Starting in 2011, in the dead of the night, residents of the Meadowbrook neighborhood started hoisting whimsical birdhouses along Meadowbrook Drive. While most of the guerilla birdhouses were joyfully received, someone was bound to complain. The birdhouse at Euclid and Meadowbrook, in particular, brought controversy that escalated to the Mayor and then the County Executive. This is true. The birdhouse stands, due to their blessing.
In this offset cache, you assemble clues along Meadow Brook to find the little bird who went underground while the feathers were flying. Could you let him know that it's safe to return to his home? He left this clue to where he's hiding, scratched out in the dirt of his front garden:
43 A.BCD 76 X.YYY
A = Number of different roof panel colors on the birdhouse at the Broad intersection (not including black or white).
B = Number of different colors used on the dowel perches on the southernmost Meadowbrook birdhouse.
C = Number of holes on the airplane birdhouse minus 2.
D = Number of birdhouses that have guard dogs on the side (to keep away the neighborhood cats?).
X = Add the number of dowel perches to the number of circular “flowers” on the birdhouse outside the Nottingham High School entrance. The right one has circular “flowers” above its holes.
YYY = The house number of the actual house that inspired a birdhouse replica—down to the color of the front door. (The house is at a corner of the intersection.)
Our team has helped you out by mapping the birdhouses. This cache would make a terrific bike ride along Meadowbrook's new bike lane. Expect to migrate at least 2 miles before finding the cache. If you do choose to take a car, make sure you don't stop in the bike lane or else the Salameander team might “accidentally” crash into your vehicle.
Feel free to contact us to confirm your coordinates, or to notify us of new or different birdhouses along the way. BYOP.