Birds of Prey series LbNA #14496
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Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 17, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Mexico |
| County: | Oswego |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Planted by: | Craftymouse
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|---|---|
| Found by: | MTAdventures (3) |
| Last found: | Oct 12, 2024 |
| Status: | FOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Apr 17, 2005 |
These letterboxes are located at the Derby Hill Bird Observatory near Mexico, NY. Directions to the observatory can be found at derbyhill.org. You're also able to get a daily raptor update to see exactly who it is that's flying over your head! Derby Hill is an internationally know location that's a prime spot for catching a glimpse of hawks, eagles, ospreys and vultures as they turn the corner of the eastern end of Lake Ontario. You can see hundreds of these birds everyday, especially in the Spring.
Once on Sage Creek Road, you'll travel past the south lookout and a shooting range. You'll then see 2 small signs on the right that say "Visitors Welcome" and "Derby Hill Parking Lot 2". Turn at the signs to drive up the dirt path ascending the hill. Park in the field at the top of the hill. We've placed our boxes a little bit off the beaten path. You'll most likely run into bird watchers at the South Lookout, or at the lake's edge, or the North Lookout. Our clues will take you into the wooded area. We don't want to disturb any bird watchers! They don't know about these boxes. Although us letterboxers are usually common-sense folk who have a great respect for nature, bird watchers may view us as outsiders and want to chuck the boxes into the lake. So...be stealthy!!!
Every box has a stamp and ink, but not all of them have a logbook and pen. They also come in different sizes: from pudding cup size to sandwich size. You'll also need a compass and boots that you don't mind getting muddy. Binoculars and bird books will help you blend in!
Clues:
From your parking place in the field go east, down the meadowy hill, following the southern edge of the meadow. The line of trees will be on your right. You're going to be following the Fritz Scheider Trail which is marked with orange squares and the occasional white trail notice. At the bottom of the hill are several very large trees, but your path leads to a boardwalk. Before you get to the boardwalk the path cuts through a very rustic stone wall. Right where the path cuts through, on your left will be a very big, old tree and on your right will be a tree with many, many, many trunks, one of which has fallen over. Around the back of this many, many, many trunked tree is an entrance to its center. The Merlin is neatly nesting here. All you need to do is lift off the bark and stone roof.
The Merlin, also known as the Pigeon hawk, migrates along larger rivers and marshes. It feeds on smaller birds and is extremely aggressive. It will nest in tree cavities or in abandoned crows nests, where it will defend it's young mercilessly.
After you've finished stamping, please rehide the Merlin well, taking care that you are not seen by others.
Continue on the orange trail to the boardwalk. Heed the sign for Caution. Many of the boards are warped and seem ready to break. Be careful! As you reach the bottom of the boardwalk, you'll see two markers, one orange and one yellow. They're pointing for you to go left over another short stretch of boards. Stop at the arrows. Facing those two arrows, look to your right. You should see the remains of a crumbling stone wall (sort of) just a few paces to your right. One tree has a crumpled Posted sign lying at its base. Walk towards the stone wall. Between two trees- one smaller and shaggy, one larger and smoother, you should see a good-sized rectangular rock. Tucked under the near corner you will find The American Kestrel roosting. When you are finished stamping, please rehide him very carefully, taking the time to make sure his hiding place isn't visible from any angle.
The American Kestrel, otherwise known as a sparrow hawk, has adapted to humans. They can live in cities or towns in addition to farming areas. It mainly preys on House Sparrows, and prefers to catch its prey on the ground instead of in the air.
Return to the arrows at the end of the boardwalk and follow them across the small stretch of boards. Turn right to follow the orange markers but stop at the end of the boardwalk. Take 5 steps straight off the end of the planks and look to your right. You'll see trees of various sizes that seem to form a line parallel to the boardwalk... one small tree, a double trunker, a grouping of small trees, a biiiig tree.... Do you see a little man-made beaver dam about 15-20 feet in? It's near the biiiig tree and the grouping of small trees. Look closely and you'll find it. Who'd have thought that it would make such a nice home for an Osprey?! This is very close to the boardwalk and the trail, so be very careful not to let on to the hiding place for this box. Also, please cover it very well. The sun hits this spot and would easily reflect off the plastic container if it's not covered well enough.
The Osprey is a 'fish hawk', living along lakes, rivers and seacoasts. It looks for fish while hovering over the water. Once it sees a meal, it takes a steep dive and splashes into the water. If it makes a catch it will resurface and fly away with its prize. During the 1950's and 1960's pesticide use took a toll on the osprey and they started dying out. However, they are beginning to make a comeback and are returning to the areas from which they had disappeared.
***NOTE*** The clues to the next box mention a stick with the #7 on it. It has since moved from it's original location and is leaning on a large tree at the top of the trail incline. Oddly enough, the clues will still pretty much get you to the right place! :-) Just look for the 'sort of stone wall', and you can't go wrong. *** Head back toward the boardwalk. This time you'll want to follow the yellow arrow which points you uphill on the short boardwalk. From the end of the yellow boardwalk you'll continue on the path up the slight incline. A short way up there will be what looks like a broomstick handle sticking out of the ground on the right of the trail. On the back side of this stick is the number 7. STOP! Standing on the trail, face the broomstick. Straight ahead, about 40 feet off the trail is a pile of flat rocks. Pick your way to the rocks, watching out for the prickers. Standing next to the pile of rocks (they'll be on your right) you should see a dip ahead of you with a 'sort of' stone wall running through it. About 20 paces and you should be there. There's a large tree growing out of the 'wall' to your right. To your left are two trees making a V shape. The left one has shaggy bark and the right one is smooth. At the base of the V, covered in flat rocks and debris is the great Bald Eagle.
In colonial times the Bald Eagle was a common site along nearly any American coastline, but due to the use of pesticides in the 1950's and 1960's they were nearly wiped out. They have made a slow but steady comeback since then. Like the Osprey, the Bald Eagle is a fish eater, but prefers not to enter the water. Mostly, they will grab a fish near the surface, or better yet, steal a fish from an Osprey!
Please rehide the Bald Eagle well, taking care to make sure he is not visible from any angle. When you are done, return to the yellow trail and continue along it. It will end shortly at the same meadow that you started in. You'll be in the corner opposite the one in which you found the Merlin. The yellow arrow on the tree directs you to the next meadow on your right. To enter it, you must pass through the stone wall. As soon as you enter this second meadow, STOP! You'll see yet another stone wall that borders this meadow along it's northeast edge. To find the last bird of prey, you'll need to be on the other side of this wall, (the wooded side, so the wall and meadow are on your left). Leaving the trail, cross into the woods to be on the far side of the wall. Follow this wall a short distance to the first V-shaped tree that is growing against it. Between the wall and the tree, under rocks and debris is your last bird of prey.
This particular bird of prey is extremely aggressive, and will often seek out confrontation with nearly any creature it comes in contact with. This bird of prey should be considered extremely dangerous and not one to be fooled around with!
When you've finished stamping, rehide well. You can now return to your car at the top of the meadow, or you can cross this second meadow to a third that will take you to the northern lookout and the bluff where you can view all sorts of bird species.
We hope you enjoy this series and take the time to really check out the area and the wildlife. The birdwatchers are a friendly group of folks who won't mind talking to you about their latest finds, but remember that they don't know about the boxes.
Once on Sage Creek Road, you'll travel past the south lookout and a shooting range. You'll then see 2 small signs on the right that say "Visitors Welcome" and "Derby Hill Parking Lot 2". Turn at the signs to drive up the dirt path ascending the hill. Park in the field at the top of the hill. We've placed our boxes a little bit off the beaten path. You'll most likely run into bird watchers at the South Lookout, or at the lake's edge, or the North Lookout. Our clues will take you into the wooded area. We don't want to disturb any bird watchers! They don't know about these boxes. Although us letterboxers are usually common-sense folk who have a great respect for nature, bird watchers may view us as outsiders and want to chuck the boxes into the lake. So...be stealthy!!!
Every box has a stamp and ink, but not all of them have a logbook and pen. They also come in different sizes: from pudding cup size to sandwich size. You'll also need a compass and boots that you don't mind getting muddy. Binoculars and bird books will help you blend in!
Clues:
From your parking place in the field go east, down the meadowy hill, following the southern edge of the meadow. The line of trees will be on your right. You're going to be following the Fritz Scheider Trail which is marked with orange squares and the occasional white trail notice. At the bottom of the hill are several very large trees, but your path leads to a boardwalk. Before you get to the boardwalk the path cuts through a very rustic stone wall. Right where the path cuts through, on your left will be a very big, old tree and on your right will be a tree with many, many, many trunks, one of which has fallen over. Around the back of this many, many, many trunked tree is an entrance to its center. The Merlin is neatly nesting here. All you need to do is lift off the bark and stone roof.
The Merlin, also known as the Pigeon hawk, migrates along larger rivers and marshes. It feeds on smaller birds and is extremely aggressive. It will nest in tree cavities or in abandoned crows nests, where it will defend it's young mercilessly.
After you've finished stamping, please rehide the Merlin well, taking care that you are not seen by others.
Continue on the orange trail to the boardwalk. Heed the sign for Caution. Many of the boards are warped and seem ready to break. Be careful! As you reach the bottom of the boardwalk, you'll see two markers, one orange and one yellow. They're pointing for you to go left over another short stretch of boards. Stop at the arrows. Facing those two arrows, look to your right. You should see the remains of a crumbling stone wall (sort of) just a few paces to your right. One tree has a crumpled Posted sign lying at its base. Walk towards the stone wall. Between two trees- one smaller and shaggy, one larger and smoother, you should see a good-sized rectangular rock. Tucked under the near corner you will find The American Kestrel roosting. When you are finished stamping, please rehide him very carefully, taking the time to make sure his hiding place isn't visible from any angle.
The American Kestrel, otherwise known as a sparrow hawk, has adapted to humans. They can live in cities or towns in addition to farming areas. It mainly preys on House Sparrows, and prefers to catch its prey on the ground instead of in the air.
Return to the arrows at the end of the boardwalk and follow them across the small stretch of boards. Turn right to follow the orange markers but stop at the end of the boardwalk. Take 5 steps straight off the end of the planks and look to your right. You'll see trees of various sizes that seem to form a line parallel to the boardwalk... one small tree, a double trunker, a grouping of small trees, a biiiig tree.... Do you see a little man-made beaver dam about 15-20 feet in? It's near the biiiig tree and the grouping of small trees. Look closely and you'll find it. Who'd have thought that it would make such a nice home for an Osprey?! This is very close to the boardwalk and the trail, so be very careful not to let on to the hiding place for this box. Also, please cover it very well. The sun hits this spot and would easily reflect off the plastic container if it's not covered well enough.
The Osprey is a 'fish hawk', living along lakes, rivers and seacoasts. It looks for fish while hovering over the water. Once it sees a meal, it takes a steep dive and splashes into the water. If it makes a catch it will resurface and fly away with its prize. During the 1950's and 1960's pesticide use took a toll on the osprey and they started dying out. However, they are beginning to make a comeback and are returning to the areas from which they had disappeared.
***NOTE*** The clues to the next box mention a stick with the #7 on it. It has since moved from it's original location and is leaning on a large tree at the top of the trail incline. Oddly enough, the clues will still pretty much get you to the right place! :-) Just look for the 'sort of stone wall', and you can't go wrong. *** Head back toward the boardwalk. This time you'll want to follow the yellow arrow which points you uphill on the short boardwalk. From the end of the yellow boardwalk you'll continue on the path up the slight incline. A short way up there will be what looks like a broomstick handle sticking out of the ground on the right of the trail. On the back side of this stick is the number 7. STOP! Standing on the trail, face the broomstick. Straight ahead, about 40 feet off the trail is a pile of flat rocks. Pick your way to the rocks, watching out for the prickers. Standing next to the pile of rocks (they'll be on your right) you should see a dip ahead of you with a 'sort of' stone wall running through it. About 20 paces and you should be there. There's a large tree growing out of the 'wall' to your right. To your left are two trees making a V shape. The left one has shaggy bark and the right one is smooth. At the base of the V, covered in flat rocks and debris is the great Bald Eagle.
In colonial times the Bald Eagle was a common site along nearly any American coastline, but due to the use of pesticides in the 1950's and 1960's they were nearly wiped out. They have made a slow but steady comeback since then. Like the Osprey, the Bald Eagle is a fish eater, but prefers not to enter the water. Mostly, they will grab a fish near the surface, or better yet, steal a fish from an Osprey!
Please rehide the Bald Eagle well, taking care to make sure he is not visible from any angle. When you are done, return to the yellow trail and continue along it. It will end shortly at the same meadow that you started in. You'll be in the corner opposite the one in which you found the Merlin. The yellow arrow on the tree directs you to the next meadow on your right. To enter it, you must pass through the stone wall. As soon as you enter this second meadow, STOP! You'll see yet another stone wall that borders this meadow along it's northeast edge. To find the last bird of prey, you'll need to be on the other side of this wall, (the wooded side, so the wall and meadow are on your left). Leaving the trail, cross into the woods to be on the far side of the wall. Follow this wall a short distance to the first V-shaped tree that is growing against it. Between the wall and the tree, under rocks and debris is your last bird of prey.
This particular bird of prey is extremely aggressive, and will often seek out confrontation with nearly any creature it comes in contact with. This bird of prey should be considered extremely dangerous and not one to be fooled around with!
When you've finished stamping, rehide well. You can now return to your car at the top of the meadow, or you can cross this second meadow to a third that will take you to the northern lookout and the bluff where you can view all sorts of bird species.
We hope you enjoy this series and take the time to really check out the area and the wildlife. The birdwatchers are a friendly group of folks who won't mind talking to you about their latest finds, but remember that they don't know about the boxes.