1957

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES FEBRUARY

[text unclear] —Fisk 1957

I know that I have never heard A song so lovely as a bird's. The soft low note from throat of dove, Singing a symphony of love; A Meadowlark from nearest clod, Lifting a song in praise of God. I think the sweetest rhapsodies Are sung by birds just for the trees. The Thrush sings softly through a stream, The joy of morning in his theme; That's why I know I've never heard A song so lovely as a bird's.

CHARLES ALBERT HARTWELL

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DIVISION AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

John C. Preston, Superintendent D. H. Hubbard, Park Naturalist G. D. Gallison, Assoc. Park Naturalist W. C. Bullard, Asst. Park Naturalist R. W. Carpenter, Park Naturalist (Trainee)

VOL. XXXVI FEBRUARY 1957 NO. 2 1959 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IN YOSEMITE

By W. J. and Erma Fitzpatrick The Annual Christmas Bird Count, Sparrow Hawk, 3; California Quail, taken in and adjacent to Yosemite 1; Band-tailed Pigeon, 169; Mourning National Park between El Portal Dove, 8; Pygmy Owl, 1; Belted King- (elevation 2,000 ft.) and Badger Pass fisher, 4; Red-shafted Flicker, 14; (elevation 7,600 ft.), and including Acorn Woodpecker, 24; Red-breast- Yosemite Valley was conducted on ed Sapsucker, 3; Hairy Woodpeck- December 31, 1956 under ideal coner, 5; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Nutditions. Clear skies, no wind, and tall Woodpecker, 1; White-headed mild temperatures characterized the Woodpecker, 1; Black Phoebe, 7; day. Temperatures ranged from 23 Steller Jay, 63; Scrub Jay, 26; Mt. to 68 with snow being encountered Chickadee, 106; Plain Titmouse, 18; only at higher elevations in shaded Common Bushtit, 76; Red-breasted areas. Nuthatch, 11; Brown Creeper, 11; Seventeen participants working in Wren-tit, 7; Water Ouzel, 12; Bewick 5 parties recorded 55 species and Wren, 2; Canyon Wren, 4; Rock 2,066 individuals. This compared Wren, 3; California Thrasher, 1; favorably with the 1950-1956 aver- American Robin, 301; Hermit Thrush, age of 54.45 species and 2,210 indi- 6; Western Bluebird, 2; Townsend viduals. As usual, the larger num- Solitaire, 5; Golden-crowned Kinglet, bers of both species and individuals 239; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 40; Hutwere seen at lower elevations in the ton Vireo, 3; Audubon Warbler, 12; vicinity of El Portal. However, the Brewer Blackbird, 5; Purple Finch, most unusual observations were 52; Cassin Finch, 55; Linnet, 30; Pine those of the unprecedented numbers Siskin, 23; Lesser Goldfinch, 75; of American Robins seen throughout Spotted Towhee, 33; Brown Towhee, the area and the observations of 42; Lark Sparrow, 150; Rufous-crown- Evening and Pine Grosbeaks which ed Sparrow, 2; Slate-colored Junco, had not, at least in recent years, 1; Oregon Junco, 333; Gambel Sparbeen listed in the Christmas count. row, 2; Golden-crowned Sparrow, The detailed count follows: Red- 42; Fox Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, tailed Hawk, 5; Golden Eagle, 4; 2; Pine Grosbeak, 6; Evening Grosbeak, 6.

A RANGER-NATURALIST RETURNS

By Howard H. Cofer, Ranger-Naturalist It was with a great deal of mixed we try to get a job as a seasonal emotions that we decided to come ranger-naturalist in Yosemite again." back. My wife had been with me After all, it would be a wonderful when I was in field school in Yo-experience for the boys. So we did. semite in 1941 and again in the In a very short time Superintensummer of 1942 when I served as dent Preston informed me that "We ranger-naturalist. We both had are pleased to advise you that you thought it was the most wonderful have been selected." Park Natplace on earth. But that was 14 and uralist Hubbard sent a "bushel" of 15 years ago and we were not fully special issues of NATURE NOTES, as aware that a lot of changes had well as a lot of other pertinent maoccurred. To be specific, we were terial about the parks. I was dumbjust that much older, and we had 2 founded to realize how much I had boys age 6 and 9. We were not so forgotten about the flora and fauna fully aware of the changes that had and the natural features of Yosemite. taken place in Yosemite in the inter-But after studying at every opportunvening years. We had only heard ity, the day soon arrived when I was rumors about the terribly crowded trying on a new uniform at Merced. conditions and, of course, had read It was interesting to compare prices "The Shocking Truth About Our paid in 1942 with 1956 and also National Parks" by Charles Steven-waistband measurements. Both had son in the Reader's Digest. increased considerably. The war had terminated my sea-Finally, on June 2nd we were sonal job with the Park Service and driving up the Merced Canyon toit was one of those things we just ward Arch Rock Entrance Station. hadn't gotten back. A trip to cen-The temporarily repaired sections tral California at Christmastime 1955 of the road were the first evidences started us to thinking, "Why didn't of flood damage which had been

These are the memories we had of 1941 in Yosemite. done during the previous December. There were several changes in The sign at the entrance station said Camp 19. First, the tents were white $3 and we recalled that in 1942 it had instead of brown, and there were been $2. The ranger on duty express-permanent tent frames on concrete ed the same courteous attitude that foundations. The old field school tent had been taught to us back in 1941 platforms were gone. The most unand 1942. familiar structure to us was an old Prior to our leaving home we had Army surplus portable machine shop for weeks told our boys what they which had been converted into a could expect to see in Yosemite. So "bear baffle." Were we to believe as we drove on up the road we were the days of the "bear box" suspendall looking for points that we could ed between two trees were over? recognize. Sure enough, there was Sure enough, this monstrosity was Cascade Fall bounding down with to protect our bacon and other lots of volume, followed in a few perishables from Bruin. Because of minutes by a wonderful view of last winter's flood, the old wood Bridalveil Fall. Then the boys rec-burning stoves had been condemned ognized El Capitan. To my wife and and we found brand spanking new I the meadows did not seem to be in stoves. as much evidence as they should, The Old Village, with its grocery and when we went from the museum store, looked much the same but as to Camp 19 we were completely lost. we purchased our groceries there We found out later that the old road was nostalgia for the prices of 1942. [text unclear]

doubled also. Some figures on a few other items are revealing, and may be of interest — for example, publications for sale at the museum. "The Auto Tour of Yosemite Valley" was 10c, now 25c; "101 Wildflowers" was 25c, ("Common Wildflowers") now 35c; Matthes' "Geologic History of Yosemite Valley," Professional Paper 160, was $1.75, now $5.25. Of course, we were aware of the level of today's prices; we simply found it interesting to recall what things were like in 1942. Californians know that it seldom, if ever, rains in Yosemite Valley during the summer months. I cannot recall a single drop during 1942. But we had the unusual this summer. It rained several days the last two weeks in July and quite often about meal time in the evening we would hear the roar of Yosemite Falls increase and everybody would go out to see it pouring a tremendous volume of muddy water. Also, the Merced River fluctuated up and down about two feet each day during this time. I remember, with others, Mirror Lake when it really was a lake in which beautiful reflections could be seen. As is true with all lakes having sediment-carrying streams which deposit their materials into them, Mirror Lake is disappearing. The floods of 1950 and 1955 greatly increased the deposits in the lake. Many of us are sad at its passing but on the other hand it is just as interesting to understand the natural sequence of events that cause lakes to disappear as it is to experience the beautiful reflections. The type of change that saddens me is that brought about by the presence of thoughtless people who use the national parks as resort areas instead of the inspirational areas which they are. The number of visitors which came into Yosemite in the summer of 1942 Still other things seemed not to change. was around 195,000. There were 57 rangers and 10 on the naturalist staff. This summer there were around 708,000 visitors to Yosemite with 78 rangers and 23 on the naturalist staff. These figures show an increase of approximately 50% in combined ranger and naturalist personnel while the number of visitors has increased over 263%. This year there were 3 ranger-naturalists each at Tuolumne, Mariposa Grove, and Glacier Point, where in 1942 there was only 1 at each of these outposts. Where we used to give talks at Camp 14 nightly, and occasionally at the old Lodge, Camp Curry, and the Ahwahnee, this year talks were given nightly at Camps 7 and 14, the new Lodge, and twice weekly at the Ahwahnee. The rangers acted as master of ceremonies then and the ranger-naturalists gave the

Now two ranger-naturalists Sierra camps. It was the last time help at night at Camps 7 and that first-year seasonal naturalists 14, one acting as master of got to do this and it was the last ceremonies and the other giving the year that the National Park Service illustrated talk. gave this service at all. Now the cir- Leading community singing at a cuit of High Sierra camps is done in twin program was a new ex-reverse under sponsorship of the perience for me. I didn't think I could Yosemite Park & Curry Co. The do it and I am sure hundreds hikers are taken by bus on the of people who have heard me agree Tioga Road to the trail junction with I should never have tried it. May Lake where their trip begins. Nevertheless, I went through the We miss the field schoolers. They throes about once a week all sum-were so eager, ambitious, and inmer and can truthfully say that I dustrious. The last field school was enjoyed it. held in 1953 as a result of curtailed One of the most popular features finances. Pleasant memories were during the 1942 summer, and for recalled while looking through the many seasons, was the Indian dem-1941 yearbook which had fallen my onstration in which Tabuce and Lucy lot to compile. For several years the and Chief Leemee participated. It field school made an animal study was interesting to work with them, of the Swamp Lake region and this but the Indians are no longer with was referred to as the Research Reus and I felt lost in attempting to tell serve. I found it interesting to look the visitors about Indian customs over our report of the study made and ceremonies without the Indians. in 1941. In searching through old In 1942 I was lucky enough to papers of that period I also ran take a group of people on what was across a diary which was kept of then called a 7-day hike of the High our two-week pack trip into the

[text unclear] such as Tunnel, Mirror Lake, Happy Isles, or Camp Curry. This was a new endeavor available to the ranger-naturalists to reach as many of the park visitors as possible. It was on a trial basis in Yosemite but experience thus far indicates its desirability. Well, how did we fare this summer after all this lapse of time? On the whole the time literally flew. It was a fine staff with which to work and the program was very efficiently organized so that each had an op- High Sierra. This was very pleasant portunity to work in the field of their reading indeed, and one night this special interest. summer while Associate Park Na-This year the Junior Ranger Proturalist Glenn Gallison was giving gram was something new and nice an illustrated talk on fishing in Yo-to us because our boys attended, semite, what should I see on the and each ranger-naturalist took a screen but a fine string of beautiful turn working with this group in the trout which were caught by 3 mem-week. The minds of our children are bers of our 1941 field school class fertile fields in which to plant the and which I had helped eat. Yum, love of things natural and to instill yum! By the way, the limit at that the idea of their conservation. time was 20 fish or ten pounds and As for the conditions referred to one fish, while today it is 10 fish or in the Reader's Digest article, we ten pounds and one fish. found them to be pretty much the When not busy giving talks at the truth. The National Park Service is museum, or conducting nature walks doing the best it can under present or all day hikes, this year the rang-conditions and is making long range er-naturalists were given special plans for improvements under its duty which involved "contact" as-MISSION 66 program. You will be signments at various areas of visitor hearing more about this later.

THE SIERRA

The Sierra, the Sierra, the range of light Green flowering meadows, deer taking flight Forests dark, somber, and still The cry of the marmot so loud and so shrill Roaring stream through rocky Vulcan's forge The granite and snow ever so white The Sierra, the Sierra, the range of light. By George E. Heinsohn Museum Assistant

A NEW MUSEUM EXHIBIT

By Elbert M. Brock, Museum Assistant In August of 1956 a new animal top of the board will light. If the inexhibit was added to the Yosemite correct track is chosen the bulb will Museum. The exhibit contains 24 not light. plaster casts of animal tracks. These The animals represented are evencasts were made in the field where ly divided among three display plaster was poured into the boards so that the greatest number prints. For each track there is a cor-of children can play at any one responding picture of the animal that time. The exhibit has proved very made the print. The tracks are not popular as a game for two children; necessarily located by the pictures while one child holds the pointer by of the animals to which they belong. the picture, the second child tries to The display board is so wired as to find the track. When this has been form an electrical game which is done, the children move to the next probably familiar to many of the board where they trade positions. present-day school children. Each Adults, too, find this exhibit interestboard has two cords with which to ing and often elbow the children out play the game. If the pointer at the of the game. end of one cord is placed by a metal The animal tracks, which were button beside the picture of an ani-cast by Mrs. Mary V. Hood, are mal, and the other pointer placed mostly of mammals found within on the metal button next to the cor-Yosemite National Park. responding track, a light bulb at the

HIGH ALTITUDE BLACK OAKS

By Richard L. Lehman, Ranger-Naturalist On a recent trip from Pate Valley East Fork of the Kaweah River 100 to Rodgers Lake my hiking com-miles to the south of Yosemite. Mainpanion, Bill Hood, and I were amazed to ly, oaks are a foot-hill group of trees find that at above 7000 feet in eleva-but according to Sudworth (1908) the tion we were still in a black oak — scrub oak (Q. dumosa) grows to 5500 incense cedar forest. At 7400 ft. (we ft. in Sierra National Forest and the carried a thick altimeter), just before canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis) and entering a delightful flower-packed its variant huckleberry oak live in meadow near the Pleasant Valley shrubby clumps to 8000 or 9000 ft. trail junction, we finally broke The piece of trail along which the through the last black oaks into oc-high altitude black oaks are located casional groves of aspen. has an unusual exposure which may Subsequent checking reveals that in part explain why they are there. the black oaks on this dry steep In the morning these black oaks are in slope above Piute Creek are grow-the cool shade while across Piute ing at unusually high elevation for Canyon the eastern slopes of Ranthis species (Kellogg). Black cheria Mountain are in the direct oaks are located near Chinquapin sun. However, in the afternoon these at 6000 ft. and Wayne Bryant (1951) oaks receive the full heat of the sun found them at 6300 ft. on the south and Piute Canyon becomes an oven. wall of Yosemite Valley. There are In addition, these trees are sheltered stands of black oak at altitude 6500 ft. from direct westerly winds by the on the Glacier Point-Nevada Falls mass of Rancheria Mountain and trail and Sudworth (1908) reports that from winds from the other compass this tree grows to 6500 ft. in Stanis-points by the protective ridges of laus County and to 7200 ft. on the Cadum Mountain.

TAKE-HOME PAY

Nor dollars nor cents will ever stay So long as this my take-home pay. A mountain meadow in floral flamboyance, Medicine meet for worldly annoyance. The sweet pungency of sugar pine dust, Born of swishing cross-cut's thrust. Friendly campfires, large and small, Most with music, some good, some not at all. Alpenglow on Dana's brow, Then down Conness' scree we plow. The rich twilight hue of sequoias strong, Lost to the madding mid-day throng. The burning eyes of a midnight coon Caught in the beam of a man made moon. Cassiope's bells ringing loud and strong, If not with sound, then a sweeter song Of joy that only those may know Who on a mountain's shoulders grow. Such pleasant thoughts will ever play On mem'ry's stage — my take-home pay. By Dick Wason, Ranger-Naturalist