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Governor Gore's Bird (Turtle) Sanctuary Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

xiao_tuzi: This one has run its course, unfortunately. It is time to retire it. This is a great little spot, and maybe we will do a new cache there in years to come!

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Hidden : 1/1/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to the Governor Gore Bird Sanctuary! Situated in the Spotts Newlands area of Grand Cayman, it is more often known locally as the "Governor's Pond". Although relatively small, just 1.84 acres, the site is representative of a fast vanishing habitat in this rapidly developing area of the island. Beware the numerous bugs!

The cache itself is a magnetic keybox located just outside of the actual sanctuary. You do not need to enter or walk on the sensitive plants to get to it.

The Pond's popularity with the birds is seasonal, with greatest activity during the dry season when this may be the only substantial body of fresh water for some distance. The area around the Sanctuary was, until recently, a seasonally flooded grassland maintained for grazing, with fresh water ponds scattered throughout. Residential development is now leading to the filling of many of the wet and flooded areas, causing the waterbird population of a previously wide range to gather at the Governor's Pond. The Pond retains water throughout most of the year, although it has been known to dry out occasionally, at the end of a particularly severe dry season. Some of the many different types of birds that can often be seen at the Pond are Moorhens, Herons and Egrets, Grebes, Ducks, Rails, Plovers, Sandpipers, Terns, Pigeons and Doves, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Kingbirds and Flycatchers, Vireos, Warblers and Grassquits. It is also quite possible that a few of the rarer species, like the diminutive Least Bitterne, or the beautiful Purple Gallinule will be around. And it is not just birds that abound. Butterflies congregate in this area, and the native freshwater turtle, the Hickaee, has often been spotted among the reeds. The native freshwater fish Gambusia xanthosoma is also found beneath the pond's surface.

The pond has many, many turtles, but often there are not as many birds. When people enter, the turtles and birds flock to the front of the boardwalk waiting to be fed.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Taneyl!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)