 10. numbers the most common bird of Warbling Vireo---Present daily, the month. Our nesting birds prob. but almost silent during the last ably moved on into the higher half of the month. July 26 a nest mountain meadows, but an up. containing four well grown young mountain movement brought flocks. it was observed

Cassin's Vireo--Present through- Red-Breasted Nuthatch—Not out the month. Rasping voice of the common, but individuals likely to young often timid, but parents be come upon in most any section of the valley. most silent during the last half of Mountain Chickadee—Rare. Presthe month. ent daily, but possibly not more Calaveras Warbler—A lone bird than two family groups. noted July 4 and 6. California Bushtit--A family Yellow Warbler—The most com- group of seven birds seen at the mon warbler and the most consis- mouth of Indian Canyon July 15 tent singer during the month, and 16. Black-Throated Gray Warbler— Gold-Crowned Kinglet--A family A family group noted July 3 and 6. group noted July 4. Hermit Warbler—Family groups Western Gnatcatcher— On July 4 twice noted during the month. On the nest of a pair of these birds July 26 young birds apparently was found. On July 20. 1924 young just out of the nest were being fed Gnatcatchers were seen being fed by the parents. by their parents, but it was not un- Water Ouzel—Seldom noted along til this month that we actually dis- the main river, but on July 28 covered a nest of Western Gnat- small young were being fed in the catchers on the floor of the valley. nest located about 100 yards upTownsend Solitaire--A lone bird stream from Happy Isles seen July 4 Canyon Wren--Not numerous but Russet-Backed Thrush -- Noted birds always to be found at three occasionally. Probably four nestdifferent sections of the valley. ing pairs at the upper end of the Sierra Creeper—Likely to be seen valley, in any section of the valley. On Western Robin—Common, but July 19 there was still one occupied not nearly so numerous as in other nest. A late nesting record for this years. Two nests still contained creeper. young on the last day of the month.

FATHER TOWHEE ADOPTS

hee, who has made the azalea FAMILY. thicket his home all summer, dis- By B. A. Thaxter covered their plight and took them On Saturday, Aug. 2, while the under his wing. All day Sunday he of the Field School of was kept busy trying to fill up members Natural History were at their those hungry babies. They both lunch in Camp 19, a Sierra junco trailed him all day, and when he with a brood of four little ones was came out for the crumbs we spread observed in a clump of azaleas just for him they were always with him in front of our tents. The young with their mouths open, crying to evidently had been out of the nest be fed. Never once did their fosfor a week or more, for they had ter father falter. All day he fed little difficulty in making short them, and when the dawn came on flights after their mother. Monday he was again on the job The next day, Sunday, found At sunset he was still trying to satchange in this happy family. The isfy the voracious appetites of his old bird and two of the young adopted children. had disappeared—where and how One interesting feature of this we know not. Two youngsters were strange relationship was the fact: left behind; however, and as we that frequently the female towhee were at home nearly all day, we would appear on the scene and behad a good opportunity to observe come interested in the family; but them. Our attention was attracted every time the male would at once to them at first by their chirping attack her and drive her away, as and, hungry cry. Soon our neigh- much as to say, "Let me alone, I bor, the Sacramento-spurred tow- can take care of my own family."

This is the official publication of the Educational Department 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 Naturalist, Yosemite National Park, California

C. G. THOMSON

Superintendent

<!-- Page ll -->