GRAND TETON NATURE NOTES

TALUS

January 5- Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus bangsi) have again made an appearance at headquarters. One has made nightly forages to the bird-feeding table just outside our window during the past week or ten days. He is plainly visible by the light from the house. At first he was rather timid, and his appearances consisted of rapid jumps across the lighted area during which he secured whatever food was easily picked up. Later, becoming more accustomed to the light and the proximity of man, he could hardly be frightened away, and a fine opportunity to observe the broad skin folds extending from wrist to ankle, the rather large eyes, and its beautiful, soft, grayish-cinnamon pelage was thus afforded. H.R.S.

January 8- Chief Ranger Hanks today discovered a tiny owl, measuring not over ten inches in length, which has taken refuge in the equipment shed at headquarters. In the somewhat dim light among the rafters, this round-headed bird's general color appeared to be as grayish with rather broad vertical bands of light and dark on the breast, white around and especially above the eyes, and radiating outward from the eye areas were finer light gray or white lines. The lines passing vertically over the head continued over the top of the head. Although identification of this bird is not positive, it most resembles the Saw Whet Owl (Cryptoglaux acadia), and is here mentioned for the information of those who may see this bird at a later date. H.R.S.

January 10- Park Ranger Winess and I were quite surprised today to find a Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcon) near the outlet of Leigh Lake. For some distance the outlet stream is broad end shallow, and seldom freezes completely over. No doubt this bird finds abundant food in this vicinity throughout the year. A.F.H.

January 19- Early sub-zero weather formed ice over Granite Creek throughout its entire length by December 1. But on today's journey up this canon, most of the stream was again open, the ice having melted beneath a cover of several feet of snow. Several Water Ousels (Cinclus mexicanus unicolor) were seen busily flitting from one spray-washed boulder to another, and diving now and then into the icy water. My desire to hear the famed winter song of this bird was not gratified. H.R.S.

January 20- A Purple Finch (probably Carpodacus cassini) was perched up under the eaves of the office building this morning. This species is well represented in the park during the summer, but it is indeed rare to find one here during the severe winter months. A.F.H.

February 2- The Jenny Lake Museum has recently received several fine colored photographs from Mr. S. N. Leek of Jackson and Moran, Wyoming. Mr. Leek, a long resident of Jackson's Hole is famed for his large collection of photographs dating from early in his residence in this region. The pictures donated to the museum include some early views of the Tetons, and the annotations on the views give them an historic value comparable to their artistic worth. H.R.S.

February 5- Hazel Hanks reports that today she was witness to a thrilling combat between two birds for possession of the feeding board just outside her window. A Black-headed Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri anectens) was furiously attacked by a Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus monticola). The Jay occupied the top of the platform while the woodpecker hung upside down from the under side to make sudden and furious sorties upward. The Jay, in actual possession, was on the defensive, and was by no means in a happy situation, but even though the woodpecker seemed to have the advantage, after a short battle he abandoned the fight, flew away, and left the jay in full possession.

February 11- Nearly four-thousand elk (Cervus canadensis) are now on the feeding grounds of the United States Biological Survey ranch near Jackson, Wyoming, and a good supply of natural forage is still available making unneccessary any artificial feeding as yet. A small herd was also seen today in the Gros Ventre River bottoms about six miles north of Jackson, and it is reported that a few are spending the winter on Blacktail Butte. Aviators report considerable elk in the upper Gros Ventre country, and a few still remain in the lowlands south of park headquarters as well as in the Berry Creek area just north of the park. H.R.S.

February 20- Moose (Alces americani shirasi) lingered late in most of the areas along the base of the Teton Range. During January they were present in considerable numbers along Cottonwood Creek, near Jenny Lake and in the area south of park headquarters. During February most of the moose departed, presumably making their way toward the Snake River where many of them winter. Chief Ranger Hanks reports that only along the lower slopes of Mount Moran, where willow patches on rather exposed slopes provide food, were these animals seen on recent patrols. H.R.S.

March 4- Recent warm weather has made travel into the mountains extremely hazardous. In venturing about six miles up one of the Teton canons on snowshoes today, Park Ranger Winess and I crossed five large slides of recent origin. One of these filled the entire bottom of the canon for a distance of some 250 yards. These great masses of snow sliding and falling down the steep slopes completely cover the stream and the vegetation in the bottoms of the canons, and in their great velocity frequently push far up on the opposite side of the canon. Fortucately, no slides occurred while we were in the canon today. A.F.H.

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