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GC5G6GV ▼

A cache by A1BOB66 Message this owner

Hidden : 11/8/2014

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Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Safari Cache at Cottonville Conservation Area.

This cache is part of the Jackson County Conservation Geocache Safari series. The safari series encourages geocachers to visit the county parks in Jackson County. Enjoy your visit to all of the safari caches, collect all of the code words from the caches and redeem them for a pathtag reward.

Be sure to follow the Safari Cache directions and rules below to have a successful cache experience.

Jackson County Conservation
Geocache Safari

Explore Jackson County parks, learn about different bird species and have fun geocaching!

#12 American Goldfinch

A typical summer sight is a male American Goldfinch flying over a meadow, flashing golden in the sun, calling perchickory as it bounds up and down in flight. In winter, when males and females alike are colored in subtler brown, flocks of goldfinches congregate in weedy fields and at feeders, making musical and plaintive calls. In most regions this is a late nester, beginning to nest in mid-summer, perhaps to assure a peak supply of late-summer seeds for feeding its young.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/american-goldfinch/

FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

• The American Goldfinch can be easily detected by its bright yellow color and black cap as well as its roller coaster flying motion.

• Like most North American birds, this member of the finch of fringillidae family feeds mostly on seeds especially the renowned sunflower seed.

• The American Goldfinch is a small bird about 4.5 inches long much like the size of a sparrow.

• This bird is known to be the only member of the finch family that sheds off all its feathers twice in a single year including during the breeding season.

• Both the male and female birds develop an almost identical color after a complete molting during the fall.

• One can distinguish the male American Goldfinch because it is the one having the canary yellow plumage and jet black cap. The female is olive yellow on her neck and breast during summer.

• The young American Goldfinches assume a different color. During their first autumn and winter, they are colored wood brown with buffy wing markings and light black shoulders.

• During courtship, one can detect the female because of its zigzag flying motion while being chased by males.

• The female also does the nest building with the male contributing the nesting materials and watching over her nearby. He may also sing and call his mate during the actual nest construction process.

• Did you know that the female even weaves the nest so tight using spider web silk that it can be filled with water unless she shields their abode with her wings?

• Unlike most birds, the American Goldfinches breed a little late from July to September each year.

• Although monogamous, the female bird may leave her nest and look for a new mate to start another brood.

• While some species of the finch family use their feet or never at all when eating, the American Goldfinch uses its feet most of the time when feeding.

• These birds are also acrobatic in that they can eat upside down from a sunflower one moment and then eat standing upright the next. This dexterity trait with their foot and bill allows these birds to benefit from other food sources which are otherwise not accessible to other birds.

• One would also know that this bird is panicky when it feeds in a rush fashion and gain weight before and during a storm.

• Goldfinches prefer to stay in open spaces like farms, orchards, gardens and in the suburbs.

Safari Cache Rules

(Disclaimer-The safari journal and the other safari caches do not need to be completed to claim a found it on this geocache)

1) Begin the Jackson County Conservation Geocache Safari at [ Trumpeter Swan-J.C.C.Geocache Safari #1 ] [ GC5Q2WV ]
2) At [ Trumpeter Swan-J.C.C.Geocache Safari #1 ] there will be blank copies of the Safari Journal for you to pickup. Additional copies are available inside the Hurstville Interpretive Center during operating hours.
3) The Safari Journal has information on the 12 Safari Caches that will need to be found.
4) Each Safari Cache has a code word on the cache container that will need to be entered into the Safari Journal.
5) Once the journal is completed with all of the code words, it can be returned to the Hurstville Interpretive Center for a special Safari pathtag.
6) All of the Safari Caches are on public use property and all rules and laws are to be followed.
7) Cache at your own risk.
8) There will be a limit of 1 pathtag per geocacher and two pathtags per family.
9) All children who complete the safari will be allowed their choice of one prize from the safari prize box located inside the Hurstville Interpretive Center.

Safari Cache Instructions

#12-American Goldfinch
1) The cache is located at the posted coordinates.
2) Use the information from the cache listing or the Safari Journal to locate the cache.
3) Once you find the cache, sign the log and locate the code word.
4) Enter the code word into the Safari Journal for #12 Goldfinch.
5) When all of the caches have been found and all of the code words have been collected, return to the Hurstville Interpretive Center to trade your completed journal for a Safari Pathtag.

As always, be safe, be courteous, be respectful and have fun.

Please remember that all caches in the Jackson County Conservation Areas are CITO locations.

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Additional Hints (No hints available.)

American Goldfinch-J.C.C.Geocache Safari #12 Traditional Cache