MGA13-Kensington-Great Blue Heron Traditional Geocache

Welcome to the 10th Annual Metroparks Geocaching Adventure 2013, a geocaching game placed by MiGO members in partnership with the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. In order to complete the series, you will need to find the special cache hidden in each of the 13 Metroparks.

For links to all of the caches in the series please click here. At each cache obtain the five digit code, found in the cache on the cover. Copy them exactly. They are to be placed in the appropriate locations in the brochure found here. That section of the brochure may be submitted for inclusion in the drawing for one of the 2014 Metroparks Annual Passes.

Those that log their finds of all 13 Geocaches will be emailed instructions as to how to submit their entry. Each cache’s 5 digit code will also provide the key to a puzzle. Instructions as to how to obtain the puzzle piece should click here.

We will be holding the 10th Annual geocachers picnic at Hudson Mills Metropark on September 7. Watch the Metroparks Geocaching Adventure 2013 Picnic Page for more details.

The theme for this year's series is animals.
The animal highlighted in Kensington Metropark is the great blue heron.

Great blue herons are the superstars of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. They are hard to miss in flight with their massive six foot wingspans, long bodies, gray blue plumage, and “S” shaped necks. These herons nest in rookeries, or large colonies of nests. They choose tall trees near water to create massive nests out of twigs, pine needles, moss, reeds, and grasses. Heron courtship ceremonies are unique and exquisite to watch. You may see them exchanging gifts of sticks, click their beaks together, or flap their wings or move their bodies in a similar greeting as their mate. These pairs will last for one season. Female herons will lay 2-7 eggs that will take around 25-30 days to hatch. Both male and female herons will take turns on the nest and also in feeding the young birds until they are ready to leave the nest which takes between 60 and 90 days. Great blue herons typically eat fish, amphibians, small reptiles, and small mammals. They swallow what they catch with their spear like beak whole, so occasionally herons will choke when they swallow something too large. They hunt by standing still in the mud and water and spearing their prey with their sharp beak. The herons will stay here for the summer and fly south, around October, for the winter. Some herons will stay for the winter if they have steady access to food.

The cache is located less than 30 feet from the trail so bushwhacking further than that is not necessary and is discouraged to reduce impact on the environment. Please park at the coordinates shown in the Waypoint table and start your walk at the Trailhead coordinates.