November 1941

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. XX

November, 1941 No. 11

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

F. A. Kittredge, Superintendent C. F. Brockman, Park Naturalist M. E. Beatty, Assoc. Park Naturalist H. C. Parker, Junior Park Naturalist

VOL. XX NOVEMBER, 1941 NO. 11 NESTING OF TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

By Ranger-Naturalist Enid Michael Road and trail cuts that leave extent watcher will eventually locate posed ragged granite walls furnish the center of attraction on the part ideal nesting sites for the Townof the birds, and then by playing the send 's Solitaire, and these birds are old game of "hot and cold" the nest quick to take advantage of the situis likely to be disclosed by the anxation. Along the road between Chinious parents. quapin and Glacier Point there are Along the Glacier Point Road many cuts that leave rough walls to where the roadway has been blastthe liking of the solitaire, and four ed out through concentric layers of pairs of these birds are known to granite, there may be dozens of ideal have nested along this stretch of nesting sites in the distance of one road during the 1941 season. A hundred yards, but since each pair niche for the nest under an overof solitaires will claim much adjahanging shelf to afford protection cent territory to the nest, it is not from wind and weather just suits the likely that pairs will nest within a solitaire. half-mile of one another. For this To discover the nest of a solitaire reason there are not enough nesting drive slowly along the above highsites along the highway to accomway, and try to spot the bird, which modate all of the solitaires; conseis often perching on the spike of a consequently, some are forced to go back tall, dead tree. After having sighted to such natural nesting sites as were the solitaire, look about for the used before the coming of the highragged wall and the proper nesting ways. An uprooted tree with earth site in the same vicinity. If time perclinging to a mass of rootlets may permits, get out of your car, and sit offer an acceptable nesting site for down in a comfortable position to the solitaire, or perhaps the birds wait for the bird to disclose its nest. may nest on the ground at the base The solitaires are clever birds, and of a tree where the nest may be one bird of the pair may attract atfairly well hidden from view. attention while the other one slips in On July 20, 1941, an unusual nest or out of the nest. However, the paof the Townsend's Solitaire came to

our attention. Mr. Michael and I ering food for their young in a norwere wandering through. a rather mal manner. Both birds with food in dense fir forest off from the old Big their bills were now disappearing Oak Flat Road at an elevation of from view behind a group of tree about 6300 feet. While at rather a trunks not far from where we sat low elevation for Abies magnifica, Coming in from different direction; this was the dominant tree. As in and converging at this certain spot, any Red Fir forest there was little they practically pointed out the nest underbrush and a good deal of fallen site. We walked around the tree timber. In such a situation there trunks. There was no place on the were many places where a solitaire ground where a nest could be hidmight hide away its nest. As we den away, but on looking up we dis moved through the forest, we caught covered on the top of a great Red sight of a solitaire, and as solitaires Fir stump about six feet above the are not numerous in the Yosemite ground a few more moss-covered National Park, we stopped to observe the bird. Soon a second solitaire twigs than would have naturally fallen in one spot. A boost from Mr. appeared, and we moved forward. Michael and I looked into the nest. The birds be It was lined with wisps of dark moss, came nervous, and one of them beand in the cup, huddled together, gan squealing its alarm note. There were four tiny birds covered with note sounds very much like the noise dark, fuzzy feathers that blended of a gate swinging gently on a rusty well with the moss. hinge. Of course, we at once susThere was no protecting shell pected a nest, and sat down to above this nest; it was not tucked watch. Soon one of the birds flew to away in a crevice, but the dense folthe ground, and disappeared behind iage of the tall, surrounding firs fur a log. When we looked up, the secnished adequate shelter from sumond bird was gone. We were not mer thunder showers. fooled by the first bird. We were in no hurry, and it was pleasant sitting in the shade for the day was hot. Chickadees and kinglets were foraging in the branches overhead; an Audubon's warbler was plucking insects from the air, and a Hermit Thrush was singing his ethereal song. After perhaps fifteen minutes the solitaires had apparently forgotten our presence; they had given up their deceptive movements, and were going about their business of gathering.

A RARE PLANT

By Ranger-Naturalist Lee Haines A very rare plant was discovered by former Park Naturalist C. A. Har well in Yosemite Valley on March 3, 1940. Although this plant cannot produce seeds or make its own food, it is capable of providing us with a fascinating story. Pseudopithyella minuscula (Bond. & Torrent) Seaver, is a cup-fungi of

the order Pezizales which looks like minute toadstool. As is the case with other fungi, Pseudopithyella is unable to manufacture its own food, and must obtain its nourishment by another means. This new plant was found growing on the dead foliage of an Incense Cedar (Libocedrus decurrens) near Fern Springs. Its plant body consists of two parts: the growing or vegetative, and the fruiting or reproductive. The vegetative body of the plant is made up of a mass of hyphae, which grow among the cells in the leaves of the Incense Cedar and absorb from these cells the food necessary for the production of the ascosphore or visible portion of the fungi. The ascosphore functions as the reproductive organ, and produces numerous spores, which on maturity are literally shot out of a closed sac just as a cork is shot from a pop-gun. These spores perform the same function for the fungi that seeds perform for our flowering plants, although they are far less viable. The ascosphore of Pseudopithyella is made up of a short, slender stalk which is topped by a tiny scarlet disk. The entire visible part of the plant is less than one-eighth of an inch in height and about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, resembling in size a very short common pin. Perhaps this diminutive size is responsible for the fact that Pseudopithyella has only been found at two other localities in North America, San Mateo County, California, and in Bermuda. The type specimen of this plant was collected in Portugal, and it is known to occur in other parts of Europe on the decaying foliage of Cedar. Perchance this plant arose in the Bermuda Islands from spores that were carried on materials shipped to the islands from Europe, but how it jumped from Bermuda to Yosemite Valley must remain a mystery.

NATURE NOTELET

By Museum Assistant E. K. Wolfe On the morning of August 13, 1941, in Camp 19, the writer heard a loud rustling in an azalea thicket at the base of a large Ponderosa Pine. Suddenly, a chickaree ran up the tree in pursuit of an adult weasel. About 15 feet from the ground both animals stopped and the weasel turned around to face the squirrel. Although not appearing to be greatly frightened, the carnivore made no attempt to attack the chickaree, and seemed to be concerned only with making its escape. After several seconds, during which the animals faced each other without moving, the weasel dashed around the chickaree and down the tree. The squirrel in turn actually attempted to bite the weasel as it passed, and then followed it down into the azalea thicket. I waited for several minutes, but the animals did not reappear.

TRAVEL RECORD

visitors to Yosemite National Park during the travel year ending September 30, 1941, totalled 594,062, a gain of 17.2 percent over the previous year.

A TIMID BEAR TAKES A DIP

By Elizabeth H. Godfrey. Museum Secretary About 7 p. m., on July 22, while picnicking on the beach at Rocky Point, we were interested to observe some 100 yards down the river on the opposite bank a good-size, yellowish-brown bear, moving into the river for a cool dip. As most of the Yosemite bears are black or cinnamon brown, this blonde-like member of the American Black Bear species particularly attracted our attention. For several moments the bear stood in one spot in the river with the water covering all but the line of its back and the head. The two small boys who were with us immediately discontinued their wiener roasting, and ran along the bank to get a better view of the bather. When the bear noticed their rapid approach, it immediately turned, and climbed somewhat reluctantly but not hurriedly out of its bath, and sauntered off into the tall, lush grass of the meadow. About fifteen minutes later the bear again entered the picture. We saw it walking along the bank opposite our picnic spot. Some twenty yards ahead of the bear stood a fisherman, who was so intent on his hook and line that he was quite unaware of what was coming toward him. We waited expectantly to see what would happen when bear and fisherman met at close range. The bear, however, was the first to smell the fisherman. For a moment it stood still in its tracks as though deliberating, and then like an arrow darted off into the meadow—apparently not at all anxious to make the acquaintance of a fisherman. Still the man fished on—wholly oblivious to the fact that his presence had frightened a bear.

Since the feeding of bears by park visitors has been prohibited in Yosemite National Park, most of the "beggar" bears have been trapped and transported to other locations in the park. As a result, bears are not so frequently seen on the floor of Yosemite Valley as in recent years. They are allowed to remain on the valley floor only so long as they "hustle" for their own natural food, and do not resort to plundering the provisions of campers, or lingering lazily along the highways waiting for "hand-outs."

RATTLESNAKE SWALLOWS WILLOW WOODPECKER

By Ranger-Naturalist Lloyd P. Parratt On the afternoon of July 8, 1941, and deposited in one of the live exMr. Charles Michael, who is a wellhibit cases on the rear porch of the known authority on the birds of Yomuseum. semite National Park, observed a PaWe can only speculate on how cific Rattlesnake in front of his cabin the rattlesnake ever caught a Willow near the road at Government Camp Woodpecker, which spends most of 19, in the act of swallowing a Wilits time foraging on soft barked low Woodpecker. The raucous trees, such as willows, cottonwoods, screaming of Blue-fronted jays atand the apple trees in the Lamon tracted his attention. As the jays orchards. The bird is not abundant were clustered in a circle with their in Yosemite, and is a close relative bills pointed down, Mr. Michael of the Eastern Downy Woodpecker. knew a rattlesnake was the cause Perhaps it had been injured by an of their alarm before actually seeing automobile, as the incident occurred it, since the jays behave in a definite manner for each particular enemy. ite manner for each particular eneAlthough there was originally a my. large population of rattlesnakes in When first seen, the snake had Yosemite Valley, they have been swallowed only the head of the bird, pretty well eliminated by the hand so the wings and tail feathers proof man, and are now seldom seen vided positive identification that the except in July and August, when victim was a Willow Woodpecker. they work their way down to the valAfter being discovered, the snake ley floor in search of water. Their finished the job of swallowing the food consists largely of rodents, such bird in about five minutes, which is as chipmunks and ground squirrels, very fast time, even though the mabut woodpeckers are an unusual ture Willow Woodpecker is smaller item on the bill of fare. than a robin. The bird did not make Blue-fronted jays are noted for a very large bulge in the snake 's their marked interest in events that stomach, as was observed by the happen about them, and are usually writer when the snake was collected the first to make discovery and out-

cry when there is any mischief afoot. nesting season, their curiosity is This is almost invariably true when heightened—self-preservation being any predators, such as owls, weasthe important factor—but later in the els, and rattlesnakes come upon the season they retain a strong social scene. It was, therefore, interesting sympathy, which leads them to con to note their typical behavior on gregate about any objects or soundsuch an occasion as this. During the which arouse their curiosity.

LIFE ZONES IN THE HETCH HETCHY REGION

By J. Dan Webster, Field School 1941 In general the biological character Sticky Manzanita, Mountain Mahogof the Swamp Lake Research Reany, and Poison Oak. There were, serve area, which is on the north however, occasional islands of Black side of the Tuolumne Valley below Oak, and one patch, at about 4,200 the Hetch Hetchy Dam, is a mixture feet, of Jeffrey Pine. Through this hot of boreal and austral; i. e., it is true area, two Whip-tailed Lizards, four Transition Zone with much PonderMerriam Chipmunks, a brood of osa Pine, the outstanding indicator young Sparrow Hawks, two Anna's of that zone. There are, however, Hummingbirds, two Ash-throated large areas on the upper slopes of Flycatchers, numerous California the Tuolumne Canyon which the Jays, two Wren-tits, several large writer believes to be truly Upper Soflocks of Bush-tits, a single Titmouse, noran. As a matter of fact, J. C. Shirtwo Bewick's Wrens, several Canyon by ( "Vegetation of Hetch Hetchy Wrens, two Rock Wrens, one WestRegion," Yosemite Nature Notes Vol. ern Bluebird, and several GreenXVIII No. 3, p. 22, 1939) has already backed Goldfinches testified to the noted that in this valley Upper SoUpper Sonoran majority. A hen noran vegetation in several places Mountain Quail with her brood, one extends to 5,000 feet. On July 8, 1941, or two Blue-fronted Jays, a Creeper, the hot slopes on the north side of a few Mountain Chickadees, a famthe Tuolumne were visited briefly, ily of Cassin 's Vireos, and a Hermit and on July 10, the writer in compaWarbler were seen in the Black Oak ny with Mr. Herrold Asmussen, a islands, however. member of the Field School, skirted In conclusion, it may be stated the upper rim of the steep slopes at that in contrast to almost all the rest an elevation of a little more than 4,000 feet. of the area of Yosemite National Between 4,000 and 4,700 feet on Park, large portions of the northern these granite-boulder south-facing slopes of the Tuolumne Canyon are slopes the predominant woody definitely Upper Sonoran in characplants were noted to be Digger Pine, ter.

A NEW LOCALITY FOR THE YOSEMITE LEWISIA

By Harold L. Lint, Field School 1941 During the pack trip into the of the way places. In 1891, a plant (southern portion of the park, the was collected "somewhere about Field School Class of 1941 discovYosemite Valley" by Mrs. W. F. ered a Lewisia on Horse Ridge, Dodd. The specimens were sent to which was identified by Dr. Herbert Mrs. Katherine Brandegee, who L. Mason, one of the instructors of named it Lewisia redeviva var. yothe school, as Lewisia yosemitana semitana. In 1911, members of the Jep. The discovery was made July Sierra Club, including Dr. Willis Linn 22. Two days later, on July 24, some Jepson, found a Lewisia on the top more specimens of this same species of Mt. Watkins and again on the top were found on Buena Vista Peak. of El Capitan. Dr. Jepson named it The plants were found in a coarse Lewisia yosemitana, and commented granite sand in both places. The that it was perhaps the same as the slopes faced to the east and the Lewisia redeviva var. yosemitana south. On Horse Ridge, they were named by Mrs. Brandegee. Since found at an altitude of about 8500 that time, so far as I am aware, it feet, while at Buena Vista Peak, the has seldom been collected, and the altitude was nearly 9700 feet. discovery of it by the 1941 Field Lewisia yosemitana has seldom School on Horse Ridge and Buena been collected. This is probably due Vista Peak probably marks the most to the fact that it grows at higher alsoutherly point that it has yet been titudes than most flowers, and in out reported.

THE INSECTIVOROUS HABITS OF THE SUNDEW

By Gerhard Bakker, Field School 1941 While observing Roundleaf Sunsition were noted. In order to make dew on one of the floating islands of a continuous study of the insectivorSwamp Lake, many entrapped inous activities, one large plant was sects in various stages of decompomarked and a live fly was placed in

the center of a leaf. The struggling insect was soon securely entrapped by the sticky-tipped hairs on the upper surface of the leaf. In a few minutes those hairs adhering to the insect slowly began to bend, drawing the insect down to the cupped surface of the leaf. Twenty-four hours later the plant was revisited. All the remaining leaf hairs were found flexed inwards, pressing the partly digested fly tightly into the center of the leaf, which was now filled with a thick fluid. The plant was again observed the third day. The fluid in the leaf and the digested fly were becoming dry, and the leaf hairs were shriveled to half their former length. On the fourth day the leaf was completely dead. The remains of the fly had dropped out and the leaf stalk had flexed, allowing the brown colored leaf to drop into the damp leaf mould and become a part of it.

FAIRY SHRIMP

By Gerhard Bakker, Field School '41 The transparent Fairy Shrimp (Streptocephalus sealii) is the most graceful and attractive inhabitant of the numerous fresh water pools in the Yosemite region. Nearly all the smaller ponds teem with these curious crustaceans which are unique in that they swim about in an upside down position. While feeding, they glide slowly through the water, constantly undulating their numerous thoracic appendages, thereby causing a stream of water to pass by their mouths. Minute organisms such as algae and protozoa are screened out and devoured during this process. When disturbed, the fairy shrimps lash their tail-like abdomens and quickly dart away, hiding from view in the thick aquatic vegetation. Sexual dimorphism occurs in this species; the male has a pair of large grotesquely shaped antennae, and the female has an elongate brood pouch filled with eggs. These eggs are capable of resisting prolonged desiccation, for many of the small pools dry up completely during the hot summer months. After the winter rains have again filled the pools, the dried eggs absorb the water, and hatch into minute free swimming larvae. Before the summer heat has again dried the pools, they have grown into the adult stages, mated, and produced quantities of eggs in order to assure the continuation of the species.

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson