Melodious Magpie Birding D Wanganui Traditional Cache
mjmnz: We went there last week and there is no longer a suitable place for the cache so would need to find a new position so will archive it
Melodious Magpie Birding D Wanganui
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This is the 4th bird in the series of birds found in the Wanganui region. The Magpie is found all around the Wanganui area.
The cache is hidden on the road to Bushy Park which turns off State Highway 3 on the road to New Plymouth. The turnoff is to the left just past the Kai Iwi Tavern.
This is the area of the Kai Iwi Wells from where Wanganui pumps some of their water. The cache is not on the fence line and you do not need to go near them. The area has surveillance cameras.
Cyclists often use this road either for racing or training rides for around the Round Taupo ride. It’s known as the Brunswick Circuit. During the breeding season they are attacked by the magpies who frequent this area. To protect themselves they fasten cable ties to their helmets.
The Magpie
The Magpie is the introduced Australian magpie. It is a large It is a large black and white bird with pale blue-black tipped bill with a body length between 36-44 cms. It has a distinctive flutelike carolling especially at dawn and dusk ‘quardle oodle,ardle,wardle doodle They are often seen in flocks, but may also be seen in pairs. They can been found resting in tall trees or on the ground in open farm land with tall shelter belt trees or forests parks and gardens. They breeds between July and December
Magpie attacks:
For most of the year magpies are not aggressive, but for four to six weeks during nesting they will often defend their territory vigorously. People passing by may be seen as ‘invaders’ of the territory, prompting the magpies to fly low and fast over the person clacking their bills as they pass overhead.
The experience of a magpie attack can be quite alarming, but it is usually only a warning. Only occasionally will a bird actually strike the intruder on the head with its beak or claws. If this unusual behaviour persists, there are ways of reducing the risk of physical injury to humans.
If a magpie swoops at you:
Walk quickly and carefully away from the area, and avoid walking there when magpies are swooping. Magpies are less likely to swoop if you look at them. Try to keep an eye on the magpie, at the same time walking carefully away. Alternatively, you can draw or sew a pair of eyes onto the back of a hat, and wear it when walking through the area. You can also try wearing your sunglasses on the back of your head. Wear a bicycle or skateboard helmet. Any sort of hat, even a hat made from an ice cream container or cardboard box, will help protect you. Carry an open umbrella, or a stick or small branch, above your head but do not swing it at the magpie, as this will only provoke it to attack. If you are riding a bicycle when the magpie swoops, get off the bicycle and wheel it quickly through the area. Your bicycle helmet will protect your head, and you can attach a tall red safety flag to your bicycle or hold a stick or branch as a deterrent.
The cache is a film canister hidden and covered with natural vegetation. Please see that it is covered when you leave. There are a number of buildings around and the locals are ever watchful. You will need to bring your own pencil. It is a straight forward cache almost a drive by.
The North Island Robin cache is further up this road.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
"Gevc Genc" fnvq gur Yvggyr Ovyyl tbng Tehss.
"Ybbx gb gur yrsg orsber lbh pebff zl oevqtr." fnvq gur htyl byq Gebyy.
Treasures
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