Minesing 2 - Fauna Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Welcome to the minesing swamp. I recommend planning a day around
this canoe route. Canoeing from Hwy 90 to Hwy 26 will take 5-7
hours depending on how much you want to enjoy the trip. Bring water
and food!
The diversity of the swamps vegetative community provides
habitat for numerous birds and animals. Over 221 bird species have
been recorded, of which 135 are believed to nest inside the swamp
each year. The swamps size, undisturbed nature and habitat
diversity is of prime importance to spring migration, nesting, and
staging for fall migration, as well as feeding grounds for bird
life. This wetland provides a home for a great number of waterfowl
including buffleheads, scaups, gadwalls, black and ring neck ducks.
Flocks of Canada Geese and pairs of whistling swans are common. On
the outer edges, where forest meets farm land, you may be rewarded
by observing sand hill cranes stopping over on their migration to
western Canada.
The spring season also brings the Great blue heron back to the
fifth largest and oldest colony in Ontario, with approximately 170
active nests. Open meadows throughout this wetland provide hunting
grounds for visiting and resident raptors including the
rough-legged, red-shouldered, sharp-shinned, and broad-winged
hawks. The Great Grey and Hawk Owls are known to periodically visit
during the winter months and rare owl sightings include the boreal
and saw-whet owls. When spring arrives the swamp comes to life with
sound and scores of songbirds such as Cerulian, Prothonotary, and
Blue winged warbler, arriving to mate and prepare nests for their
new families.
To find particular bird species, you should be aware of their
correlation with vegetative communities, landforms, and water
distribution. Many species sensitive to disturbance in both nesting
and later parts of their life cycles, and visitors should be aware
of, and care for these sensitivities. Four bird species in
particular that are sensitive to disturbance are the Great Blue
Heron, Least Bittern, Green-Winged Teal, and Hooded
Merganser.
This vast wetland is home to 23 species of mammals including
beaver, muskrat, mink, coyote, fox, racoon, hare, and otter. Bear
and Moose have been known to make an appearance here as well, and
the Opossum is beginning to enjoy the region as well. The swamp
support\s one of the largest white-tailed deer yards in the region
with a population estimated at upwards of 400 individuals.
Surveys of the swamps waterways have documented 30 species of fish
including resident northern pike, bowfin, sturgeon, and migratory
rainbow trout and salmon that pass through the swamp on their way
to upstream spawning areas. The swamp is also one of two known
locations in North America where Walleye spawn on submerged
vegetation.
This cache, although recommended by canoe, can be
accessed from a nearby ATV trail. The first and final Minesing
series caches, however, are only accessibly by canoe.
Be sure to grab the symbol inside the cache to decrypt the final
coordinates!
There are Day Use stations located at major access points and it is
asked that you acquire a Day Use Pass to help offset the cost of
maintaining this natural treasure. Day Pass Permits are available
(5$) at the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, 8195
Concession 8, Utopia, LOM 1TO (705)424-1479 daily Monday to
Friday
This cache placed with the permission of the Nottawasaga Valley
Conservation Authority
Click the logo to visit the COG website!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
orarngu n ivar pbirerq gerr pnabcl