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Birds of a Feather: Red-Tailed Hawk Traditional Cache

Hidden : 9/11/2011
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

This is number 22 in my series of caches dedicated to my two favorite hobbies. Geocaching and Birding. Both require you to go get out of the house and do some walking. While out geocaching I easily get distracted by birds that I encounter, but it makes the experience that much more enjoyable. Each of these caches are placed in an area where there is a heavy concentration of birds or a certain species of birds that I think people would enjoy learning more about and seeing first-handed. So if you have a pair of binoculars, bring them along with your pen for some close up views.

This cache is dedicated to the Red-tailed Hawk.

3-4 times a week on my commute to work I see a couple of hawks on this billboard or the one just south. I know they are watching the fields looking for a meal.

This is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got sharp eyes you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride, anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you’ll see them atop telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a vole or a rabbit, or simply waiting out cold weather before climbing a thermal updraft into the sky.

Red-tailed Hawks are large hawks: very broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Large females seen from a distance might fool you into thinking you’re seeing an eagle. (Until an actual eagle comes along.)Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly and, on the wing underside, a dark bar between shoulder and wrist. The tail is usually pale below and cinnamon-red above, though in young birds it’s brown and banded.

The Red-tailed Hawk has a thrilling, raspy scream that sounds exactly like a raptor should sound. At least, that’s what Hollywood directors seem to think. Whenever a hawk or eagle appears onscreen, no matter what species, the shrill cry on the soundtrack is almost always a Red-tailed Hawk.

Congratz to R A A for FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

zntargvp

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)