Newsletter title

November 2009

In This Edition

Docent Recognition Luncheon and Fall Field Day

—Dennis Bires

The email invitation to the Docent Recognition Luncheon on Saturday, November 21, contained an error in the email address for RSVP purposes. The correct email address for luncheon reservations is dennisbires@lycos.com, or phone 918-341-3908. We are extending the RSVP deadline to Monday, November 16.

Below is the invitation with the correct reply information. My apologies for the error:

All Tallgrass Docents are cordially invited to the annual Docent Recognition Luncheon at the Ecological Research Station at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve on Saturday, November 21, at 12:15 p.m. This informal catered luncheon is our opportunity to honor the young Docents who have served their first four shifts at the Visitor’s Center by presentation of service pins. Those passing other shift milestones will be recognized as well. For all of us, it is a great chance to catch up with fellow volunteers and meet others.

Immediately following the Luncheon, at about 1:30 p.m., Preserve Director Bob Hamilton will lead our Fall Field Day. This will be a non-strenuous walk onto the prairie to observe native flora and fauna at this wonderful time of year. The tall grasses will be at their peak height after a delightfully rainy summer.

Docents are welcome to bring a guest to the Luncheon and Fall Field Day. It is a fine means of introducing someone to the Preserve.

Please RSVP reservations only to Dennis Bires at dennisbires@lycos.com or 918-341-3908 by Monday, November 16.

Bison Sculpture

—Andrew Donovan-Shead

Remember the well-head-water-trough on the slight rise to the east of the Visitor’s Center? It’s gone. Lloyd Smith and Mark Smith (unrelated) removed the ramada, filled the trough, and installed a concrete cap to form a plinth to support a new bison sculpture acquired by The Nature Conservancy from T. D. Kelsey. Dave Dolcater was present with his camera to record the final construction and installation. Lloyd Smith, you will remember, recently designed and built the kiosk pedestal in the Nature Room.

In the following pictures you can see Mark Smith and Lloyd Smith working on the plinth for the new sculpture.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

In these pictures, from left to right, Dwight Christian and Perry Collins steady the sculpture as Joe Bob Briggs drives the tractor to the plinth. Aligning the sculpture prior to placement are Joe Bob Briggs in the tractor, Dwight Christian, Tony Brown, Perry Collins, Kevin Chouteau, Lloyd Smith, and Mark Smith.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

Here on the left, we see Lloyd Smith checking the alignment with the help of Joe Bob Briggs in the tractor, and Tony Brown. On the right, Mark Smith shovels a mortar foundation under the sculpture, directed by Lloyd Smith, observed by Kevin Chouteau.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

Lloyd Smith and Mark Smith arrange the mortar to give the sculpture a secure seat.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

Setting the sculpture in place.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

T. D. Kelsey, 1994, Change of Seasons, 7/10.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

Here is the finished work.

Photography by Dave Dolcater

These pictures illustrate the teamwork, care, craftsmanship, and attention to detail of Lloyd Smith, the Cowboys, and Mark Smith. These guys can do anything and are a great asset to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. We don’t often get a chance to see them in action as they remain invisible most of the time, though we do see the evidence of their good work all over the Preserve.

Living with Aliens

—Mark Davis

Non-native species get nothing but bad press, but this often has more to do with prejudice than science, says biologist Mark Davis. Read the full article by following this link to New Scientist Magazine: Immigrant Species Aren’t All Bad.

Visitor Counts

—Iris McPherson

The total number of visitors signing in during September was 746. There were 36 states (724) represented with the highest counts after Oklahoma (472) being Texas (24), Kansas (22) and Missouri and Ohio (21). There were 8 foreign countries with a total of 44 people. Just a little history concerning number of visitors in September, we had 605 in 2006, 660 in 2007, 488 in 2008, and now 746 in 2009! We still haven’t had visitors from Wyoming and North Dakota.

Please remind the visitors to sign the guest register.

Docent Coverage of Season Days

—Andrew Donovan-Shead

Docent Coverage of Season Days

 

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Visitor’s Center Latitude & Longitude

Here is the latitude and longitude of the Visitor’s Center that you can give to visitors for entry into their GPS navigation device.

Kiosk Maintenance

The manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the touch-screen recommend use of a soft dry cloth only. This proved inadequate for smeared fingerprints. Soft-paper kitchen towels work well, slightly damp with a small drop of soft handsoap. Application of a dry kichen towel removes any residual moisture.

Over time, a matter of several weeks continuous operation, I have noticed that the calibration of the touch-screen drifts away from the initial set-point. If you notice that the cursor isn’t under your finger when you touch the screen then restart the kiosk by unplugging it from the wall, waiting a few moments and then re-inserting the power plug. It will restart and recalibrate.

This link points to the complete Kiosk Maintenance Manual.

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.