This multi-cache is the first of the caches designed to introduce people to the Woodcock Preserve. This parcel of land owned and managed by the Saratoga P.L.A.N. was named after the American Woodcock, a shorebird that lives in forests. It can most frequently be encountered at dusk when they are most active. During the day they are hard to spot due to their very good camouflage that helps them to easily blend in to their surroundings.

This preserve consists of a mix of 64 acres of wetlands and forest. My mother and I got involved in maintaining this preserve back in the Fall of ’09. I had previously had my eye on it for quite some time as I had noticed the signs near the parking area upwards to two years ago. Each time I was in the area I would drive by to see if I could see any activity or signs of more than just a parking lot. This finally happened in the Fall where, after finishing work, I stopped, noticed some trail markers (which I had previously missed) and decided to follow them. As “The Spleen” says in “Mystery Men” to Invisible Boy, “BIG MISTAKE!” The trail, at that time, took one through the wooded area, past an overgrown field, and through a swamp. Who would put trail markers there? We later found out that beavers had been active and raised the water level therefore flooding the original trail. Long story short: My Mother and I are now the stewards for this preserve and with the help of Highland Ranger and my Father, we have:

• Cleared the field
• Trimmed back/widened the trails
• Re-routed the trail in a couple of really wet areas
• Placed stepping stones for some water crossings
• Installed some turnpiking, corduroy, bog bridging, and other rudimentary trail improvements with only the use hand tools
• Added a new trail and are working on another one

This is a wetlands area and even during some really dry times one can still find some wonderfully sticky mud! Watch your footing and plan your path as best as you can! This is still a work in progress improvement and we have more wet areas than easily available materials to deal with them so please be patient.

Now, the first in a small series of “Cool Facts” about the American Woodcock:

• The flexible tip of the American Woodcock's bill is specialized for catching earthworms. The bird probably feels worms as it probes in the ground. A woodcock may rock its body back and forth without moving its head as it slowly walks around, stepping heavily with its front foot. This action may make worms move around in the soil, increasing their detectablity.
• The American Woodcock is one of the few shorebirds that is regularly hunted for sport.

Information provided with help from:

Keppie, D. M., and R. M. Whiting, Jr. 1994. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor).In The Birds of North America, No. 100 (A. Poole, and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock/lifehistory

Disclaimer: You, and all members of your party must read and agree to the www.geocaching.com disclaimer. In addition, you all must agree to hold the cache owner, www.geocaching.com, and the landowners harmless from any and all causes for action. You and all other members of your party must individually and collectively determine your/their physical fitness and outdoors/hiking skill levels, decide whether or not to visit the various cache locations, and whether or not it is safe and prudent to do so under the conditions that will be encountered. Cache seekers assume all risks involved in seeking these cache locations.

People that do not wish to do a cache because of any danger they might perceive to be present is certainly within their right to not proceed. However you do not have the right to try to ruin the enjoyment of others in attempting a find that is beyond your capabilities, but not beyond theirs. This goes for almost every caching event there is. After all one might run into spiders, snakes, poisonous plants, broken glass, trips and falls and the list goes on.

Safety First! .......Take a friend, Look out for others, take a cell phone if possible, watch where you're stepping, NEVER UNCOVER ANY CACHE WITH YOUR HANDS OR FEET, USE A STICK! If you feel uncomfortable in doing a cache, for any reason, just walk away!!!