The original Ode to a Wood Duck geocache ( GC3Q7VR ) was in a stream in some woods in Annapolis. It was great but it kept getting washed downstream in a heavy rain. So now, many years later, the Wood Duck is returning to the wild, this time sitting out in a nice freshwater pond. The hike out to the cache access point is pleasant, leave the paved B&A bike trail and walk along the pond about a quater mile. The cache is a unique container...and a unique access method (you wont get wet)...please don't ruin the surprise for others with spoiler logs or photos. Return the cache to its pond location. Original contents include many NASA pins and patches, a small carabiner, and a small toy train.
The Wood Duck is an amazing creature...the male (drake) is arguably the most beautiful fowl if not animal on the planet. This cache is an Ode to the Wood Duck. There is a poem by A. Tom McCoy of the same name and the final stanza (used with permission) is:
His bill, His beak, of color there is plenty.
Cream pink yellow orange and red
And tip of shiny black.
Yet, not one shade does it lack
And none of them detract
For all become its splendor.
Man can only just suppose
Why Creator would such a beauteous creature compose
Then give him disposition so retiring
That if we would to see a sight of him, (Inspiring!)
We must go silently and with great stealth
To places most (unlike the little duck of colorful wealth)
Are not inclined be.
The Wood Duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typical adult is from 47 to 54 cm (19 to 21 in) in length with a wingspan of between 66 to 73 cm (26 to 29 in). This is about three-quarters of the length of an adult Mallard. It shares its genus with the Asian Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata). The adult male has distinctive multicoloured iridescent plumage and red eyes,with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female, less colourful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. Both adults have crested heads. The male's call is a rising whistle, "jeeeeee"; the females utter a drawn-out, rising squeal, "oo-eek," when flushed, and a sharp "cr-r-ek, cr-e-ek" for an alarm call.