Dances with Reptiles
KISSIMMEE, FL - Mating Florida alligators respond to the note of B flat - at least when played on a tuba through the wood of a boardwalk.
At least that's what a Tampa Tribune reporter discovered in an attempt to replicate a 1944 experiment, "Response of Captive Alligators to Auditory Stimulation," conducted at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
The Tribune experiment was conducted at Gatorland, a tourist attraction near Kissimmee with some help from William Mickelsen, the Florida Orchestra's star tuba player, and one of his students.
The group discovered alligators swam toward the sound when Mickelsen and John Banther played a sustained low B flat. When the players got down on the boardwalk and played through the wood, the male alligators echoed the sound.
Mating male alligators are famously noisy, bellowing and roaring in the swamps in the spring. Tim Williams, an alligator wrangler who guided the group, said he has also heard them respond to the noise of close-up airboats and to the sound of the space shuttle passing over Gatorland during landings at Cape Canaveral.
Given the insurance industry's machinations in hurricane ravaged, wildfire plagued and frivilous lawsuit congested Florida, I predict that rates for families with children who take up the tuba will increase on this news. The school systems and marching bands? Their rates will hit high 'C'.
Sounds like a 'CROC' to me!
(Couldn't resist!)
Posted by: Oldcatman | 06/09/2007 at 07:21 AM
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! I LOVE that Fleetwood Mac video. I have no clue what the words say or what they mean, but I was nuts about it when it came out and I thrill to see it now.
Not so much those alligators. um, What's the connection, Steel?
Speaking of CROCS... I just ordered two pair to add to my collection of one pair. I will never wear another pair of shoes as long as I live. I ordered Parker a pair because he stands all day on concrete floors and his back hurts. I wish I'd had these when I was standing all day on concrete floors. Shew! Greatest shoe ever invented. Gorgeous, too. (Not :)
Posted by: Phoenix | 06/09/2007 at 11:33 AM
Sorry but that just makes me think of "The Brown Noise".
Could only find this Mash-up on You-tube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFO0m-u0fY8
Posted by: Kurt P | 06/09/2007 at 06:20 PM
Gator-aid, Is there a green wrist band for that? I thought the Fleetwood Mac video was in preparation for an advertisement for a certain prophylactic. Or was it a comundrum:)
Posted by: Mouse | 06/09/2007 at 07:52 PM
Kurt,
"Sorry but that just makes me think....."
Welcome to The Steel Deal where thinking about anything that comes to mind is welcome. :)
I watched the video and am not sure what cool association went through your mind. I'm still grooving on a college marching band playing back-up for Fleetwood Mac. Or as Mouse noted, doing an ad for condoms. Trojans on the march... T U S K !!
ha ha..... So funny...
Posted by: Phoenix | 06/09/2007 at 08:29 PM
Anyone heard of a Ray Bradbury short story "THE FOGHORN"?
Posted by: OINK | 06/11/2007 at 08:24 AM