Newsletter title

January 2009

In This Edition

Empty Vessels Make the Most Sound

—Andrew Donovan-Shead

John Fisher draws our attention to the interesting observation reported by the ScienceDaily website that, during bison mating season, the quietest bulls score the most mates and sire the most offspring while studs with the loudest bellows see the least action, according to a surprising new study by researchers at University of California, Davis, and Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. The researchers also found that the volume of a bull’s bellow was not related to its weight or age. Follow this link for detailed explanation: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081216131014.htm. Use your browser’s back button to return to this page.

St. John’s Cub Pack #5

—Anita Springer

Cub Scout ThanksOn November 12, 2008, Dave Dolcater and I hosted St. John’s Cub Scout Pack #5 from Bartlesville. Since that was a school day, they were scheduled to be at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Visitor’s Center about 4:30 p.m. Unfortunately, with late running school buses and other circumstances, they did not arrive until about 5:10 p.m. By that time, we were losing light quickly. After a brief bathroom stop, Dave caravanned the group up the road toward the pens. They stopped along the road so that the boys could get a good look at the bison. Last week, through the office in Pawhuska, I received several thank you notes from the boys and the group leader. I am sharing one with you. As an adult, I was disappointed that they did not have more time. From comments such as I really liked the buffelow [sic] and Thank you for helping with the trip it appears that they were not disappointed. This made the whole season for me.

We greet so many visitors each year. Most of the time without knowing what they take with them from their experience at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. It is so nice to have feedback.

American Buffalo Book Review

—Larry Sears

From the beginning of Steven Rinella’s fascinating new book, American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon, I knew he was going to be writing about hunting one of these magnificent creatures. And I was very uncomfortable with that awareness

That discomfort comes from two very different life experiences.…

Follow this link to read the complete book review: http://features.csmonitor.com/books/2009/01/12/american-buffalo/. Use your browser’s back button to return to this page.

Back Issues

Back issues of the Docent Newsletter, to October 2008, can be found in the two green and one blue-black zip-binders, stored in the Perspex rack by the file cabinet in the office of the Visitor’s Center.

Newsletter Publication

Deadline for submission of articles for inclusion in the newsletter is the 10th of each month. Publication date is on the 15th. All docents, Nature Conservancy staff, university scientists, philosophers, and historians are welcome to submit articles and pictures about the various preserves in Oklahoma, but of course the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in particular.