*** This cache is part of the Taking Flight GeoTour. Anyone can claim this cache, but to be eligible to receive a Taking Flight GeoTour prize tag, geocachers must complete the activities in this survey for at least 12 caches on the tour.***
Welcome to the Emerson Point Preserve Fairy Garden. Open the doors and windows of the fairy houses to learn more about the natural world!
Bird houses, also known as nest boxes, are artificial enclosures provided by humans to support the nesting and sheltering needs of birds. These structures mimic natural cavities found in trees or cliffs, offering a safe place for birds to raise their young, especially in environments where natural nesting sites have become scarce due to urban development or deforestation. By installing bird houses in backyards, parks, and natural reserves, people can attract a variety of bird species, from bluebirds and chickadees to wrens and owls, encouraging biodiversity and bringing nature closer to human communities.
The importance of bird houses extends beyond simply providing shelter. They play a critical role in the conservation of certain bird populations, particularly cavity-nesting species that are often displaced by habitat loss. Well-designed bird houses protect birds from predators and harsh weather conditions, giving them a better chance at successfully raising their young. Additionally, bird houses support local ecosystems by encouraging birds to settle in an area, where they contribute to insect control, seed dispersal, and pollination. In this way, bird houses are not only beneficial to birds but also to the broader environment.
Visit the sites along the Taking Flight GeoTour (TFGT) and learn about Manatee County's wild spaces and the amazing feathered friends that live in them. Along the way, you will be challenged to become a citizen scientist, a preserve ranger, a detective, a historian, an excellent geocacher. Caches are located in birding hot spots throughout Manatee County's publicly accessible conservation Preserves. Each one highlights a specific bird species or aspect of bird life providing you with opportunities to learn more about these creatures and what we can do to help them survive. Caches also focus on protecting the region's waterways, bays, natural watersheds, and habitat areas for many of our area's feathered friends.
The Taking Flight GeoTour launched August 20, 2012 and includes 18 caches within Manatee County.
To be eligible to receive a Taking Flight GeoTour prize tag, geocachers must complete the activities in this survey for at least 12 finds on the tour. Keep this survey open in your browser, only click submit when at least 12 finds have been completed. Survey responses will be automatically sent to Manatee County staff. Prize tags can be redeemed on Saturday mornings from 9am - 12pm at The NEST at Robinson Preserve located at 840 99th St NW, Bradenton, FL 34209. If you are unable to collect your prize tag in person, please contact ecoevents@mymanatee.org to arrange for your tag to be sent in the mail. Tags will be available while supplies last.