Harrison Hills - BrownHeadedCowBirds? Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

LavaLizard: As there has been no further communication about the status of replacing the cache and as there has been no cache at this location for a considerable length of time, I am archiving the cache to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements..

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=LavaLizard=
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Hidden : 3/22/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

BrownHeadedCowBirds? You don't need to go past the gate.

Harrison Hills - BrownHeadedCowBirds?

ONE OBNOXIOUS BIRD!!!



I rode by the gate then down this dirt road to Harrison Dam where I discovered the cage (pictured above) was set up. The Brown Headed Cowbirds were inside attracting others. The sign said one thing. However, my research found their methods of raising their young to be more of a problem.

This bird is a brood parasite: it lays its eggs in the nests of other small passerines (perching birds), particularly those that build cup-like nests. The Brown-headed Cowbird eggs have been documented in nests of at least 220 host species, including hummingbirds and raptors. The young cowbird is fed by the host parents at the expense of their own young. Brown-headed Cowbird females can lay 36 eggs in a season. More than 140 different species of birds are known to have raised young cowbirds.

It seems that Brown-headed Cowbirds periodically check on their eggs and young after they have deposited them. Removal of the parasitic egg may trigger a retaliatory reaction termed "mafia behavior". According to a study by the Florida Museum of Natural History published in 1983, the cowbird returned to ransack the nests of a range of host species in 56% of the time when their egg was removed. In addition, the cowbird also destroyed nests in a type of "farming behavior" to force the hosts to build new ones. The cowbirds then laid their eggs in the new nests 85% of the time.

You can park AT this cache, (just don't block the gate), or you can park north - towards "Bike2K" off McAllister, or just hike or Mountain Bike to all the caches.

If you Hike, bring water, and be ready for some inclines with good hiking shoes. Mountain Bikes recommended, Motorcycles frequent the area, so do Quads. Some of the entry points have been cabled to keep out the 4x4, but some still sneak in.

There are some other caches in the area to pick up if you are new to this site.

- - = Congratulations to Gumby&Pokey on being FTF ! = - -

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Lryybj

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)


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