Silver Bluff Geoart - Wood Stork 23
Blue Jay
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 131
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
"This species breeds in all parts of the United States, from Louisiana to Maine, and from the Upper Missouri to the coast of the Atlantic. In South Carolina it seems to prefer for this purpose the live oak trees. In the lower parts of the Floridas it gives place in a great measure to the Florida Jay; nor did I meet with a single individual in the Keys of that peninsula. In Louisiana, it breeds near the planter's house, in the upper parts of the trees growing in the avenues, or even in the yards, and generally at a greater height than in the Middle States, where it is comparatively shy. It sometimes takes possession of the old or abandoned nest of a Crow or Cuckoo. In the Southern States, from Louisiana to Maryland, it breeds twice every year; but to the eastward of the latter State seldom more than once. Although it occurs in all places from the sea-shore to the mountainous districts, it seems more abundant in the latter. The nest is composed of twigs and other coarse materials, lined with fibrous roots. The eggs are four or five, of a dull olive colour, spotted with brown." John J. Audubon
Please solve the puzzle in order to obtain the coordinates for this geocache.
Final Location is: N 33° 19.MNO W 081° 50.PQR
M: The Blue Jay's diet consists mainly of:
- insects (0)
- seeds (5)
- small invertebrates (2)
- detritus (1)
N: The Blue Jay is the state bird of how many states in the U.S.?
O: What sport do the Toronto Blue Jays (Canada) play?
- basketball (2)
- baseball (7)
- hockey (1)
- soccer (4)
P: Blue Jays are known for collecting/caching:
- acorns/paint chips (8)
- holly berries/pinecones (1)
- string/insect parts (7)
- metallic and shiny objects (0)
Q: Which statement about the Blue Jay is TRUE?
- only males have crests (8)
- males are more brightly colored (6)
- males are bigger (4)
- females & Males have the same call (2)
R: What type of tree is the Blue Jay know to help proliferate?
- tulip (7)
- oak (8)
- holly (0)
- cedar (4)
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.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.