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Table 5. Waterbird sightings in Grand Canyon compiled from selected historic diaries. Year Diarist Notes Date 1948 1948 1948 F. Masland O. Marston J. Doerr --l 1949 P.T. Reilly 1953 P.T. Reilly 1954 O. Marston 1955 P.T. Reilly 1956 P.T. Reilly 1957 P.T. Reilly 1958 P. T. Reilly 1959 P.T. Reilly 1962 P.T. Reilly 1964 P.T. Reilly Jul 30 Several Great Blue Herons near Diamond Creek. Jul31 Jul13 Jul13 Jul20 Heard geese flying by during the night at Diamond Creek. Blue- Winged Teal at Vaseys Paradise. Blue-Winged Teal at Vaseys Paradise. Two Great Blue Herons between Granite and Hermit Rapids. Jul 22 Great Blue Heron at Tapeats Creek. Jul28 Great Blue Herons at mile 214. No mention of waterbirds. No mention of waterbirds. Jun 14 Two Snowy Egrets near Lava Falls. Jul2 Two Blue-Winged Teal at mile 155.4. Jul5 Great Blue Heron between 205 and 217-Mile Rapids. Jul 6 Blue- Winged Teal at Separation Canyon. Jun 27 Two Mallards at Tapeats Creek. No mention of waterbirds. May 21 May 21 Jun 22 Jun 23 Jul9 Apr 28 May 10 May II May 12 May 13 Two ducks at Crystal. Three Mallards at Hakatai. Three ducks above Soap Creek. Duck at mile 14. Two ducks at mile 152. Five Blue-Wing Teal at mile 17.4. Snowy Egret below Kanab Creek. Snowy Egret at mile 160 and two above National; Blue Wing Teal at mile 163; four ducks above National. Two Great Blue Heron above Lava Falls. Two egrets at mile 214; two Blue-Winged Teal at mile 221; Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret at 225.4. Terrestrial Animals One of the largest problems with interpreting anecdotal information is the vague or imprecise use of common names of animals. In the following sections, we attempt to connect the names used by the Old Timers and in diaries with the animals that we believe they are referring to. Much of this information, while interesting, is inconclusive if only for the reason that it is imprecise in terms of scientific names. Birds and Bats Water birds were commonly observed on early river trips (Table 5). Even as early as 1890, Edwards noted the presence of "lots of ducks" downstream from Lava Falls Rapid. In 1937, Sharp reported many duck sightings (Table 5). In 1940, Goldwater may have summed up the frequency of observance: "Ducks and ,. geese are constantly rising from the water ahead of us." Species mentioned by name include Red-Breasted Mergansers, Mallards, and Blue-Wing Teal. Snowy egrets commonly were seen near or with other water birds. Great Blue Heron were commonly seen, particularly in western Grand Canyon. Water birds have greatly increased along the river since closure of Glen Canyon Dam (Stevens and others, 1997). The Old Timers with us on the 1994, trip found nothing unusual in the current water bird population along the river, with the exception of Great Blue Herons, which they felt had decreased. Hummingbirds occasionally were observed, sometimes flying about the drifting boats. Reilly specifically mentions seeing a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird at mile 155.8 and a Black-Chinned Hummingbird between Hermit and Boucher Rapids in 1956. Bats were commonly observed, particularly in the early morning hours. Nevills saw many bats at the SPECIFIC CHANGES OBSERVED IN GRAND CANYON 23