Be prepared for an easy round trip hike of just over 3 miles. Find this cache near the end of the William B. Cummings Birding and Wildlife Trail at The Nature Conservancy’s Brownsville Preserve. Please park only at the provided coordinates. This cache is placed with permission of the landowner.
Take a moment to enjoy this view overlooking Phillips Creek, its associated tidal marsh, and the biodiversity that thrives here. Red-jointed and marsh fiddler crabs live in muddy areas in marshes. Males have one enlarged claw that can grow to 1.5-2 inches long while females’ claws are equal size. The male’s enlarged claw is not used for fighting predators but primarily to attract a mate and discourage rivals. If a male loses its major claw, the remaining claw grows to the same size as the one it lost. The new claw that grows becomes the smaller claw. Male marsh fiddlers have a royal blue spot on the center of the carapace (shell). Fiddlers eat algae, bacteria and decaying marsh plants, and they feed by sifting through sand or mud for food particles. Marsh fiddlers are found between the low and high tide lines, while red-jointed fiddlers dig burrows above the high-tide line. Fiddler crabs create tiny, sometimes elaborate burrows up to two feet deep for mating, sleeping, refuge, and “hibernating” during winter. They are very active during the day and return to their burrows at night and during high tide, plugging the entrance with mud or sand.
Researchers from several universities are studying the physical ecology of these marshes to understand how the marshes may respond to predicted changes in climate and sea levels. (Please do not tamper with PVC pipes on the property, as they are often involved in scientific research. Caches will NOT be hidden in PVC pipes.)
A trail map with interpretive information may be available at the trailhead and is also available online at The Nature Conservancy's website. An audio companion to the trail may also be downloaded from that page in advance of your visit. Please observe all of The Nature Conservancy’s guidelines. Dogs must be kept on a leash, and during deer season (typically October through early January), trail hours are restricted to 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Saturday. The trail is open all day on Sundays, and The Nature Conservancy does not allow hunting on its properties on Sundays. Bicycles welcome, as well. Mosquitoes and ticks can be intense during the warmer months, so be prepared! Cell service is often unavailable here! You may want to use a GPS other than your cell phone.