146 . Vol. X 



BIRDS ON THK NAVAJO RESERVATION IN NEW MEXICO 



By M. FRKXCII GI I.MAN 



[T was my fortune to be stationed at Shiprock Agency on the San Juan river in 

 Northwest New Mexico for seven months; and herewith are presented what 

 bird notes I made in that period. The'time, from February 1 to September 1, 

 1907, was favorable; but stress of duty prevented my doing as much field work as 

 I desired. 



The Indian School was situated in a cottonwood grove not far from the river 

 at about 5500 feet altitude. Along the river both above and below the school were 

 other groves of the common cottonwood, with a few of the narrow-leafed cottonwood, 

 some willows (two species) and an occasional shrub of Rhus tn'lohata and Adelia 

 neo-mexicaua. Outside the groves scattered along the river were patches of brush 

 such as SarcohaUis, Artemisia, chico-brush, rabbit-brush and Se7iecio. 



The river bottom was bounded by bluffs from 50 to 75 feet high: in places the 

 water flowing against the rocky wall and again a strip half a mile wide intervening. 

 Back from the bluffs were mesas, barren except for a sparse growth of bunch grass 

 with a few scattered specimens of stunted Artemisia and Senccio. During summer 

 there are patches of color in suitable places on these mesas; the white of the "snow- 

 ball", At)?'072ia, Y)ViriAe oi P/iacelia g'taiidulosa, yellow of Senecio doaglasi, and 

 crimson of a Malvastriiin. Much of the country was level and for miles in any 

 direction not enough growth to hide a rabbit could be seen. 



In uncultivated fields along the river sprang up a dense growth of sunflowers, 

 purple bee-plant, Pcritoma serriilatuvi , and yellow bee-plant, Pcritonia liiteuni, 

 many of them higher than a man's head. The pestiferous Russian thistle formed 

 an undergrowth among the taller plants, while the lowly At)ro)iia frao-raiis fur- 

 nished a pleasant contrast to the mal-odorous bee-plant. 



About ten miles south of the river, from a level plain, rose a rock, schooner- 

 shaped (nautical, not Milwaukee schooner) to the height of 1600 feet. This was 

 called Shiprock and gave the name to the Agency and postofiice. Thirtj^-five miles 

 south of the river were the Chusca Mountains with an altitude of between nine and 

 ten thousand feet. The foothills at their base were covered with heavy growths of 

 pinyon and juniper with some Vitcca t)accata, Cercoca?'pus and Piirshia tridejitata. 

 As the altitude increased this growth gave way to the Rocky Mountain pine and a 

 few scrubby oaks. Along the north slopes of the summit of the range were dense 

 groves of quaking aspens and near water in the higher altitudes were some paper- 

 leaf alder and service berry. 



Only one permanent stream of water was found and that not as large as a small 

 irrigating head. A number of springs were seen in the deeper canyons, and stream- 

 lets from these flowed a few rods and sank. 



During spring, ducks and other water and shore birds were seen in small num- 

 bers along the river but as they were traveling and hard to obtain I gave them scant 

 attention. Most of the commoner species of ducks and a few gray geese were seen. 

 One Egret, and several each of Killdeer, Western Willet, Greater Yellow-legs, Snowy 

 Heron, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, and Bittern were seen. I was 

 disappointed at seeing so few birds in the country. Of some species only one was 

 noted and of others only two or three. Onl}^ five days were spent in the Chusca 

 Mountains, so little work was done there. The following list of land birds is prob- 

 ably far from complete but will give some idea of the bird life of that region. Un- 

 less otherwise specified all records refer to Shiprock, along the San Juan river. All 



