April 8 - Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

I was awake at 4:30, so got up to make a cup of coffee.  The day dawned at 45º, calm and sunny.  I breakfasted at the Lyons Inn, whose breakfast nook opens at 6 a.m. and which had waffles, scrambled egg, sausage links, juices and coffee.  There was no milk, and I’d prefer real milk or half-and-half rather than creamer.  Otherwise, the motel was clean and quiet.  I left the motel and drove to Strong City, then north to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

The Visitors' Center

Marty grew up on the beach of Puget Sound, on the slopes of a forested hillside, and likes her trees.  I grew up on the ‘Grand Prairie’, in the Willamette Valley, and love prairies.  There’s a sense of openness and freedom on the grasslands that I can only compare to the feeling of being on the ocean.  And, indeed, the pioneers called these lands, a “sea of grass”.

At the Preserve, we are in the Flint Hills, which were never plowed due to the rock outcrops and shallow soils.  The land was initially purchased by Stephen and Louisa Jones from the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.  Jones later expanded his holdings to over 7,000 acres, and built a fine limestone mansion and barn at Spring Hill.  The property went through a number of owners, and eventually the 10,894-acre Z Bar Cattle Company ranch was sold to the National Park Trust in 1994.

Senators Nancy Kassebaum-Baker and Bob Dole (remember when politics was bi-partisan?) introduced legislation to Congress, which would allow the Federal government to create a national preserve.  In 1996, Congress approved the creation of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.  Because of politics, the government wasn’t allowed to obtain the place, and the main portion of the preserve has to remain in the private ownership.  Management of the property will be through a partnership with the National Park Service.  The NPS can never acquire more than 180 acres by donation from the private land owner.  In 2002, thirty-two acres, including the house, barn, outbuildings, and Lower Fox Creek school, were donated to the NPS by the National Park Trust.  In 2005 the majority of the preserve was sold to The Nature Conservancy.  Together the NPS and The Nature Conservancy work toward preservation of the tallgrass prairie, while sharing in the story of ranching legacy, Native American history, and the diverse tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the heart of the Flint Hills.

The flint and limestone are close to the surface in these hills

The ranchers and land managers around here are burning a lot of prairie just now.  The prescribed burns remove old dead plant material, allow the soil to warm, recycle nutrients back into the soil, and kill back the invading woody shrubs and trees.

Acres and acres of toasted prairie and a smoke haze

The prescribed burns leave a mosaic of burnt and unburned prairie

This well-managed prairie is just beginning to blossom with native wildflowers, the first jewels of the Spring!

Carolina anemone - Anemone caroliniana

Prairie Fawn Lily - Erythronium mesochoreum

Desert Biscuitroot - Lomatium foeniculaceum

When I arrived at the center, the Eastern Meadowlarks were in full song.

The preserve has an extensive trail system that I took advantage of to walk about 4 miles out to the Prairie Overlook.  There are many signs informing people about the bison, and warning us to keep our distance.

The electric fences help keep the bison in the appropriate paddocks

These placards were mounted on rocks at the several trail location

The sign says to keep 100 meters away from the beasts . . .

. . . but, some folks can't tell distance.

This is a photo of cowbirds . . . Oh, wait a minute, what's under the birds?

Bison make 'wallows' to roll in to either take mud baths or dust baths, depending on the rain.

Coming back across the prairie, I found that the puffballs were coming out after the recent rain showers

New and spongy . . .

Older, and it's already released its spores to the prairie winds

This evening, I went into Emporia, and checked into the Super 8 for $75, then went out to eat at the Bruff’s Bar & Grill, where I had the grilled pork chops and 2 Amber Bocks for $23.75

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve a.m. eBird Checklist is Here

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve p.m. eBird Checklist is Here