1961

NUMBER 1

1961

FROM 40 YEARS AGO YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES, VOL. 1, NO. 1, JULY 10, 1922 GRAY SQUIRRELS RARELY SEEN THIS YEAR

The Gray Squirrel or Tree Squirrel, in past years very abundant in the Valley, has almost disappeared as the result of a disease which has become epidemic the State over. The sight of a Gray Squirrel is now the exception, whereas it was formerly the rule.

CROSS SECTION OF BIG TREE ATTRACTS CROWDS

The cross section of a wind felled Giant Sequoia which is on exhibition at the Museum is daily proving of great interest to visitors. The section is 9 feet in diameter. It was cut 40 feet from the base of a 14-foot tree. The age of the section is 996 years and on it have been marked rings that vividly portray the size of the tree at the time of the signing of the Magna Charta, 1215 AD.; the Battle of Hastings, 1066; the Discovery of America, 1492; the Landing of the Pilgrims, 1620; the Declaration of Independence, 1776; and the Civil War, 1860. Yosemite Volume 40, Number 1, March 31, 1961

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is published twelve times a year by the Yosemite Natural History Association, Inc., in cooperation with the Naturalist division, Yosemite National Park, John C. Preston, Superintendent; Douglass H. Hubbard, Chief Park Naturalist. Subscription rates are 1 volume - $2.00, 2 volumes - $3.50, 3 volumes - $5.00, life - $50.00, single current issue 25 cents. Price of back issues upon request. Manuscripts dealing with Yosemite's natural and human history are welcomed from our readers. The contents of this publication are not official in nature and do not necessarily reflect policy of the National Park Service. Articles may be reproduced if credit is given to Yosemite. Address all correspondence to Editor, Yosemite, Box 545, Yosemite National Park, California.

YOSEMITE VOL. 40

1961

Perhaps you have noticed recent changes in the format of Yosemite Nature Notes., now called Yosemite. A more attractive and readable publication has been our goal. With this issue another change occurs. Yosemite will no longer be published on a monthly basis. Instead, 12 numbered issues will be distributed on an irregular schedule each calendar year. All subscriptions will be for the given year and will expire with issue 12. Yosemite is a non-profit venture without a paid staff. We are hoping this change will allow us to keep subscription rates at the current level. (See back cover.) Editorial policy will remain the same as it has been for the 40 years of Yosemite Nature Notes. Articles in Yosemite primarily will emphasize the natural history of Yosemite National Park and its surroundings. Of equal importance is the human story — from the life of ancient Indians and early pioneers to the present day adventures of the park visitors, rangers, and administrators. It is our hope that Yosemite will be a publication that you will enjoy and profit from. Your contributions, suggestions and criticisms are always welcome. The Editor

Bear Tree by Vaughn Critchlow Hiking out from Tuolumne Meadows, we found ourselves on a welldefined trail, wending toward Erratic Dome. Almost immediately we were aware of a series of indentations or hollows, regularly spaced along the trail. Planted rather deeply in the dry ground these appeared like the footprints of some extremely heavy animal. Was this a bear trail? We decided it was. Bears seem to be trail-loving animals and seldom cut new paths through thick brush or forest understory. They tend to follow the established trails, including those made by man. Sometimes it is possible, by observing tracks on the trails, to see where bears have so conscientiously followed the paths that they traveled all of the windings and switchbacks so characteristic of man-made paths. The bear is not just an ordinary follower either, but goes so far as to step directly in the tracks of his predecessor. That is why there were the deep indentations on the path to Erratic Dome. Each bear that had come along the trail had stepped in the footprints of the bears before him. We noted that the bear trail wound around areas where trees had fallen and avoided places where the brush or forest made passage difficult. It was as if an experienced engineer had laid the trail to take the easiest route possible.

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and Trails Bear trails are especially evident in winter when the snow is deep. Grinnell, Dixon, and Linsdale, in their book Fur Bearing Mammals of California, (Univ. of Calif. Press, 1937), show a picture of such a pathway. The illustration (Page 112) shows a set of tracks joining into the trail of another bear. Instead of going on his own way with his own length of strides, the newcomer fell into step and walked directly in the tracks made previously. Further along the trail to Erratic Dome we came upon a lodgepole pine, disfigured by large scratches about seven feet from the ground. Immediately there was a great deal of speculation as to the cause and purpose of such marks. It was pointed out by our ranger-naturalist that this was a "bear tree. " People familiar with the habits of these animals have long known of the existence of trees where bears gouge the bark with their claws. Such trees frequently occur near main bear trails and usually show not only claw, marks but also teeth marks. Bark of aspen and incense cedar seems especially preferred for marking. Several observations have been made of bears actually marking such trees. Usually, on arriving at the chosen location, the bear will stop, stand erect on its hind legs, Vol. 40, No. 1, 1961 reach up as high as possible, and scratch and bite the tree. Some observers have reported seeing the bears sniff the trees thoroughly and then rub their jaws up and down on the bark. Other bears have been reported to growl and bite the trees savagely as if attacking an enemy. Little of concrete nature is known concerning the purpose or meaning of "bear trees". However, a few theories have been advanced. Some people feel that such trees act as a social register and that the largest bear, the one that can put his mark the highest on the trunk, warns the others to stay out of the territory. This idea seems weak because some of the marks are made during the winter when there is often quite a deep snow on the ground, so such marks in summer are hardly indicative of the true size of the bears. Other people feel that tree scratching activities are for the purpose of stretching muscles. This theory might account for the fact that such trees are often found near mud holes and wallows used by bears. The fact remains that there is still comparatively little known about the "whys and wherefores" of bear trees and the problem needs further work if this interesting habit of the bears is to be fully explained.

The Indian Tabuce "What happened to the Indians who used to dance and weave baskets and demonstrate all those Indian customs here?" This has become one of the questions most commonly asked of the men on the naturalist staff in Yosemite. Thousands of visitors to the park recall the ceremonial dances once performed by Chief Leemee (Chris Brown) and the craft demonstrations carried on by Tabuce (Maggie Howard) and later by Lucy Telles. These Indians, quite popular with visitors, performed at the Indian circle behind the museum. Many people were intrigued by Tabuce's bits of philosophy on varied subjects and fascinated as she weaved her baskets and prepared food at the model village. Tabuce died in 1947 at her home near Mono Lake. A short time later, Lucy Telles came to carry on in the tradition of Tabuce and did until her death in 1955. Leemee continued his dances until the early 1950's. Although both Maggie and Lucy tried, none of the young people wanted to learn the skills necessary to continue this work. Leemee had not been able to interest any of the young men in learning the ceremonial dances and rituals. Thus, the Indian Circle became quiet after their passing and remained so for many years. This past summer, however, saw the revival of some of these ancient customs by a student of the Miwok culture. Mrs. Julia Parker, a young woman who is one of the 16 Indians now living in Yosemite Valley, began, about the middle of the summer, demonstrating the techniques of weaving coiled baskets. Sitting beneath the large oak tree in the Circle she showed visitors the baskets she and other Indian women had woven.

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Circle by Leonard McKenzie, Ranger Naturalist Leemee Julia, a Pomo Indian born in and to pass on her knowledge to Santa Rosa, California, moved to others even stronger. Yosemite in 1948, and shortly thereWhen the opportunity came to after married Ralph Parker, a fullrevive the museum Indian program, blooded Piute. Lucy Telles was Julia was most happy to participate. Ralph's grandmother, and Julia beThough she learned a number of came well acquainted with her. It crafts from Lucy, she was taught was through Lucy that Julia basket weaving by Carrie Bethel, a learned the art of preparing acorn Piute woman living near Mono Lake. meal and other Ahwahneechee For baskets Julia uses a willow customs. plant, traded across the Sierra in After Lucy's death it seemed that olden days, that grows near Bridgethe tribal traditions would be lost. port. For dyes she uses red-bud and Not wishing to see this occur, Julia fern root, plants the Ahwahneedecided to attempt to pick up where chees found here in the valley. She Lucy had left off. She hoped that demonstrates how baskets were woother young people would follow her ven, in addition to showing several example and learn these crafts, baskets from the museum and her thus keeping alive the ways of an personal collection. These include a ancient society. Julia also hopes to burden basket, food basket, hickey alter the misconstrued picture tele- (cradle board), seed gatherer and vision has painted of the Indian. sifting baskets. One day her daughter Lucy asked Julia's proficiency in Ahwahneechee "Mommy, are we really like chee culture is not confined to basthose Indians on T.V.?" The quesket weaving. Shortly after arriving tion made Julia's desire to learn in Yosemite, she assisted Lucy in Vol. 40, No. 1, 1961

the preparation of acorn meal and learned this art. Acorns were gathered, cracked, pounded, leached and cooked. Acorn buns were made from the coarse meal, and the finer portion was used for mush. Julia plans to demonstrate this food preparation process next summer. Julia's work has proven popular with Yosemite visitors and has aided greatly in telling the story of Yosemite's Indians. Julia Parker, Weaving Baskets in the Indian Circle.

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

by Olga Reifschneider Have you ever found yourself among a group of people yet feeling lonesome? If you have, the reason for the lonesomeness is not that you are alone, but that you are not acquainted with your neighbors. Similarly, if you become acquainted with trees and animals in the great out-of-doors by learning their names and some of their characteristics you will never feel lonesomeness when you are in their realm. Soon you will find them just as companionable as the friend whom you know by name and whom you have learned to enjoy as a comrade and pal. Let us pretend that you are starting your first walk on the trail alone. As a novice, a great and overpowering sensation may overtake you. You may hear many unfamiliar sounds, you may smell unusual odors, and you most certainly will see many new forms and figures. How to meet all these challenges becomes the first thought. Perhaps nearest to you is a large straight tree. Why not get acquainted and make a friend? Look at it closely and you can see that the bark is dark reddish-brown and amply furrowed; as the eye travels upward, you note that the limbs and twigs have a thick and blunt appearance. Where the light is full on the needles they are a bluish color and densely clustered. You will also note — if you really wish to know this new acquaintance — that the needles of the tree, many of which are on the ground, grow in groups of three and range in length from five to a little over nine inches. If you step up close to the trunk and smell the bark, you discover a tantalizing odor like vanilla or pineapple, whichever you choose to

make it. About you on the ground tion. Pinus jef freyi, as our friend is you see the cones produced by this known to scientists, endures wide tree. They are symmetrical, purpannual ranges of temperature - the fish, and from five to twelve inches lowest and highest in regions of best long. Throw one up and catch it; growth are about zero to 100 dethere are no sharp barbs to prick grees Fahrenheit. Mean annual your hand. You will know your new rainfall in the greater part of this friend is none other than a Jeffrey range varies from 20 to 60 inches pine. with an average of about 35 inches Let us say your name is Jack where the best tree growth occurs. Smith. Jack marks you as a particular individual of the Smith family Jeffrey pine is fairly tolerant in and you can now understand that youth, permitting its seedlings and Jeffrey is a particular member of low trees to persist in shade and on the large Pine family, east and south exposures. Under My guess is that you will be favorable conditions these trees may looking about to see if there are reach a ripe old age of 300 or 400 others like it. You will most likely Years. Our new friend is a prolific find them, for just as persons live seeder. in groups or communities, your new By this time you certainly should friend will be found living in a plant know your new friend — Jeffrey community with others of the same pine — and you will want to know species. more about the other plants and A little research in the library creatures which are neighbors in the will reveal that "Jeffrey" is one of community of God. They will thus the many yellow pines and is most become your companions on walks often found at its best growing and hikes dispelling your loneliness between 5000 and 6500 feet elevaand adding joy to your life.

AS BEING "WE"

Give me breath of pines to linger Beneath the soughing and the leaves Where the calm of nature nestles In the bosom of the trees. Let me also, as the redwood Praise the earth, the air and skies Where no living thing is doubting That the humble are the wise. Let me there know my dominion Only as it lives in me, Forsaking the possessive Think of self as being We. Then when day is spent, and even Lifts the curtain to the sky To reveal the lamps of heaven, I will know that You are nigh. Alfred E. Brighton Oct. 14, 1959

FAUST

and

MUIR

by Will Neely, Ranger Naturalist I sit on a slope above Slate Creek near Mt. Conness eating lunch and reading parts of Goethe's Faust. Tuolumne has been soaking in a wet summer and today yet another storm seemed to be coming up. A huge mass of black clouds are building up over the Sierra escarpment. Still reading, the rain begins to fall in torrents upon an already drenched landscape accompanied by the thunder drama that makes the granite peaks rattle. What more fitting scene for the reading of the tragedy of Faust! Some of the quotations made are selected by lightning flashes, punctuated by thunderclaps, and abridged by rainfall. Bewildered by the full extravagance of a Sierran storm, alone and on a mountain slope, I behold fury of lightning and flood We are told to conserve the natural resources and the scenery, and yet there is before my eyes the sight of nature in destruction, undoing and eroding, shattering and splitting. Where is conservation and preservation? As in Faust: As at My feet abysses cloven Rest upon abysses deep below; As thousand severed streams are woven To foamy floods that plunging go...... Around me sounds a savage roaring, As rocks and forest heaved and.swayed, Yet ranges, bounteous in its pouring, The wealth of waters down the glade... Here is wild nature seen as a destructive force, yet perhaps it is

but another aspect of the creative Could Faust be bounded by a National Park, or by its restrictions and regulations? How could the Promethean ideal be tamed to preservation or conservation and compromise with nature? The ancient Hindus depicted Brahma, the manifestation of Nature, as having many faces, chiefly Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer and Siva the destroyer, inseparable from each other, working in Faust is that man must act, must harmony, from destruction coming turn nature to his own use, dike the growth. sea, drain the marsh, tame the Over Mt. Conness the clouds col-flood. fide tumultuously, over the meadows Then to me the figure of Muir the rain falls torrentiously, and comes upon the scene. Goethe was watching from here I can guess that an Olympian spirit and saw nature down there campers are scurrying from between classic marble col-for shelter, channeling the flood umns. Muir is the Sierran spirit and around their tents, securing their sees nature from between sparkling clearing the roads and culverts and glacial boulders. Before Muir's time fighting fires in lightning struck the mountain regions were dread trees, while I sit here musing on places of darkness and craggy ter-action and non-action, Faust against ror, of gloom and loneliness. Ruskin Mephistopheles; and while below talks this way. Scheuchzer, in 1711, the storm brings action, I try to stay invented a theory of glacier motion, out of the circle of destruction, pre but he also catalogued, in scientific vention and construction and ponder manner the dragons of the Alps. In with Mephistopheles : those days when they did extol the What good for us this endlessly creating? beauties of nature, it was not of the timberline but rather of the foot What is created then annihilating? hills, the gentle nature of forests 'And now it's past! ' Why reads a page and sylvan glades, of Watteau vis. so twisted? tas and Renoir picnics. 'Tis just the same as if it ne'er existed, Yet goes in circles as if it had, however; Not so Muir. Our thinking about I'd rather choose, instead, the Void for-mountains has changed in the last ever. eighty years and Muir was the pro It is Mephistopheles who says all phet. In the awesome heights he is vanity and advises non-action. It found no terror and gloom, nor mon is Faust, with the Promethean spirit, sters and dragons. The Sierra meant who says man must act. Boys build light and sustenance and ecstatic dams in streams, roll rocks down fire. The Range of Light is full of hills and love to disturb the quiet joy and noble harmony, He didn't surface of a pond by throwing think that all life was hitched to stones. It is a western trait to have everything else in the universe, and to do something to the scene. Only his action was to explore and trans the Indian could pass through our late. He would have agreed with mountains and leave no trace. But Peter Seraphicus in Faust: all the rest who followed had to change, subdue, build, destroy and "Upward rise to higher borders! always leave their mark upon the Ever grow insensibly, scene, whether as childish initials As, by pure, eternal orders, cut in trees, human names tagged God's high Presence strengthens ye! to mountain tops, canyons dammed Such the Spirits' sustentation, or forests levelled. With the freest ether blending..."

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And he says so in his own words : There is no problem of action or "Climb the mountains and get their good non-action with Muir. You immerse tidings. yourself in nature, whether acting or Nature's peace will flow unto you observing. You obey nature's laws, sunshine flows into trees. yet you dare, as did Muir, to be The winds will blow their own freshness Promethean. Prometheus stole fire into you from the gods to give to man. But And the storms their energy, with Muir that fire is to enlighten While cares will drop off like autumn and cheer and not to scorch and leaves." burn.

A TUG OF WAR

by David H. Essel, Ranger Naturalist The tiny, one inch long wasp was success. Again her burden is taken lugging her burden, a wolf spider, up and away they go. Over 25 feet over the gravel. Paralyzed by the has been covered so far. wasp sting, the prey was limp and Another attempt to sting the ant. Offered no resistance to her efforts. No success—apparently, but as the soon an egg would be laid in the wasp takes her burden up once more spider, to hatch, eat its " nest" and the ant hangs on a little longer, then grows into a new adult wasp. Or was seems to decide — "Well maybe this to be? — a small 1/2 inch long this isn't my day " — and lets go, to black ant decided no — "This is head back in the direction from meat on the table for my tribe " and which he had been dragged. The grabbing hold of a leg of the spider, wasp marches triumphantly on, finally to lodge her helpless victim up on a pine cone, — then she flies off. I wait 5 minutes for her to return, then, marking the spot, I continue on to Harden Lake. Five hours later I return — no spider. What happened to it? Did it revive and crawl away? Probably not. Did the wasp return and hide her hard won booty in a secure place for her future offspring's benefit? Maybe. Did an ant or bird discover the spider and make off with it? Possibly. From time to time I think of this drama played out on the forest floor amongst the pine needles and twigs looming high above the participants. I wonder, what did finally happen to the spider? I'll never know. sting the ant, arching her abdomen and pointing her stinger at the ant —but the ant wasn't staying still. What to do? Well, Mrs. Wasp took up her burden again and encountering a weathered pine cone she hauled spider and ant over and over the pine cone until the spider was lodged on the cone, then again an happen to the spider? I'll never attempt to sting the ant. Still no know. Vol. 40, No. 1, 1961

1960 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IN YOSEMITE

by W. J. and Erma Fitzpatrick The Christmas Bird Count taken annually in and adjacent to Yosemite National Park, was conducted for 1960 on December 27. Coverage included Yosemite Valley west to El Portal and the rim of the Valley south to Tempo Dome and north to Big Meadow. Elevations ranged from 2,000 feet at El Portal to 8,200 feet at Tempo Dome, making the count here the greatest in altitudinal range in the United States. Contrary to most former Christmas counts, weather conditions were generally unfavorable. Very strong east winds prevailed in Yosemite Valley and at the higher elevations, while the El Portal area was obscured for most of the day by fog. Favorable weather was encountered only at the Big Meadow-Foresta area, in which section most of the interesting observations were obtained. Twelve observers, working in four parties, recorded 52 species and 1,282 individuals. The count was considerably below the eleven year average both in numbers of species and individuals, this being due largely to the unfavorable weather conditions. Outstanding observations were 119 Clark's nutcrackers and 14 red crossbills at Big Meadow, which lies far to the west, and much lower than the elevations at which these birds are usually seen in Yosemite National Park. These species probably descended to the relatively sheltered Big Meadow area to escape the strong winds. Participants were: Del Armstrong, Katherine Coakley, M. B. Evans, Erma Fitzpatrick, W. J. Fitzpatrick, Carl Hoglund, Isabel Haglund, Dorothy Johnson, James Johnson, Vergena Koller, P. R. F. Marshall, and Mary Curry Tresidder. Numbers of each species seen were: Great Blue Heron, 2; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Red-Tailed Hawk, 4; Golden Eagle, 2; Sparrow Hawk, 2; California Quail, 8; Mountain Quail, 4; Pygmy Owl, 5; Anna's Hummingbird, 3; Belted Kingfisher, 2; Red-shafted Flicker, 23; Acorn Woodpecker, 22; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Nuttall's Woodpecker, 5; White-headed Woodpecker, 7; Black Phoebe, 3; Steller's Jay, 109; Scrub Jay, 27; Clark's Nutcracker, 119; Mountain Chickadee, 43; Plain Titmouse, 20; Common Bushtit, 25; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 22; Brown Creeper, 6; Wrentit, 3; Dipper, 6; Winter Wren, 2; Canyon Wren, 3; Robin; 34; Varied Thrush; 15; Hermit Thrush; 7; Western Bluebird, 27; Townsend's Solitaire, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 35; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 22; Hutton's Vireo, 1; Audubon's Warbler, 1; House Sparrow, 16; Red Crossbill, 14; Cassin's Finch, 28; House Finch, 6; Pine Siskin, 97; Lesser Goldfinch, 6; Rufous-sided Towhee, 35; Lark Sparrow, 100; Slate-colored Junco, 3; Oregon Junco, 300; Golden-crowned Sparrow, 25; Song Sparrow, 1.

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TEN YEARS OF YOSEMITE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

1950 - 1960 Number seen in one year Years Species Number seen in one year Years Largest Smallest Seen Largest Smallest Seen Pied Grebe

Winter Wren

Blue Heron

Bewick's Wren

Common Merganser

Canyon Wren

Rock Wren

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

California Thrasher

Golden Eagle

Robin

Eagle

Varied Thrush

Bald Eagle

Hermit Thrush

Peregrine Falcon

Western Bluebird

Red-tailed Hawk

Mountain Bluebird

California Quail

Townsend's Solitaire

Mountain Quail

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Mourning Pigeon

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Pygmy Owl

Cedar Waxwing

Sandpiper

Hutton's Vireo

Mourning Dove

Townsend's Warbler

Short-eared Owl

Audubon's Warbler

White-throated Swift

House Sparrow

Anna's Hummingbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Belted Kingfisher

Brewer's Blackbird

Red-shafted Flicker

Evening Grosbeak

Yellow-shafted Flicker

Purple Finch

Acorn Woodpecker

Cassin's Finch

Downy Woodpecker

Brewster's Linnet

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Pine Grosbeak

Thomson's Sapsucker

Pine Siskin

Hairy Woodpecker

Lesser Goldfinch

White-headed Woodpecker

Red Crossbill

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Rufous-sided Towhee

White-headed Woodpecker

Brown Towhee

Black Phoebe

Lark Sparrow

Say's Phoebe

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Steller's Jay

Slate-colored Junco

Scrub Jay

Oregon Junco

Clark's Nutcracker

Gray-headed Junco

Mountain Chickadee

White-crowned Sparrow

Plain Titmouse

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Common Bushtit

Fox Sparrow

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Song Sparrow

White-breasted Nuthatch

Lincoln's Sparrow

Brown Creeper

Wrentit

Winter Wren

86 Species observed during the ten year span. ----------------

Compiled by W. J. and Erma Fitzpatrick Vol. 40, No. 1, 1961