While looking for a spot to place a cache for the event, I came
across a sign along the trail I've never noticed in this park
before. Upon reading the title, The Rain Crow, I immediately
remembered one of my favorite teachers of all time, Mr. Tom Kemp. A
science and conservation teacher at Anthony Wayne High School, as
well as one of the most knowledgeable bird enthusiasts I've ever
met, he took his classes out to the school nature trail and local
Metropark Oak Openings all the time, and stopped to talk and give
information about nearly everything around us, much like this sign
near the cache. He really sparked my interest in wildlife and the
love of natural areas, and I learned a lot from him. For example,
exactly what a Rain Crow was.
I remember hearing this bird mentioned when I was young and I
always thought it was a crow that only came out when it rained,
making me wonder what it did what it was dry and sunny for long
periods of time. Maybe hibernated? Maybe ceased to exist, like a
mythical beast. Thanks to my conservation class, I learned it was
just a certain type of cuckoo with a colorful nickname. A bit of a
letdown, but still cool nonetheless.
Another interesting bird I remember Mr. Kemp telling us about
was the Indian Hen. I assumed this was a wild fowl, something
similar to a partridge or quail. As I also learned in my
conservation class, this is actually a nickname for a type of
heron, the American Bittern. This marsh dwelling bird is actually
pretty common, but probably more likely to be seen at the
Litzenburg wetlands. If it senses that it has been seen, the
American Bittern becomes motionless, with its bill pointed upward,
causing it to blend into the reeds. It is most active at dusk. More
often heard than seen, this bittern has a call that is very
distinctive. I've heard it, and mistaken it for a large frog. You
can hear it at the related website link for this cache page. The
Indian Hen also has a long list of aliases: barrel-maker,
bog-trotter, meadow hen, stake-driver, thunder-pumper, sky-gazer,
and water-belcher.
Enjoy the cache and wildlife of this nice little Ohio state
forest. Because this is a state forest, feel free to enjoy this
cache until 11pm, regardless of sunset time. This one's for you Mr.
Kemp.