How many geocachers have discovered birds' nests when searching
a tree for a hidden cache? We've found our fair share. This time,
however, your goal is to find a Woodland Bird's Nest. And to find
it, you'll have to choose which way you'd like to hunt for it:
By listening to its chirping song
By puzzling out some woodland bird's nest
facts
Yes, Woodland Bird's Nest is the
second in Team FMA's Woodland series, a chirp cache located within
this preserve. To locate the Bird's Nest this way, you'll need to
either have a chirp-enabled Garmin GPSr or you'll have to bring a
geocaching buddy who has one. From the trailhead, follow the
boardwalk (or the clearest snowy path) into the Beckwith
Conservancy. You'll shortly reach a slight hill, upon which is an
informational sign about the donors of the land, the Beckwith
family. Several trails run through the rest of this forested area.
Depending on your choice, you may need to hike a bit before you
encounter that chirping bird's song... or you may not have to hike
far at all. Once you've got the coordinates, you should be able to
use trails and/or bushwhack to reach the Woodland
Bird's Nest.
Not everyone has a Garmin, or
even a Garmin that can handle chirps. This is why we've added an
alternative way to locate the Woodland Bird's Nest: by solving the
puzzle below. You'll need to get your hands on a copy of
Peterson Field Guides® Eastern Birds' Nests (copyright
1975) first. Then, solve for N 42º AB.CDE, W 84º FG.HIJ. Hint: all
the creatures listed below frequent forests and woodlands.
A = the number of eggs per clutch for the Mourning Dove
B = the common number of eggs per clutch for the Short-Billed Marsh
Wren
C = the number of eggs per clutch sometimes laid by the Lark
Sparrow
D = the number of eggs laid per day by the Brown-Headed Cowbird
until clutching is done
E = the common number of eggs per clutch laid by the Carolina
Chickadee
F = the number of eggs per clutch sometimes laid by the Bald
Eagle
G = the common number of eggs per clutch laid by Team FMA
H = the number of eggs per clutch occasionally laid by the
Dark-Eyed Junco
I = the number of eggs laid per clutch by the Pine Grosbeak
J = the common number of eggs per clutch laid by the White-Breasted
Nuthatch
Use the GeoCheck here to verify your results:
Once you've got the coordinates, you should be able to use
trails and/or bushwhack to read the Woodland Bird's
Nest.
The Woodland Bird's
Nest
As with any bird's nest, please be very careful removing it from
its tree, and carefully replace it the way you found it or better
once you're done examining it. Inside the nest, you'll find some
instructions in a plastic sleeve. Please be sure to follow them and
don't forget to sign the log book. Please do not leave any
swag! Swag within the Woodland Bird's Nest will make the Mama
Bird very uncomfortable when it comes time to brood. However, feel
free to leave a geocoin or travel bug in the zip-lock bag with the
log book. Mama Birds very much enjoy looking at shiny objects.
Please do alert us if there are any problems with the cache or
its contents. Thanks for choosing to seek out the Woodland Bird's
Nest — and thanks to the Washtenaw Land Trust for preserving
and maintaining these lovely areas for all to enjoy!
Congratulations to clatmandu on his
FTF... looking forward to learn where that little birdie eventually
roosts!