ITINERARIES AND REPORTS OF FIELD WORK 
IN THE STATE 
By Wells Woodbridge Cooke 1 
I N the surveys and explorations of New Mexico prior to 1870, bird 
work was of secondary importance, and dates and specific localities 
were largely omitted from the published records. To remedy this defect 
and to place the records as nearly as possible, the following chronological 
list of surveys and explorations has been compiled, giving a condensed 
statement of the localities visited by each observer whose notes have 
contributed to a knowledge of the birds of the State, together with the 
dates of his visits, in so far as they can be obtained, his chronological 
position in the list being determined by the year his work began. By 
reference to this list, the notes found under the various species may be 
approximately located. Where the notes have been published, detailed 
references are cited. 
1540-1542. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado (about 1500-1549). 2 
The discovery of Arizona and New Mexico has been attributed to Fray Marcos 
de Niza, a Franciscan Friar who was sent by Coronado, the Spanish governor of 
New Galicia in western Mexico, on a reconnaissance to ascertain the truth of the 
many rumors regarding what have become famous as the fabulous “Seven Cities of 
Cibola/’ cities whose streets were “exclusively occupied by workers in gold and 
silver.” The guide of Fray Marcos’ party, Estevan, an Arabian negro who had 
escaped from an ill fated exploring expedition to Florida, being sent on in advance of 
the Friar, actually reached the Seven Cities—the pueblos of Zuni—but was promptly 
killed by justly infuriated Indians for dastardly conduct. Friar Marcos, after 
getting a distant view of one of the “cities,” wisely left the country, going back to 
report to Coronado in Mexico. 
Coronado, feeling justified by his reports of the country passed through, pro¬ 
ceeded to organize an expedition to explore and conquer the new land. In 1540, 
therefore, as captain general of an assembled army of Spanish horsemen and Indians, 
he started on what proved to be a two years’ journey to the north, extending from 
Culiacan, Sinaloa, in western Mexico at about the 25th degree of latitude to northern 
Kansas at about the 40th degree—roughly a thousand miles. 
The route taken from Culiacan led northwest parallel to the Gulf of California 
through Yaquimi and Sonora 3 then north to Arizona, past w T hat is now Tucson and 
on to the Gila River, entering New Mexico by the San Francisco River, following 
through the Mogollon Mountains, and thence north to Zuni. Seven small pueblos 
were found here, which it was hard for the disappointed and chagrined Spaniards to 
accept as the much glorified Seven Cities of Cibola. 
1 Since Professor Cooke’s death in 1916, this list has been brought down to date, making it cover a 
period of a hundred and eight years, 1820-1928 (or dating from Coronado, 1540, three hundred and 
eighty ;eight years).—F. M. B. 
5 Figures preceding names indicate the date when the observer was in New Mexico, those in paren¬ 
theses following names, the year of birth or (if the person is now deceased) the years of birth and death. 
3 A relief expedition with supplies had been sent up the Gulf, as it was supposed that Coronado’s 
army would be within reach of the water. A second branch expedition, under Melchior Diaz, was sent 
from Sonora northwestward to and around the head of the Gulf of California. 
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