Business Park Wetlands Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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Come visit a place in harmony with the rhythm of the seasons… a home for many ‘wild about Anchorage’… a small piece of what central Anchorage was before the turn of the 20th century – before the city even existed… the Business Park Wetlands. Take extra time during your visit to observe the wildlife here.
Tucked between two major east-west arterials, joined at the hip to one of the city’s landmark business parks, in the shadow of a major telecommunications site lies a parcel of land relatively unchanged by city growth and no adjacent roadways. Smaller than the paved parking lots of many developments surrounding it, this special management area was established under Alaska Statute 41.21.518 ‘to protect and preserve this land and water for its unique and exceptional fishery and wildlife resources and habitat and recreational and scenic resource values.’ The efforts of many corporate and individual citizens who recognized the value of protecting this parcel led to their involvement in a community-based preservation effort, yet most city residents are unaware the parcel exists.
The wetlands are prime nesting grounds for a variety of species, the most visible of which are lesser Canadian geese. A viewing platform at the southeast corner of the parcel offers excellent opportunities to witness their nesting behavior in late spring and early summer. The isolation of this area means natural ground-based predators are rare (although moose are common), and one of the biggest threats to young geese here comes from loose or stray dogs.
The black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia Order PASSERIFORMES - Family CORVIDAE) recognized by its distinctive black-and-white pattern, long tail, and bold behavior, uses the wetlands for a rookery. Its large dome-covered nests are easily seen during the leafless winter months, at middling height in the birch trees scattered around the perimeter of the area. Magpies invest as much as forty days to build their sturdy nests, often including bright, shiny man-made materials in the construction. Once thought to be major predators of smaller songbirds, magpies in many areas of North America were hunted for bounty. Today scientists recognize the magpie as a major beneficiary to other bird populations because a wide variety of species (including small owls) use abandoned magpie nests for shelter and as nesting platforms of their own. The presence of a magpie rookery is usually an indicator of relatively higher songbird populations in the same area, and magpies now are protected from hunting across the United States. Don’t approach occupied nest trees too closely during late spring, as magpies will ‘mob’ perceived threats quite vigorously!
Access this cache carefully – please do not enter from any direction other than as described herein. There are three access points to this area by vehicle:
• Business Park Blvd, from eastbound Tudor Rd,
• The entrance at Lone Star Restaurant from southbound C St, or
• Business Park Blvd, from either east or westbound International Airport Rd.
Begin your journey around this parcel at N61 10.636 W149 53.436, where a viewing platform overlooks the area and a small blue sign (fading but still readable) celebrates the establishment of the Business Park Wetlands. This sign provides the clues to your final destination. Once you have determined the final coordinates, head northwards 337 feet at a bearing of 4º true to an angle in a chain-link fence line heading westwards from the parking area. This is the only access point you should use! Please do not enter the wetlands from the viewing platform area, and DO NOT bring dogs – their presence signals ‘predator’ to the species which live here and unduly stresses waterfowl in this small parcel.
The final coordinates of the cache are N61 10.ABC W149 DE.XYZ, where:
• A equals two times the number of geese visible on the blue sign;
• B equals the square of the number of geese visible on the blue sign;
• C equals the actual number of geese visible on the blue sign;
• DE equals the number of acres preserved (ignoring decimals);
• X equals C plus the number of periodicals (papers/journals) on the sign;
• Y equals C minus E;
• Z equals D minus X
Remember – head north to the angle in the chain-link fence line before leaving the pavement – Practice CITO – STAY ON HIGH GROUND until the last forty feet of the approach (take the second trail branching off left from the main access route once you're about 40 feet or so from the final location.) This is not recommended for night caching in respect to local businesses. Although there is plenty of parking, use care not to block access or park in restricted areas. Pack your trash – there are no trash cans here!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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