Newsletter title

June 2009

In This Edition

New Wild Flower Guide

—Van Vives

When you work your next shift you will notice a new Wild Flower Guide in the Gift Shop. I replaced the old one with more pictures. There are 105 photos with the common and scientific names. The abundance of blooming flowers at the prairie has visitors interested in the identification process. I would encourage each volunteer to periodically review the book so you will learn the names of the prominent wild flowers. I have no doubt that you will be asked about them since they are presenting a magnificent show now.

A Virtual Book of Life

—BBC News

A virtual book of all life on Earth is being created by UK and US scientists.

The online reference work will create a detailed world map of flora and fauna and track changes in biodiversity.

The database, dubbed a “macroscopic observatory”, will be populated with data about local species gathered by members of the public.

Early elements of the giant database, such as automatic species identification systems, are already under construction….

See this link to the BBC News article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8077262.stm.

Visitor Counts

—Iris McPherson

The total number of visitors signing in during April was 428. There were 30 states (402) represented with the highest counts after Oklahoma (219) being Michigan and Wisconsin tied with 19 each and California (17). There were 6 foreign countries with a total of 26 people. Germany had the most visitors with 15. We added a new country in April when we had one visitor from Bolivia.

Please remind the visitors to sign the guest register.

The number of visitors to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve from Europe in 2008 is shown below: TGP Visitors from Europe

Hiking Suggestion

—Van Vives

I have a suggestion for each of you who plan to hike the entire trail of about 4 miles. It can be a suggestion for visitors who express an interest in doing that. Recent experiences of hiking the long trail in hot weather gave me an idea that might make the trek more appealing. Instead of proceeding straight west from the monument, go north at the path a few yards from the monument. In effect it is hiking the long trail in reverse. Why? If you go the regular way you walk for a couple of miles in the sun, no shade, and when you reach the 3/4 mark you find yourself at the foot of steps going up and up and up when you are tired and gasping for breath. I always find it tough to get to the top and more level ground. By going in reverse the steps are downhill and you are still fresh. For those strange people who want a REAL workout, go the old way and jog!

Kiosk Operating Instructions

  1. Kiosk Login ScreenLeave the kiosk running. It is plugged into a power-surge suppressor and should keep going until something fails through normal wear.
  2. If the screen-saver is active or the screen is blank, press the Esc-key to reveal the Topic Index or the last page viewed.
  3. If the login screen is active, as shown in the picture at right, then:
    • Type the user-name visitors followed by a press of the Enter-key.
    • Type the password visitors followed by a press of the Enter-key.
    The login screen will appear when the computer reboots after an interruption in electrical power.
  4. The Topic Index should appear after a few minutes. No other intervention is required.

Back Issues

Back issues of the Docent Newsletter, to February 2009, 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.