Fiery Searcher

This cointest is what I do! I study avian migration, specifically, the loss of neotropical migratory songbirds at communication towers. First, the list of migratory organisms on the coin: 1) Monarch Butterfly 2) Coho Salmon (local to me) 3) Grey Whale 4) Canada Goose 5) Green sea turtle 6) Arctic Tern 7) North american Caribou Second, a migratory organism that has not been mentioned yet: Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) Photo by: Christian Artuso, Viewed at: Golden-winged Warbler Working Group The Golden-winged Warbler breeds in northeast North America and winters in Central and South America. The completely separate breeding and wintering grounds places this species in the category of long-distance Nearctic-Neotropical migrants. These birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds primarily at night, using the day to eat and rest in between bouts of migration. One of the threats to this and other long-distance migrants is collision with tall, man-made objects during their evening journeys. I have found members of this species at my study sites, and they are one of the more common casualties at communication tower sites in the north. The American Bird Conservancy has summarized peer-reviewed studies of communication tower fatalities, available HERE. I hope to add to this body of knowledge when I finish my dissertation this fall. Thanks for a coin dedicated to migration! It is amazing that a bird weighing 10-15 grams flies thousands of miles twice a year simply to breed in a food-rich environment. Thanks especially for designing a cointest that makes people do a bit of research and learn something.

Outgoing mission ON THE WAY! Email sent: 8 June 2011 Name received: 27 June 2011 Package sent: 21 July 2011 Package received:

I discovered one of these just the other day: TB47235 It IS similar to the Jeep trackables, but I just didn't like the solicitation factor. Geico definitely wants me as a customer, whereas the Jeep TBs didn't seem to want to sell me anything. At least, not blatantly. Rather, Jeep was giving away an opportunity to win something by being a little creative with a camera.

I agree with the latter suggestion by the previous poster: email the TB owner, explain what happened, and then let them know which cache their TB is in. As the owner of the TB, they can "Retrieve It" from the cache in which it is listed and then "Drop it off" in the cache that you placed it. They can also do this without "finding" the cache, so it doesn't mess up their statistics and it corrects the mileage on their TB. I did this with trackables when I first began, and in a way all of the options related to trackable items remind me of multiple choice tests in school. The best way to deal with multiple choice tests: 1) Read ALL of the options, and 2) select the most appropriate answer. You are correct, you did "Discover it" in the process of moving it to a new cache. But given ALL of the options, if you physically take a trackable item from a cache, then "Retrieved it from __cache-name-here___" seems more accurate. I also think this is the most common thing for geocachers to do, take the trackable that is, and that's why "Retrieved it from _______" is the first choice, rather than list all options alphabetically. On a personal note, I think it's GREAT that you helped a trackable item move through the geocaching world! I've had had a few trackables go missing after less than five cache visits, so your efforts are to be applauded. The logs can always be fixed with good communication. Happy caching!

That is a nice idea. Sometimes I would put the designer information on the cache page, but I have grown fairly lazy about my cache page designs lately. I released a hydrophobia to travel and passed along a few unactivated le chats. Two more cats are in my to be activated & released coin stack--just haven't gotten around to them. Is that a coin case you have used for the designer information? How is it attached to the keyring? No, it is a round photo holder keychain! I've been looking for those rectangular acrylic keychains for some time now. I bugged Anne for a business card because I wanted to release my le chat along with the card. I had no luck with the rectangular photo keychains, but found these at Michael's just yesterday. I like them! It's a little bit of work to fit a rectangular business card into a round space, as you can probably tell from the photo, but I like the artistic "sense" that the roundness brings...

I am FINALLY getting around to releasing one of my le chat rampant - autumn leaves coins! I usually like to get two copies of the same coin: one to keep and one to release. I could to a proxy, but that's just not my style. ANYWAY... I wanted to get more of these guys traveling out and about in the world AND give the designer some credit, so I engineered an attachment to go along with my "le chat gone wild!" geocoin. The tracking number is a tad small, so the attachment also helps out any geocacher who finds my trackable with the number. Hopefully the attachment will do two things: 1) let anyone who finds it know that it is owned and wants to move, and 2) facilitate the correct logging of this trackable! I was also hoping this thread might continue breathing through the adventures of other activated le chat geocoins, kind of like the Cache Hopper thread. Any other brave souls out there who have activated and released their le chats? The most important thing is that this is yet another geocoin out and moving in the world! Hopefully it is OK that I used the webstore's photo of this coin version as the default image for the geocoin? If not, I'll remove it promptly. My le chat has a pretty boring but appropriate mission: travel from cache to cache meeting geocachers' cats, hopefully gathering a photo every now and again. I've started the gallery: Edited to provide a link to my activated le chat!

I want to echo this sentiment. I don't have any caches of my own - I just don't feel "worthy" of cache placement as of yet. Perhaps after I reach 1000 finds? At any rate, kudos for coming up with a truly one-of-kind thread, and I think I'm a better cacher for having read it.

I just added the event cache for this race to my watchlist and I'm really going to try to attend! Shilo, if it works out that I can come and you need any help at all, please let me know and let's keep in touch. I have two questions: 1) Given this is the first year that geotags will be allowed to enter, I was wondering if there is a different "prize scenario" for the different kinds of racers? For example, if a geotag wins first place in either race category, will the owner win a geocoin or a geotag? I don't mean to suggest that there should be two separate races: one for coins and one for tags. My question only pertains to the prizes, and the answer will not change my entrants: I'm entering five geocoins, baby! 2) Would it be helpful to recruit other racers or groups of racers by writing an article for the "Latitude 47" blog or posting something on Facebook? I think there are lots of geocachers who might like the idea of a race but NEVER participate in the forums. Just a thought, although it might create more work for you, Shilo! I'd be willing to help with this effort if there are no fervent objections to publicizing the race a little bit beyond the forums.

FINAL update for geocoins adopted out: 1. dufzor – Placed on 9 March 2011 2. munozfamily2004 – Placed on 16 March 2011 3. wuster – Dropped on 19 March 2011 4. town$ca$h – Placed on 12 June 2011 5. Nived87 – Placed on 11 July 2011 6. MoonCat & KDT – Placed on 12 July 2011 7. MendoBowHunter – placed on 29 April 2011 8. LA Shantyfan – Placed on 12 July 2011 9. Team Prime – Placed on 12 July 2011 10. TeamSchiap – Placed on 16 March 2011 11. Wyly Family – Placed on 16 June 2011 12. TrynaFindaCache – Dropped on 19 March 2011 13. Nelmel – Placed on 20 June 2011 14. IITom23II – Placed 14 June 2011 15. sheltiedogshowlover – Placed 11 July 2011 16. Team Triggerfinger – Placed on 12 June 2011 17. Kameharem – Placed 12 June 2011 18. Threeamigoz – Placed 14 June 2011 19. L_Y_H – Placed 23 June 2011 20. ALAUNOS – Placed on 20 June 2011 Safe travels, little geocoins!

Yes!!! I'm in again. And probably my sister, Echo Echo, as well. Keeping the dream of trackables alive in the wild!

Just an update that my adopted coin, placed last year finally made it to it's destination this week! Excellent! Of the many coins I've adopted out, yours is the second that I know of that has arrived to meet its new owner. Very cool - thank you for sharing. Happy caching, and remember to pay it forward when you can!

I want very much to make a donation but am away from my coin collection and may not see it again until August. (Don't feel bad for me - kind of a long holiday.) If I can find someone to make the donation for me and then I can replace their coin, kind of like a math trade, then I hope to be able to send something up! I'll keep you posted. Any coins at all, or are there themes associated with the event that we should consider when making our donation?

PM and message received! Now, to assemble... Email sent: 8 June 2011 Name received: 27 June 2011 Package sent: Package received:

UPDATES for geocoins adopted out: 1. dufzor – Placed on 9 March 2011 2. munozfamily2004 – Placed on 16 March 2011 3. wuster – Dropped on 19 March 2011 4. town$ca$h – Placed on 12 June 2011 5. Nived87 – awaiting placement 6. MoonCat & KDT – awaiting placement 7. MendoBowHunter – placed on 29 April 2011 8. LA Shantyfan – awaiting placement 9. Team Prime – awaiting placement 10. TeamSchiap – Placed on 16 March 2011 11. Wyly Family – Placed on 16 June 2011 12. TrynaFindaCache – Dropped on 19 March 2011 13. Nelmel – Placed on 20 June 2011 14. IITom23II – Placed 14 June 2011 15. sheltiedogshowlover – awaiting placement 16. Team Triggerfinger – Placed on 12 June 2011 17. Kameharem – Placed 12 June 2011 18. Threeamigoz – Placed 14 June 2011 19. L_Y_H – Placed 23 June 2011 20. ALAUNOS – Placed on 20 June 2011

It's a little over a month and my coin STILL hasn't moved, although the geocacher who has my racer found some caches in May. Hopefully this renewed momentum will mean my racer makes it back into the geocaching world. For all other racers out there, keep alive!

Wow - I had to find this thread on the THIRD PAGE of these forums! I am surprised, especially since I know that more than fifty people have received coins through this thread THIS YEAR and are eager to pay it forward and offer some up themselves. Yeah. Man. As for the most recent batch of 20 coins I offered and adopted out, I must apologize to those who have yet to see their coins move. Circumstances well beyond my control took me away from caching for over a month, as you can tell if you check out my profile at all. However, I always kept the coins safe and have been making an effort to place them in a cache. Not just any cache, though. If any of you have traveled to a geocache in hopes of picking up a geocoin or a TB only to be disappointed at the total absence of trackables, then you know that some caches are better than others when it comes to promoting trackable longevity! As a result, I've tried to avoid "hotels" that aren't premium-member-only, caches with a recent history of muggling, caches that are visited TOO much, and caches that are so remote they only receive a few finds a year. Anyway, there are no guarantees in geocaching, but I hope most of these coins if not all get some miles. Here is the list of the 20 coins I adopted out and their status: in a cache OR still with me. I plan on dropping all of them by mid-July. I know some of you are watching patiently, so no need to tell you to keep your eyes peeled! UPDATES!!!!! 1. dufzor – Placed on 9 March 2011 2. munozfamily2004 – Placed on 16 March 2011 3. wuster – Dropped on 19 March 2011 4. town$ca$h – Placed on 12 June 2011 5. Nived87 – awaiting placement 6. MoonCat & KDT – awaiting placement 7. MendoBowHunter – placed on 29 April 2011 8. LA Shantyfan – awaiting placement 9. Team Prime – awaiting placement 10. TeamSchiap – Placed on 16 March 2011 11. Wyly Family – Placed on 16 June 2011 12. TrynaFindaCache – Dropped on 19 March 2011 13. Nelmel – Placed on 20 June 2011 14. IITom23II – Placed 14 June 2011 15. sheltiedogshowlover – awaiting placement 16. Team Triggerfinger – Placed on 12 June 2011 17. Kameharem – Placed 12 June 2011 18. Threeamigoz – Placed 14 June 2011 19. L_Y_H – awaiting placement 20. ALAUNOS – Placed on 20 June 2011

I camped in Big Bend National Park this spring, and one of the neatest rock formations was Boot Canyon: I don't have CW88's skills, so you'll have to imagine the inlay! I took this photo and have a high-resolution copy, as well as a few other angles. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute to a geocoin! Editing my reply for geocache information: Big Bend National Park offers several virtual caches with relatively high (>3) difficulty and terrain ratings. This is due to the park's remote location, size, and nearly 6000-ft difference between the park's highest and lowest points. There is a nearby state park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, which offers some "real" caches, and all of the roads leading to Big Bend NP have caches as you enter the park.

I mailed the mission to the next recipients on the list this morning! I did NOT email them to see if they were around, on vacation, etc, so hopefully this won't be a problem? Yes, I probably should have been more thoughtful on this point. USPS Delivery Confirmation: 03110240000061428378 Nothing to see at this point, but this might be important if there are any SNAFUs later! Thanks for starting this mission, EyeD10T, and to all of the participants so far. To future receivers, have fun!

I arrived home today to find the Black Nickel coin pass mission waiting for me! Here's a picture of the coins in the package, as well as some of the great Louisiana SWAG from DocWahala! I didn't even have to do anything for those beads... The next photo is of the coins that were in the mission when I received it. Sadly, I already have most of these coins, and DocWahala seems to have been interested in the same coins as I was hoping to get! However, I was able to find two that I really liked: the Tick ID coin and one of the geocoinclub versions that I don't have. Nice! I placed the coins on the left in the pass. They are, from top to bottom: Spring into Caching in antique bronze, and Earn Your Stripes from GCC February 2009. I will get this mission into the mail on Friday. Thanks for a great idea, EyeD10T!

I am adding to my pride of le chat rampant, because a ) it is a great design, b ) I designed one of the new metal/color combinations, c ) my other le chats like company, d ) all of the above Thank you for a fun cointest and a fun design! I love these. If you have any business cards, please send me a few? I would like to send these kitties traveling and definitely want to send more attention to ASDesigned.

I believe this mission is waiting for me at my house. I am away at the moment, but neighbors have told me that a package has arrived. It has to be this mission, because it's the only one that is well underway that I've signed up for. The "coin spotlight" mission is still young yet, so it can't be that. I was happy to see the photos, until I saw that the coins I wanted were taken by the previous recipient. Lucky him! Oh well...I'm sure I can find at least one coin that I don't already have and trade up with. After corresponding with the next recipient, I definitely have some coins to add to this mission that will make nice trades. I hope to have the mission on the way to the next recipient one week from today!

Email sending now!

I like the sound of this mission, and am happy to participate! I'll post my status here first and send the email to our mission host with the most, sheltiedogshowlover, shortly. Email sent: Today, 8 June 2011 Name received: Package sent: Package received: I have a trading/seeking list attached to one of my activated coins...see my signature for the link to this list! Otherwise, I am not picky. I appreciate creativity and thought, and would be happy to receive a mission with both of these in spades.

FINAL update! I received my mission before the weekend, but didn't get around to photographing it OR doing the work in gc.com for the second travelling trackable until now. Thanks, FLtravelers, for a wonderful mission complete with postcard - I love postcards! I am very happy with my keeper coin, the all-seeing eye, and will hopefully place the traveling coin, original american search engine, sometime soon, along with all of those "pay it forward" coins I adopted out and have yet to place. Guess my "finds" rate should go up fairly soon?! Picture and status update below. Thanks, teamluvbassn, for a fun mission. Email sent: 29 April 2011 Name received: 14 May 2011 Outgoing mission sent: 17 May 2011 Incoming mission rcvd: 3 June 2011

Congratulations to Way of the Wolf and GeorgiaTreasureQuester! I was in the running for most geocachers when some yahoo picked up my racer on 5 May - THREE days before the race was over! - and wrote: "Nice coin, we move it for win the race " Clearly, something was lost in translation. Guess my updating of the coin's mission to say that the race ended on 8 May didn't do much? Oh well. The race has been good fun for me and I hope all of the participants at least felt some satisfaction for getting coins "out there" and moving. If there is another PGR VI, I'm for sure in. Thank you, Shilo, for keeping score and letting us know when the standings were updated. Happy caching, all!