Woodcock Traditional Cache

Parking is at 41 40.111, 83 47.155

The cache is located along the long loop of the All-Purpose Trail in the NW portion of the park. This trail is an ideal surface for bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs. You will cross a small corner of the prairie area where hawks can be seen flying over this restored prairie in search of field mice and other prey. Butterflies and many insects are inhabitants as well. The stars of the prairie, though, are the tall grasses and colorful wildflowers. Late summer to early fall, Indian grass, blazing star, big bluestem, and prairie dock cover the horizon.

Here the naturalists offer a Spring program called Secor After Dark: Dance of the Woodcocks where you will enjoy a hike while watching for the remarkable mating flight of the woodcock. The male American Woodcock has an elaborate display to attract females. He gives repeated "peents" on the ground, often on remaining patches of snow. After a time he flies upward in a wide spiral. As he gets higher, his wings start to twitter. After reaching a height of 200-300 feet the twittering becomes intermittent, and the bird starts chirping as he starts to descend. He comes down in a zig-zag, diving fashion, chirping as he goes. As he comes near the ground he silently lands, near a female if she is present. Then he starts peenting again.

The contrasts of tall timber, rolling, sandy hills and wet lowlands make Secor an interesting Metropark to explore. The towering tulip trees and northwest Ohio's largest concentration of dogwoods bloom in spring, when wildflowers blanket the moist forest floor.

A focal point at Secor for people and wildlife alike is a pond stained brown by the tannic acid in the oak leaves that drop into it each fall. In spring, the pond is covered by duckweed, which shades the water, keeping it cool. The trunks of many of the trees in Secor's swamp forest widen at the base, an adaptation called buttressing that gives the trees added support in the wet, unstable soil.

Wolfinger Cemetery, located inside the park, is the burial site of many of Richfield Township's earliest settlers.

The National Center for Nature Photography, opened in spring 2003 inside Secor, displays the works of some of the country's best-known nature photographers. The one-of-a-kind center is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July. Admission is free. Workshops offer opportunities for field experience with nature photographers and naturalists.

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