The couple who placed the cache have a family cabin in Oyster Bay and have paddled out to this island many times. One summer two girls from the cabin canoed to the island, went for a swim, and noticed some small shore birds (sandpipers?) hanging out on the island. They watched closely as one little bird darted across the rocky shore and bobbed its head. Back at the cabin, the girls declared that this island would now be referred to as “Pretty Bird Island.” Family members preferred the various other names the island had been given such as “Goose Poop Island,” or “Starfish Island.”
This is a very special spot for many family and friends that visit the island frequently. Many great memories here: swimming, cliff jumping into the water at low tide, looking for starfish, basking in the sun on the rocks, sailing around the island, and kayaking along the neighboring shoreline. We hope you enjoy your visit!
Birds in the area to look out for: Black Oystercatcher, Merganser, Loon, Heron, Eagle, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Canada Goose, Sandpiper. Also watch out for moon jellies (especially the red stinging kind), seals, otters, fish, small crabs...and lots more sea life!
If you launch your boat in Madeira Park or Garden Bay, you will have to go through “the narrows” to get to Gunboat Bay and Oyster Bay. Make sure to look at the tide charts ahead of time. You can get into Gunboat Bay and visit the island when the tide is coming in, then go back out to Madeira Park when the tide is going out. There is a strong current so it is difficult to get through if you are paddling against the tide. When you are going with the tide, or at slack water, it is possible to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard through the narrows. Sailboats can make it through when the tide is high enough but be careful when going into Oyster bay as it gets quite shallow (we have seen boats run aground!).
Geocache contents (feel free to trade with items of equal value):
-Golfball
-Plastic Whale
-Canadian one cent
-American one cent
-Rope with eye splice
-Seashells
-Black Chess Knight
-Old pulley
-N from Scrabble
-Wooden piece
-Aromatic cedar
-Logbook
-Pencil
-Weaving