Sturnella neglecta Traditional Cache
SLO GUY: Park improvements resulted in the destruction of the cache.
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(micro)
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While hiking from Laguna Lake to Cerro San Luis on New Years Day 2009, I was greeted by the song of a lone Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) and the vision of his yellow chest. It seemed early for this fellow to be establishing a nesting territory … perhaps he was just practicing for the upcoming mating season. As I walked further through this grassland, I saw at least a dozen more. They stayed ahead of me, rising out of the grass in small groups, and flying 100 feet or so further ahead.
Western Meadowlarks are easily spotted in flight by their white outer tail feathers. If it is correct that the male meadowlark will defend a territory of 6 to 7 acres, most of these birds will undoubtedly scatter before breeding begins in earnest. When mates are selected and breeding begins, the female will build a nest in a depression in the field, weaving grass together to form a domed nest that is well concealed and water shedding. She will then lay a clutch of three to seven eggs, which will take about 12 days to hatch. It is common for these birds to have two broods per season.
The round trip to the cache is just less than one mile, and the trail’s wide, flat surface makes the walk appropriate for cachers of all ages. Along the way, cachers may see a number of species of wildlife, ranging from red-winged blackbirds near the marsh to the occasional fox traversing the meadow. They will also likely see cattle grazing in the fields.
The container is small with room for only a log. There are several other caches in this park and the adjoining land. This trail system also offers access to Cerro San Luis (Madonna Mountain), where there is another group of caches.
Parking is available at N 35 15.958 / W 120 41.205.
Additional Hints
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