The Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) is a small, dark bird, with a short tail that is usually cocked upward. It inhabits moist forests and other habitats across much of eastern North America, and prefers areas with fallen logs and other dead wood such as the surrounding area. They eat invertebrates, including insects, insect larvae, millipedes, and spiders. The nest is a domed structure with entrance hole on side, made of moss, bark, twigs, rootlets, grass, feathers, hair, and decayed wood, lined with feathers and hair. They may use existing cavities, such as woodpecker holes, excavate holes in banks, or build nests on root bases and branches. They song is a remarkable continuous stream of melodious notes and trills, lasting 5 to 10 seconds. Per unit weight, the Winter Wren delivers its song with 10 times more power than a crowing rooster. It is amazing how a bird this small can produce such a long, loud, vibrant sound. A friend told me about finding a bunch of Winter Wrens up near Trout Lake in the Upper Peninsula. Since I had never seen one, we drove three hours up there so I could see them. When we got up there, I realized the song they were singing was the same on I had been hearing through my living room window every morning.
The container is a camouflaged plastic jar that contains a log book and swag. You will need to bring your own writing instrument. The cache is on a dirt road that is not plowed during the winter, and ground zero will be wet most of the time so you may want to wear boots. Remember to get the code off the logbook for the Bald Eagle puzzle final.