Continuing our series on the woodpeckers of Crosswinds Marsh.... Woodpeckers are part of the family Picidae, a group of tree-dwelling birds that also consist of wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats. Woodpeckers have strong bills for drilling and drumming on trees and long sticky tongues for extracting food. The bill's chisel-like tip is kept sharp by the pecking action in birds that regularly use it on wood.
Northern Flicker
Northern Flickers are large, brown woodpeckers with a gentle expression and handsome black-scalloped plumage. On walks, don’t be surprised if you scare one up from the ground. It’s not where you’d expect to find a woodpecker, but flickers eat mainly ants and beetles, digging for them with their unusual, slightly curved bill. When they fly you’ll see a flash of yellow color in the wings and a bright white flash on the rump.
Size & Shape
Flickers are fairly large woodpeckers with a slim, rounded head, slightly downcurved bill, and long, flared tail that tapers to a point. They are sized somewhere between a Robin and a crow.
Color Pattern
Flickers appear brownish overall with a white rump patch that’s conspicuous in flight and often visible when perched. The undersides of the wing and tail feathers are bright yellow, for eastern birds, or red, in western birds. With a closer look you’ll see the brown plumage is richly patterned with black spots, bars, and crescents.
Behavior
Northern Flickers spend lots of time on the ground, and when in trees they’re often perched upright on horizontal branches instead of leaning against their tails on a trunk. They fly in an up-and-down path using heavy flaps interspersed with glides, like many woodpeckers..
Habitat
Look for flickers in open habitats near trees, including woodlands, edges, yards, and parks.
The Cache is a medium sized lock & lock hidden along the Woodpecker Loop Trail in the typical fashion. As always, please use stealth and return the cache to it's original location.
Crosswinds Marsh is one of the largest man-made wetlands in the country. It was built to replace the wetlands that were paved over to expand Wayne County's Detroit Metro Airport (the McNamara terminal). Wayne County, together with Sumpter Township, purchased over 900 acres of farmland that believe it or not, was once wetland that had been converted into farm fields by draining the land...in a process that took over a year. They flooded former farm fields, planted new wetland plants and transplanted endangered species from metro Airport. The area is managed by the Wayne County Parks.
Remember, this is a marsh....If you are intending to hunt for the caches or explore the trails, please come prepared with boots/old shoes (not sandals or flip-flops), long pants, and insect repellent. This time of year in the woods of South Eastern Michigan there is poison ivy, ticks and mosquitoes a plenty! Due to the changing seasons in Michigan, the D/T may vary at different times of the year.
Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting of plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42 05.744 W 83 26.552
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is free.
The Crosswinds Cache Crew pledge to develop and maintain quality and interesting geocaches in the Marsh consistent with Geocaching and Wayne County Parks rules and permit process. For more information on the Cache Crew and our endeavors, please visit us on the web at http://www.crosswindscaching.com and on social media.
This cache has been placed with the permissions of Wayne County Parks. Permit MM18-29 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.