Silver Bluff Geoart - Wood Stork 38
Blue-bird
Please read through the Searching Guidelines below before heading to the geocache.
There is import information to keep geocaching in good graces with the management.
Plate 113
Bluebird
Sialia sialis
"This lovely bird is found in all parts of our country, and is generally a permanent resident of the Southern States. It adds to the delight imparted by spring, and enlivens the dull days of winter. 0 Full of innocent vivacity, warbling its ever pleasing notes, and familiar as any bird can be in its natural freedom, it is one of the most agreeable of our feathered favourites. The pure azure of its mantle, and the beautiful glow of its breast, render it conspicuous, as it flits through the orchards and gardens, crosses the fields or meadows, or hops along by the road-side. 0 Recollecting the little box made for it, as it sits on the roof of the house, the barn, or the fence-stake, it returns to it even during the winter, and its visits are always welcomed by those who know it best. " John J. Audubon
State Bird: Missouri, New York
Please solve the puzzle in order to obtain the coordinates for this geocache.
Audubon used the name, "Blue-bird" to describe what is now known as the eastern bluebird. You may help the bluebird population by putting a bluebird box in your back yard. You may build your own or purchase one in a variety of places. 0 When you install a bluebird house, try to have the opening pointing to the east. They prefer the opening in that direction. Perhaps they like to be awakened by the morning Sun. Be sure that you place your birdbox in such a way that other animals, such as cats and snakes, cannot get access to the hole and babies.
Sliver Bluff Geoart Information
The geoart was created at a sanctuary in the area along the Savanna River called, Silver Bluff. The sanctuary is open from dawn to dusk, and permission for this hide was granted by the sanctuary manager. If you see sanctuary personnel during your visit, please thank them for supporting geocaching. The geoart consists of 55 geocaches in the shape of a wood stork. This sanctuary annually has hosted the largest inland concentration of foraging endangered wood storks in South Carolina. There were some caches already existing at the sanctuary, and they were incorporated into the geoart. The difficulty/terrain ratings of the 55 geocaches are all different and provide a diverse geocaching experience. When combined with the related geoart of 26 geocaches, all 81 possible D/T ratings are included.
Searching Guidelines
As you are searching for Silver Bluff Geoart caches, please follow the following guidelines.
- Parking along roads: There are dirt roads in the area. They are not heavily used, but please be careful. Please do not block the roads or park on the roads. Be sure to pull off of the dirt roads completely.
- Access to Authorized Personnel Only Areas: You are authorized to go past the signs that say, "Authorized Personnel Only" when searching for geocaches. Near the main office, there is a dirt road that has such a sign. There are some Terrain 1 (wheelchair accessible) caches down the road, and people are welcome to drive down that road into the authorized personnel areas for disability access. If you are asked about entering that area, just kindly mention that you are a geocacher who needs to take advantage of the disability access.
- Bird Boxes: There are many bird boxes in the sanctuary. No geocaches are hidden in bird boxes and there are no fake bird boxes. There might be some containers attached magnetically to the metal baffles below the boxes or on the ground by the boxes. Please be careful when approaching bird boxes, because there might be birds actively using them in the spring.
- Main Office, Trail Heads and Parking: You are welcome but not required to stop by the main office during your visit. Access to the trail heads is from the main parking area. There is also parking at Kathwood providing access to the walkways around the ponds.
John Audubon Drawing Information
The image on the cache page is from the original drawing by John James Audubon and was printed between 1827 and 1838. The bird-name link will take you to the complete information about the bird as originally written by John Audubon and have access to a free download of the plate. The description of the bird on this cache page is an excerpt from the original entry in Audubon's field guide.
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