Birds of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, including the North and South Rims, offers four life zones, each zone possessing its peculiar form of wild life. Zones vary from the Lower Sonoran, in the Canyon, to the Canadian Zone on the Kaibab Plateau. The beauties of the region are varied and many.

The Grand Canyon of Arizona, truly one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, abounds in many things of interest to nature lovers. Bird fanciers visiting the Canyon are especially blessed by the variety of subjects to be found there.

ANY of the birds at Grand Canyon are friendly and approachable. Those around the village and camping grounds have been raised in close proximity to people on a holiday. These people generally find the birds and animals so amusing and interesting that they treat them well. Then, too, the Park Rangers keep a watchful eye on things, for it is one of the park regulations that wild life shall not be molested. Other sections remote from traffic and isolated probably offer discoveries in bird life. Near the rims water is practically absent from the surface and becomes quite an attraction when supplied. The Park Service has provided water facilities by gouging out a number of large flat rocks to make basins. These rock basins are scattered about where employees and visitors can keep them filled. The birds coming to drink and bathe usually remain to eat if crumbs or other choice morsels are provided. They can be observed so easily that finally you feel that each individual is a friend. One of these basins has been the center of our camp on the South Rim numerous times, and if upon arrival the place is occupied we walk by, wishing the people Through long and painstaking watches, the Crocketts have succeeded in making photo studies of many of the birds of Grand Canyon. Herein presented are some of the more common birds, easily recognized by the visitor.

would move. When they do go we move our camp in and feel like we are home. An unusual flock of birds attracted to this basin was the cause of a late start for us one fall morning. We got up early, tore down our camp, packed it, and were about to leave when eight Mexican Crossbills dropped in for a drink, bath and food on their migration south. They so thrilled us that we spent several hours watching them open pine cones with their especially designed crossed mandibles. Along the promenade walk at the South Rim in front of the hotels and curio stores one very often meets a friendly family of birds. Sometimes it is Chickadees that drop down for a piñon nut, again nuthatches. The Black-fronted Jays eat from the boxes the hotel employees replenish with bread and table scraps.

A number of years ago we drove into a little used camping grounds on the South Rim and found we were the only people there. Before we could get our things unpacked a mother Black-headed Grosbeak came down to the lower branches of a tree near by and begged for food. The first food that came to hand was a can of pork and beans, and she made numerous trips

A YOUNG MALE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD ARIZONA JUNCO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NUTHATCH and GILA CHIPMUNK

to feed these to her babies. Although we were not sure about the vitamin content for growing birds, the mother was satisfied and was present at every meal we ate in that camp. The Grand Canyon country offers four Life Zones so you can expect to find a variety of birds. The South Rim has a band of Transition Zone marked by Yellow Pine, Gambel Oak, and Locust; merging into the Upper Sonoran which is identified by Piñon, Juniper, and Sage Brush. The North Rim is Transition Zone while the area back of it on the Kaibab Plateau is Canadian Zone. The Canadian Life Zone is recognized by its growth of Douglas Fir, White Fir, and Aspen. The fourth Life Zone, the Lower Sonoran Zone, is found in the Canyon, within the Inner Gorge and on the Tonto Plateau which borders it. The plant life characteristic of this zone is Mesquite, Cat Claw, Burro Brush and different kinds of cacti. The areas back from the rims support magnificent growths of pine trees and cover. One group of birds these pines support is represented by three species which are ideally suited by nature to minister to them. They are the nuthatches, birds with (Turn to Page 43)

LONG CRESTED JAY COMMON HOUSE FINCH

The song of birds in the morning . . . their merry chatter through sunny, summer days! This is one of the many things that the Grand Canyon of Arizona has to offer to the visitors who come from all over the world to view its wonders.