I have renamed this cache in honor of the late Steve Irwin aka "The Crocodile Hunter" who tragically passed away today--September 04, 2006--doing what he loved best. Steve was filming some footage for an underwater documentary and working with a Stingray when it struck resulting in his death. Steve was in the peak of his life and his career; he had developed his parent's tiny reptile park where he grew up into the world-class Australia Zoo that it is today. His passion for wildlife, compassion for animals, his co-workers and especially his family and his active involvement in wildlife and habitat conservation were infectious to almost all who watched his shows on Animal Planet or at his Zoo. Steve loved his animals but he loved his family more than words can say; you could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice when he was speaking of them in his shows. Steve was the real deal -- he was a True Blue Aussie. Steve leaves behind his beautiful wife Terri and two children Bindi Sue and Robert to operate the zoo and carry on his grand conservation vision.
Steve often referred to himself as a Wildlife Warrior and as I mentioned above he set up the conservation organization known as “Wildlife Warriors Worldwide” where he put the funds he generated from his films, Zoo and donations from people like you and I to good use protecting the wildlife and habitats that he was so passionate about. Wildlife Warriors has purchased thousands of acres of sensitive wildlife habitat areas across the globe in order to preserve these areas for the benefit of the wildlife that live there. They also operate the Australian Wildlife Hospital that cares for injured, sick and orphaned Australian wildlife often rehabilitating them and releasing them back into the wild. Please take a look at the Wildlife Warriors Worldwide website linked below for a full description of their objectives, goals and projects.
The Crocodile Hunter’s story is the story of a humble man with a great passion for life, for his family, for the planets wildlife and the environment in which we all live. Steve Irwin The Crocodile Hunter was probably one of the best known Australians in history and more than that he truly changed our world for the better.
Thank you Steve Irwin for your brief but oh so important time here on Earth. You will be missed.
CROCS RULE!
I am also passionate about wildlife and nature just as Steve Irwin was. I have followed Steve’s career through his shows on animal planet since they began. When Steve Irwin died I simply did not believe it. The full magnitude of what had just happened didn’t sink in right away. After reading about it online I wandered out in the forest behind my house and felt numb to everything. A while later it all hit me like a charging bull Elephant—I cried, held my wife close and would not let go of her for a long time. I felt as if I had lost a true friend or family member although I had never personally met Steve Irwin. His death was heart wrenching to me and I still have great trouble maintaining my composure as I read the postings on the The Animal Planet Steve Irwin memorial website
To me, Steve Irwin was the closest thing I had to a hero in this world and I truly believe that the world lost a mighty voice for wildlife and wild places when he left us. I will never really understand why this has happened but what I do know is that Steve made a great impact on this earth, he helped countless animals survive, he preserved vast tracts of land from development, he educated millions of people about the importance of wildlife and wild places and he had a great positive impact on millions of animal and nature loving children and adults everywhere and he will be so greatly missed.
Now more than ever, those of us who are left...those of us who have been gifted with the love, the understanding and the passion to bring Nature knowledge to the masses--we have a challenge, a goal and a true purpose to take action and not let Steve's death be the end of his message. We must fight tooth and claw and make people hear and understand how wonderful, beautiful and important Nature, wildlife and wild places are to the healthy functioning of the Earth.
If you are ever Down Under be sure to visit Australia Zoo and OzGuff's CRIKEY! cache.
This is my very first Geocache placed...oh sooo long ago and I am happy to know that it is still so popular and still active.
GEO-NOTES: The listed coords at the top of the page are for the cache--however, getting to the island can sometimes be difficult. One way to access the island is on foot/bike from the parking area at:
N 33 51.955
W 078 30.986
Maps may show a small tidal creek separating the above coords. from the island to the south. This creek may or may not be active depending on coastal conditions. My advice to the cache hunter is to be ready for possible water crossings--especially if going after large storms.
If you plan to locate the cache and then camp, be aware that the local Police will ticket any car left overnight at the above coords--I know from experience so you are on your own when parking! The other option, is to travel to the island via boat and beach on the SW sound-side shore then hike the short distance to the the cache.
THE CACHE: To find this cache you will need not only your GPS, maps and compass, a good pair of hiking boots/shoes, hat, sunscreen, plenty of water/food and bug repellent. You may want to take a flashlight if you go later in the day as there are no artificial lights on the island. The temperatures, humidity and insects can be oppressive in the summer.
It is for the above access and harsh environmental reasons that I have given this cache a difficulty rating of 4.
WILDNOTES: Steve Irwin would have loved Bird island beacuse of it's unspoiled beauty and loads of wildlife. I'm sure he would have had several opportunities to say "Crikey!" and "What a little Beauty!" several times if he ever had the chance to explore the Island.
If visiting during the warmer months when shorebirds are nesting and you suddenly see birds flying in a distressed manner or attacking you and possibly plucking hairs out of your head--ouch!--then you have probably walked into a shorebird nest colony! Bad move--just slowly move back out the way you came in so you don't run the risk of stepping on any baby birds or eggs (shorebirds nest on the ground and are federally protected).
You may be lucky enough to encounter Sea Turtles--Loggerheads most likely--that nest on the beach in the spring and early summer. The young turtles hatch out in late summer to early fall and make a mad dash to the waves. If you are on the beach and encounter a nesting or baby sea turtle please do not go any closer than about 50-75 feet away and NEVER turn on a white light like a flashlight or lantern--as this disorients the turtle. If you need to use a flashlight on the beach at night in during the warmer months use a red filter over the lens--sea turtles can't see red. Remember--Sea Turtles are federally protected and it is against the law to touch them unless you have had training and/or permits(I took the photo of the baby Loggerhead when I was working on a research project many years ago a few miles north of the island).
You are much more likely to encounter Deer, the occasional Black Bear, Alligator, Fox, many different species of snake and lizard and the islands namesake--lots of birds.
CrotalusRex's WILD Disclaimer:
Remember! should you decide to attempt to find this cache you must remember that you will be trekking into a WILD area with all of its wild components some but not all are listed below. Live wild creatures with their own agendas--that may or may not hurt you--oh my! Mud, dirt, sand, flotsam and jetsam (whatever the heck that is?)scat (i.e Poo, poop, droppings, turd, dung, guano, pellets, log, sh*t, shite, crap, plop, squirt...) this may be fresh or unbleached...the fresh variety may be accompanied by a rather unpleasant odor so WATCH OUT! Often, if you poke a stick at scat in just the right way you will be able to determine what type of creature left it there and just what that creature had eaten for its last meal!! You may suddenly or gradually--depending on your locale--encounter uneven ground or rough surfaces(that may abrade your skin), heat, cold, wet water(that becomes hard and cold in the colder times) and OH MY--this often will fall unpredictably from the sky and if you are not prepared it will make you and your coverings WET--GASP!! Surrounding the entire island is a large quantity of water...but it has a high concentration of salt so don't try to drink it...it is however most enjoyable to play (ie: frolic, cavort, rough-and-tumble, surf, swim, leap...) in when the weather (see Weather below) is nice. Dryness--in combination with the weather this may chap exposed skin. Rocks--watch out for these things--you may trip on them and fall down(but they can be used as TOOLS if you know what your are doing!) Plants--these things are just about everywhere--even in the water! Some are pretty, some taste good and some will kill you if you eat them! There are also some plants that will make you itch and/or bleed--know these well! Sand--this makes you itch if you get it in your nether-regions. Pollen--a by-product of the above plants that may make some of you sneeze, itch and cough. Wind (see also air below)--this may chap exposed skin and disturb carefully placed hair, air(see also wind above)--this could be anywhere from hot to warm or cool to cold and it may be still or moving so fast you will not be able to stand up--this is called a storm see photos below for both examples, weather--a combination of many of the factors present here(see above and below). This is entirely unpredictable unless you believe what the NWS tells you, light and dark and all the shades in between. You may hear unpredictable sounds created from unknown sources some of these may be pleasant...but sometimes not...and they may scare you or hurt your ears! Sometimes you will see a very bright disk overhead but don't look directly at it as it will damage your eyes. It may also cause red burns on your exposed skin so bring your protective devices and chemicals. Often there is a lack of light accompanied by a large glowing disk in the sky and countless tiny glowing points of light that are pleasant to look at...enjoy this time and much more! Just remember: there will be plenty of random unplanned events that you will encounter on this hunt and on any adventure you take into the natural world--so be ready for them as they are the things that make life worth living!
RED CROSS NOTE: During the summer/fall the island hosts several million (or billion) mosquitoes and no-see-ums so bring repellent--or you will give blood!
CAMPING: The best places to camp are behind the dunes on the SW end of the island. Here there are a few sites where there are fire pits (you will need to bring your own wood/stoves as there is no wood here). It is needless to build more campsites and degrade more wilderness--these sites are the nicest on the island as they are sheltered from the winds and have a great view of the ocean/sound. Also, during mid May to early June you can find tons of plump, juicy Blackberries just waiting to be picked all over the nearby dunes! Remember that the dunes are part of a very fragile ecosystem so always walk around instead of over them. Walking on the dunes causes severe erosion and can take years to "heal".
This island is a beautiful place and totally unspoiled from any development. It is the way a barrier island is meant to be so please respect it by not leaving any trace and by packing out any trash you see with the trash bags in the Geocache (also take more bags to replace the ones you remove from the cache).
SWIMMING: If you decide to swim in the ocean or sound just remember--these waters are wild and wild waters contain wild creatures and wild hazards and there are no lifeguards here so you are own your own.
NOTE: While you are on the Island, visit the interesting "Kindred Spirit" log box at coordinates:
N 33 51.293
W 078 32.116
NOTE: This island has been known to have it's share of naked sun bathers--so just be aware of this fact--it can be quite shocking!
FTF HONORS GO TO The Toolman!!!
