Importance of Birds: A 

Navajo connection to place 

Brent I. Powers 

Zoologist, Navajo Natural Heritage Program 

bpowers@nndfw.org 
 

 

 

TEK in Scientific Study of CO River Corridor 

TEK has historically not been included in

research proposals designed to inform

management decisions 

- Excludes tribal values 

and interests 

- Loss of connection to this place 
Navajo Worlds • 1st Black = 1st man and 1st women, black ants, bees 

and wasps live here. Fighting among these beings led 

to everyone leaving through a hole to the east 

• 2nd Blue = Blue birds and big insects. Destroyed by the 

gods using wind, escaped through a reed that grew to 

the south 

• 3rd Yellow = Turkey, deer, spiders and water monster 

live here. two rivers = Male N/S and Female E/W, 

Coyote stole Water monster’s babies which started a 

heavy rainfall and flood, the beings in this world 

escaped by a reed that grew into the sky. 

• 4th White = Changing women and Holy people created 

Water monster’s baby returned and floods receded. 

Placement of 4 scared mtns, stars, sun and moon. War 

with monsters took place making the land safe for 

people 
Cultural Resources Includes Wildlife 
 

 

Use of Birds and Bird Parts 

Remedies for illness Ceremonial paraphernalia, 

Offerings Oral stories and songs. 

Bird specific songs in Navajo Shoe 

Game 
 

 

 

Limitations of Current Research Along CO River 

Significance of wildlife as a cultural resource and it exists above the 

high-water zone (old or new) along the river 
 

 

 

 

 

Tsénoolch’óshii - (Canyon Wren) 

Story – Long ago, different birds were trying out what kinds of skills 

they had. So they decided to have a contest for shooting arrows. 

Canyon wren was their target. Canyon wren could not be shot because 

it has special darting and dodging skills. 

Unique song in the Navajo Shoe Game 

Bryan Calk 

Macaulay Library 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Dahtoo’ yinooghałi – (Yellow Warbler) 

Warblers splash dew drops from plants after 

it rains by wetting their wings and shaking 

them off. That’s how they got their Navajo 

name. 

These birds come from the blue world. They 

have songs and prayers in Navajo 

ceremonies. They are leaders of the bird 

kingdom. Their name is used ceremonially as 

spiritual beings. 

Wings and feathers are used in times of 

drought by sprinkling water on a patient or 

on the ground to bring rain. Corn pollen dust 

from these birds is used in offerings. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gáagii Ałchiní - (Raven) Heads are used in the Enemy way 

ceremony 

Claws are used as scratchers for patients 

But bothering nest, eggs or dropping has 

negative effects on people with 

ceremonial consequences. Some of the 

ceremonies used to cure these problems 

are extinct, such as the Bead Way. 

When the First people were at war with 

the monsters, this bird was out there 

taking the eyes of the dead monsters. 

Today they still do that. 

Christopher Lindsey 

Macaulay Library 
 

 

Táshchozhii - (Cliff Swallow) 

When First People were planning how to design the first

hogan, they went to the home of Cliff Swallow. His 

house was located in a curved place in an overhanging

cliff. It was made of adobe mixed with grass, with the 

doorway located on the side. The people learned to mix 

adobe with grass and water to make their homes warm

and protected. They gave Swallow some jet beads to

thank him. 

Caleb Putnam 

Macaulay Library 
 

 

 

 

Yááh azhjool or Dééłdáá’ - (Great Blue Heron) 

Claws and beak are used in the Life Way and 

Water Way ceremonies 

When First People were moving through 

the different levels of emergence, the 

bigger birds were significant in leading 

the people into the Blue World. When 

insects invaded the Blue World, Heron is 

said to have asked the insects to move 

on because they were eating their food. 

Daniel Grossi 

Macaulay Library 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Tazhii (Turkey) 

Coyote stole water monster’s babies 

Turkey was the last to escape the flood 

nearly getting swept away in the fast rising 

water that was covered in white foam. 

Which is now the turkey got his white 

tipped feathers. 

Feathers are used in Night Way Chant and 

in Ye’ii bicheii 

Beard and internal organs are used to make a 

bitter medicine to revive someone who has 

fainted. 
 

 

Ch’agiiłbáhí or Ch’agii (Cowbird) 

Invasive species 

Increases of the species in the canyon 

Concerns for nest parasitism of warblers 

Feathers are used in some ceremonies as 

offerings or burned as incense in the Night 

Way Ceremony. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tribal interest in Research 

• Limited clay and silt resources for cliff swallow nesting 

• Bird species diversity, richness and abundance across 

high, med and low human-use areas 

• Bird diversity and richness in natural vs invasive plant 

communities (restoration) 

1 in 4 breeding birds lost in North America over 

past 50 yrs. 

70 species have lost 2/3 population in the past 

50 yrs., on track to lose 50% in the next 50 yrs. 

Bird trends are down across every habitat 

except wetlands (due to waterfowl hunting 

(funding) and environmental regulation) 
Thank You