OHC Spring Series #3: Spring Bird Study

I think we're hooked. Thanks to Barb and her outdoor challenges at Handbook of Nature Study, we are officially amateur birders. Yes, my favorite thing to do is sit and hold my new baby, in my new living room, and look out my new front window, at my new bird feeder, and my new yard, on my new quiet street and watch the birds fly back and forth to the bird feeder! How calming. There is nothing as peaceful in my life right now. Having a new baby slows everything down, and the scene out of my front window is a million times better than any television program. So I stare at the baby and then I stare at the birdies and life goes on. Don't get me wrong, I can't do this all day! Obviously there are other little babies around here needing their daily love and care. So I put the baby to bed, and the rest of us go outside...this time to listen to the birds. Sssshhhhh...do you hear them?

For this challenge, Barb encourages us to:

Brainstorm a list of birds you know that live in your area. Pick two or three to research on the All About Birds website. Look up each bird and listen to their bird songs. Challenge your children to imitate the bird song and to listen for it when they go outside. Spend your 10-15 minutes of outdoor time this week looking and listening for birds. You might try going out several times during the week at different times of day to listen and observe.

This will be a week you can work on a few minutes of quiet time while you are in your backyard or local park. Remind your children that if they are quiet even for one minute they might hear a bird or other animal. One minute can see like a lifetime for young ones so use your good judgment on this activity.

The group decided to research the Northern Cardinal and the American Robin. The website describes the American Robin's sound as "a string of 10 or so clear whistles assembled from a few often-repeated syllables, and often described as cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up." On the other hand, the Northern Cardinal's "Syllables can sound like the bird is singing cheer, cheer, cheer or birdie, birdie, birdie." The kids liked listening to the bird calls and sounds before we went out, and comparing the words to the actual sound. It does sound like that! We ended up focusing on the American Robin while we were outside.

A view from inside. Is this a sparrow?

A blurry cardinal

Rayzor noticed the robins taking a bath in the puddles in the street and snapped a photo.

Had to show this picture again of the robins nest in the back yard bush and their beautiful blue eggs! As of yesterday, they haven't hatched yet.

Ryan took this photo of the purple finches in our hanging potted plant. So cute!

Here is a typical scene from our bird feeder. I've seen up to 5 birds on here, fighting for a spot.

By: Ev

By: Joz

By: Seany

By: Rayzor

Hey, Mom, watch this!!!

The End

B-Rad's Ballet Recital!

Thanks to Maurisa over at Half a Dozen Productions for being B-Rad's ballet instructor! She had so much fun and learned a lot!

CAM 2010 - Gathland Park

From the geocache listing:

The area of the current park includes Crampton's Gap, which saw fighting during the Battle of South Mountain, one of the first battles of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War.

In 1884, Townsend, now a successful journalist, purchased the land as a retreat and began work on what would become Gathland, his estate. His first project was Gapland Hall, an eleven room house built in 1885. This was followed that same year by Gapland Lodge, a stone servants' quarters.

In 1890 a large building was erected to house a study, a library, and ten bedrooms. Townsend's most famous and longest- lasting project was completed in 1896: The War Correspondents Memorial Arch. It is claimed that the arch is the only monument in the world dedicated to journalists killed in combat. However, a tree in Arlington National Cemetery was also dedicated as a war correspondents' memorial in 1986.

The memorial is a Virtual cache. Blair Witch Cache GCB51. You will pass Hoffa's Cache GC27F7 on the way to the CAM cache which is located off of The Appalacian Trail.

Our experience:

After spending the early afternoon at Deep Creek Lake, we headed to Gathland Park on our way home to central MD. Heavy rain and thunderstorms began as we were going through Boonsboro and continued most of the way to the park. It was still raining when we arrived but not as heavy as before. We decided that Momma would stay in the van with the kids while I hustled up to the cache by myself. If the picnic wasn't next week we would have passed for the day and came back again later so everyone could enjoy the hike along the AT. Our two oldest kids have been to this park before and they remembered visiting it with their grandfather, when he used to live just down the road in Burkittsville. Anyway, I dashed up to GZ, puddle stomping along the way and was lucky to find it quickly at the cool rock outcropping as the rain began falling harder again. No time to stop for the other nearby caches. This was CAM #8, only the two Eastern Shore ones to go!

Ryan braves the rain and heads up the trail.

Making sure he has all of the correct information!

We had to stop several times on the way home for breaks for the kids, especially Baby MC! Here is a picture of her happy to see her Daddy and happy to be out of her carseat!

CAM 2010 - Deep Creek Lake Brant Mine

From the geocache listing:

About Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake was impounded on Deep Creek in the 1920's and was filled by 1929. It was constructed to power a small-scale hydroelectric plant, but later became a vacation destination with many amenities for tourism. Deep Creek Lake still provides water to generate electricity but is managed to maintain lake level for an array of recreational opportunities including boating and fishing. Deep Creek Lake State Park is located on the shore of the lake and offers fishing piers, a swim area and beach, boat ramp, picnicking, covered pavilions, and camping opportunities.

Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in the state of Maryland. It covers approximately 3,900 acres and has 69 miles of shoreline. Like all lakes in Maryland, it is man-made. The lake is home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds. Fishing is extremely popular on the lake. Recreational boating in the summertime is as well. Fish commonly caught by anglers include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, black crappie, walleye, yellow perch, rock bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, common carp, chain pickerel, northern pike and shiners.

History of Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake State Park

Deep Creek Lake Park became a reality in 1953, when the Maryland General Assembly approved legislation authorizing its establishment and provided funds for land acquisition. The park opened for public use in 1959. Deep Creek Lake State Park has become a popular vacation area in Maryland. The lake was purchased by the state of Maryland in 2000 and is used for boating, water skiing, wake-boarding, and fishing. In the park black bears are occasionally seen by visitors.

Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center

Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center is the park's environmental center with interpretive exhibits about the areas natural, cultural and local history. Naturalists, rangers and volunteers give daily educational programs about nature and the environment. Exhibits at the 6,000 sq ft facility include local plants and wildlife, Deep Creek Lake and its watershed, conservation issues and local coal and logging industrial activities.

The center is operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The Brant Coal Mine

While the lake was being constructed, two local men operated a small coal mine in what now is known as Deep Creek Lake State Park. The Brandt mine only operated for a short while, 1923 - 1926. The shaft was only large enough that the men worked their 12 hour days on their knees. The work was hard and the men died after only a few years.

The cache will take you to the site of the mine. The Brandt Mine has been reconstructed by the Maryland Forest, Park and Wildlife Service.

The cache is located only a short distance from the mine.

Deep Creek Lake State Park Maps

You can park at the boat ramp paring lot which is open year round. It is only a short walk from there to the trailhead (most direct route).

If the park is open, you can park in Lot 3 and there is a trailhead across the street that will take you to the Meadow Mountain Trail which will add about a 1/2 mile hike to reach the Brant Mine Trail. The Brant Mine Trail is a 1/2 mile loop.

Day Use Service Charge: Memorial Day-Labor Day $3/person; Labor Day-Memorial Day $3/vehicle. Out-of-state residents add $1 to all day use service charges.

Be aware this is a black bear area.

Our experience:

Day 2 of our western MD CAM Run brought us to Deep Creek Lake after waking up at the hotel in LaVale and attending Mass in Frostburg at St. Michael's. We too drove through the fog up the mountain past Frostburg, but it quickly turned in to a nice sunny day. We were very surprised to see all of the dead trees along I-68, Rt. 219 and around DCL. Is it gypsy moth or emerald ash borer damage or some other infestation? It is so sad to see so many trees that should be green in Spring but instead are dead. We have camped here at Deep Creek Lake and enjoyed our time here last summer for the MD DNR Park Quest Challenge and were happy for the opportunity to return. We stopped off at the awesome discovery/visitor center to let the kids explore and grab a trail map. We wanted to be sure we followed the correct trail to the Brant Mine, we didn't want to make any painful mistakes like we did the previous day at Sidling Hill. As we were getting ready at the parking lot, another hiker/suspected cacher took off towards the trailhead. Lucky for him we are slow and he got to enjoy a peaceful (quiet) walk up the trail by himself. As we were walking another cacher caught up to us from behind and it turned out to be RebRon. He joined us on the walk UP the hill while the big kids ran up ahead with their own GPSr. They were quick to find it while we got a chance to talk with Seth W, who was the cacher hiking up ahead of us. The kids traded trinkets while we traded advice on the remaining caches. Luckily for RebRon he was done and Seth W had just one more to go. They both headed down the trail while we checked out the mine and read the interesting history. Thanks for picking a cool spot for a cache and not making it too long of a hike up the hill. This was CAM number 7 and we were headed to Gathland Park on the way home.

CAM 2010 - Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area

From the geocache listing:

This is one of ten caches placed for the 2010 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked specifically to give you a taste of the state and show you just a part of its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy them!

This cache is located in beautiful Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area.

Please know that this is a public hunting area, so do be aware of open hunting seasons and take proper precautions. The cache you seek is a clear, lock-n-lock container.

Part of the Allegheny Mountains, Sideling Hill stretches across West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Although the 380-foot notch, excavated as a road cut for Interstate 68, is likely Sideling Hill's most well known feature, it is hardly the only spot of interest on the mountain.

Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area, in eastern Allegheny and western Washington counties, provides nature lovers with a 3,100 acre tract of wilderness habitat to explore. Primarily a mixed oak-hickory forest with scattered stands of Virginia Pine, Sideling Hill is rich in biological diversity. It provides a habitat for a variety of wildlife including white- tailed deer, wild turkey and grouse. Black bears are even occasional visitors to the area. Nearby Sideling Hill Creek (which forms the boundary between Allegheny and Washington counties) even supports a number of plants that are endemic to the area (i.e. they occur on Sideling Hill and nowhere else).

With a rolling topography of elevations ranging from 500 to 1,500 feet and dramatic rock formations such as scenic cliffs and rocky outcrops, there is plenty of incredible mountain scenery for all visitors to enjoy.

Arriving in the area, cachers have two parking options: the paved WMRT lot slightly southwest of the CAM trailhead (which is the most central parking area for all nearby caches), or the alternative parking coordinates (directly next to the trailhead, but accessible only in good weather conditions).

To reach this cache, follow the trail (Trailhead: N 39 38.210, W 078 19.417) up the hill until you come to an open clearing near the top of the ridge. Upon reaching this clearing, then follow your gps towards gz.

While in the area, either before or after your hike, please take time to check out the other nearby trailhead (N 39 38.227, W 078 19.441) also. In addition to being near a scenic area where two streams converge, here you will find an informative sign that includes a map of Sideling Hill. When weather permits (Note: in winter, roads may be blocked and/or impassable), visitors are encouraged to drive up to explore some of the higher elevations of this scenic WMA.

Additionally, Old Pearre Station, an access point to the Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT), is right across the road from this trailhead. A 22.5 mile paved trail, the WMRT follows the C&O Canal along the Potomac River, providing an excellent path for walking, jogging, and biking. There are many additional caches hidden along this path as well.

Enjoy and Happy Caching!

Our experience:

Ugh, this one was tough for us. We arrived Saturday afternoon after visiting Union Mills. I mistakenly thought I read through all of the logs and the issue was resolved, but no, we goofed. We parked at the bigger paved lot by the WMRT and then followed the GPS to the wrong trailhead, the WMRA one. We struggled on the steep incline, Momma was carrying Baby MC, Rayzor had Benny in a backpack carrier and I had Evan in the other backpack carrier. We saw that the cache was off to the right and assumed we would wrap around to it. It kept getting farther away but we were afraid of turning back and heading down, only to realize that we were on the right path but gave up too early. That was not the case. We hiked all the way to the top and came to a clearing, which the description said to look for. By then, we were over a half mile away from GZ and it was pointing down a steep incline, requiring heavy bushwhacking. We realized we were wrong and made the steep descent back down the trail. We headed to the posted trailhead which seemed to be about 50 feet from the sign, but we didn't see any sign of a trail. Momma decided to keep the kids in the van while I tried to find it solo. I headed up the hill from the "posted trailhead" and when I got to the top of the ridge, the GPSr was pointing up and to the right. I could see a trail running along the base of the ravine opposite my location, I figured that was the steep, more direct route posted in the cache description and headed down the ravine to the trail. I huffed and puffed my way up the trail and eventually got to the clearing. Took a breather and then made a straight line to the cache, which was luckily found quickly. Didn't see much of a view from there but I was just glad to have this one done and was rushed to get back to my family. When I got to the bottom, I saw Woody over by the trail we tried first. He had showed up shortly after I left and talked with Momma and the gang. I told him the trouble we had and that he should head over to the other spot with the steep trail. It began raining and he decided to find a hotel for the night for him and CCrider and try it the next day. We hit the road and were on our way to Cumberland to visit Pop and stay the night in LaVale so we could hit DCL Brant Mine on Sunday.

Up the wrong trail we go!

CAM 2010 - Union Mills Homestead

From the geocache listing:

The Union Mills Homestead, built in 1797, in Carroll County is one of Maryland’s truly unique historic landmark

The Homestead began in 1797 when David and Andrew Shriver purchased a large tract of land along the Big Pipe Creek. The site was perfect for the enterprises that the Shriver brothers hoped to start. The Big Pipe Creek provided an excellent source of water for a mill, the fertile valley was good farmland and the surrounding rolling hills contained heavy stands of black oak which could furnish tanbark for a tannery.

Soon the brothers entered into a contract with Frederick County millwright, John Mong, to construct a set of mills, a grist mill and a saw mill. Jacob Keefer and John Eckert were contracted “to mold and burn a kiln of brick for the grist mill and to be paid one French crown for every thousand brick.” Clay from the banks of the Big Pipe Creek was used for molding the bricks. While the Grist Mill and Saw Mill were under construction, David and Andrew Shriver also started the main part of the house. Henry Kohlstock of York County built a small double house with a connecting center hall and front porch for the labor costs of $86. To these early endeavors, the brothers added a tannery, cooper shop and a blacksmith's shop. Now David and Andrew truly had the beginning of an early industrial park. The growing enterprises soon took the name “Union Mills” because of the partnership of the two brothers and their various businesses. This is the same name that the small settlement that grew around the Homestead took.

Our experience:

This was our first stop on our weekend trip to gather the 4 western CAM caches. Our three biggest kids had baseball games saturday morning then we were off. We arrived at the parking coords as a group of suspected cachers were heading back from the direction of one of the other caches. We chatted a bit with them but we forget all of their names (sorry). We swapped advice on the CAMs we all still needed and we parted ways as a drizzle began. We tried to do this one as a Letterbox as it was intended, but didn't quite understand the second part of it. So we had to rely on the final coordinates. The riddle probably makes sense but we just didn't get it. The kids enjoyed rolling down the hill (like the 8searcher kids) and exploring the well and big climbing tree. Eventually we made it up the hill near the cache and Rayzor made the quick find. We gathered the info and and traded trinkets then continued to explore the mill and other buildings. There was a nice old man working on the grounds who shared some of his knowledge of the mill and property. We would have liked to stay longer to explore but it was already in the afternoon and we had to get to sidling hill and then stop for the night in Cumberland.