The Sandhill Crane IS MISSING AS OF 1/23/05 LbNA #10133 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 15, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Gainesville |
| County: | Alachua |
| State: | Florida |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Postal Ant  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Kirbert |
| Last found: | Nov 20, 2004 |
| Status: | FFm |
| Last edited: | Aug 15, 2004 |
Box is missing, I looked for it today, 1/23/05, but could find nothing. Will try to recarve a stamp and replace in a more secure spot this time.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a unique ecosystem that is home to many birds, reptiles, mammals including wild horses and bison, yes bison here in north central Florida. By far the most awesome animals, are the wintering Sandhill Cranes. They travel from the Platte River in Nebraska and reside here and surrounding areas in the late fall and leave early spring. Each evening, large numbers can be seen flying into the center of the prairie to roost for the night and rise out of the mist in the early morning to forage in surrounding fields.
The prairie was once a lake, but in the early part of the century a sinkhole opened up and drained the water in three days, leaving steamboats and dying fish. Efforts were made to fill the hole back in, but to no avail. Today there is an area on the northeastern part of the park were there is still a small lake, Alachua Sinks. Water is controlled by park officials to provide habitat for the large bird and alligator population. Several trails take visitors to observation platforms within the prairie.
To the trailhead:
Take SR 441 south out of Gainesville, heading towards Micanopy. Cross the prairie and as you come up the hill out of the bowl, there will be a parking area on the left side of the divided highway that leads to the Bolen's Bluff trailhead (there is a sign for this parking area). No fee is charged here, but at the entrance to the park at the main gate is $3.25 should you want to further explore. No fee is necessary to find the box.
To the letterbox:
Bolen's Bluff trail is partially a loop trail with a long segment that takes you out on the prairie to an observation platform. It is not necessary to walk all the way to the platform, but highly recommended, particularly in the fall. Bring binoculars to observe the many wading birds, eagles and hawks. Go through the wooden gate in the parking lot and head down the trail. At about 0.1 mi, the trail splits--this is the loop part, so either way will be okay to take (I prefer going to the left and returning from the other direction). Both trails are approximately 0.5 mi to the spot where the letterbox is waiting. You will come to a clearing, after walking past some magnificant old Live Oaks, and there you will see a bench at the head of the trail leading down onto the prairie. Just after the erosion prevention log across the trail, look to your left and there are four large palm trees. Going approximately 12-15 feet off the trail, the palm furthest away from you, you should find the letter box on the back side of the tree. Watch for wildlife, poison ivy and a few mosquitoes. Take time to walk down on the prairie after you have returned the letterbox to it's hiding place.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a unique ecosystem that is home to many birds, reptiles, mammals including wild horses and bison, yes bison here in north central Florida. By far the most awesome animals, are the wintering Sandhill Cranes. They travel from the Platte River in Nebraska and reside here and surrounding areas in the late fall and leave early spring. Each evening, large numbers can be seen flying into the center of the prairie to roost for the night and rise out of the mist in the early morning to forage in surrounding fields.
The prairie was once a lake, but in the early part of the century a sinkhole opened up and drained the water in three days, leaving steamboats and dying fish. Efforts were made to fill the hole back in, but to no avail. Today there is an area on the northeastern part of the park were there is still a small lake, Alachua Sinks. Water is controlled by park officials to provide habitat for the large bird and alligator population. Several trails take visitors to observation platforms within the prairie.
To the trailhead:
Take SR 441 south out of Gainesville, heading towards Micanopy. Cross the prairie and as you come up the hill out of the bowl, there will be a parking area on the left side of the divided highway that leads to the Bolen's Bluff trailhead (there is a sign for this parking area). No fee is charged here, but at the entrance to the park at the main gate is $3.25 should you want to further explore. No fee is necessary to find the box.
To the letterbox:
Bolen's Bluff trail is partially a loop trail with a long segment that takes you out on the prairie to an observation platform. It is not necessary to walk all the way to the platform, but highly recommended, particularly in the fall. Bring binoculars to observe the many wading birds, eagles and hawks. Go through the wooden gate in the parking lot and head down the trail. At about 0.1 mi, the trail splits--this is the loop part, so either way will be okay to take (I prefer going to the left and returning from the other direction). Both trails are approximately 0.5 mi to the spot where the letterbox is waiting. You will come to a clearing, after walking past some magnificant old Live Oaks, and there you will see a bench at the head of the trail leading down onto the prairie. Just after the erosion prevention log across the trail, look to your left and there are four large palm trees. Going approximately 12-15 feet off the trail, the palm furthest away from you, you should find the letter box on the back side of the tree. Watch for wildlife, poison ivy and a few mosquitoes. Take time to walk down on the prairie after you have returned the letterbox to it's hiding place.