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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | August, 2020
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I hope you are all safe, healthy, and enjoying this lovely summer, whatever that looks like for you and your family. From all of us at the Friends, we want to thank everyone for helping to keep the community safe in our public spaces. It seems like such a long time since we got to enjoy them without restrictions, which makes it that much more remarkable the way in which we have persevered in making sure that we follow the experts’ guidelines, and doing our part to keep our family and friends out of harm’s way.
And in that same spirit of communal wellness, the Friends have decided to make BirdFest this year a virtual experience. In imagining how to honor the festival we all have come to cherish and love, we are so excited about all the ideas we will be exploring to bring to the comfort of your home all the birds, music, and fun that keeps us returning every year.
Anna Wilde and the FRNWR Board of Directors
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BirdFest & Bluegrass Commemorative Buttons!
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Find the 2020 BirdFest & Bluegrass commemorative buttons featuring the Bird of the Year, the White-breasted Nuthatch, for sale through the City’s swag bag table at
Big Paddle
, August 1st!
Just $5.00
Stay tuned for business locations in Ridgefield.
There will be a limited number of buttons this year, so get yours before they're gone!
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A common question on many people’s minds is “When will the Kiwa Trail be opened?” We know that it is a beloved trail to so many, and it is the goal of staff to do our best to get it opened before the end of the season. Currently, staff are closely monitoring crane activity so that once the nesting pair has left that area we can ask our Regional management for permission to open. During this pandemic, all refuges that change the status of facilities must run these changes through upper management, in order to show we are in alignment with state and county regulations around Covid-19 health needs. This is one way we ensure we are being true to the communities that we reside in. We are not only held accountable to these regulations, but also to the mental and physical health of our staff, volunteers, and partners. All of that documentation has already been prepared so that when we know it is okay to open the trail, we are ready and can act quickly. Our experience with these requests in the past is that they are processed swiftly.
We are also getting signage ready and planning the maintenance needed to ensure the Kiwa trail is in the best condition for our users. When we are able to open, we want to ensure that we have a one-way loop that provides a healthy outdoor experience. This enables users to navigate their own social distancing needs while enjoying the important health benefits of time outdoors. We thank you for your patience and your support for wildlife in our communities!
Josie Finley - Visitor Services Manager
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Refuge Access Update During Pandemic
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CARTY UNIT:
(FROM BOTH MAIN AVE AND THE PORT ENTRANCE)
All Carty Unit trails are now OPEN- BUT public use facilities and access to those facilities (including the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, restrooms, and the Refuge Office) are NOT available to the public. The end of the Oaks to Wetland will be posted as a one-way loop. Please follow all posted signs. The trail will be closed every Thurs at the old oak.
AUTO TOUR ROUTE:
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour Route on the River ‘S’ Unit re-opened May 5th, 2020 to vehicle traffic ONLY. There will be no public access to bathrooms, informational kiosks, parking lots, trails and the viewing blind due to the inability to uphold necessary social distancing guidelines during the pandemic.
Current gate times are: 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM.
The Refuge is fee free at this time.
Note that gates close automatically. Vehicles must exit before gate closes and there is no entry before or after hours. Please expect increased traffic and long waiting times to navigate around the tour and plan accordingly. By following these temporary adjustments to access you ensure the safety and health of yourself, other visitors, the Ridgefield community and our staff. We look forward to continuing to serve you by providing safe and healthy wildlife dependent recreation into the future.
To feel more connected to nature and the Refuge while staying home, stay tuned to the Friends Social Media streams on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - we are working to share activities, videos of nature on and off the Refuge, and more. Social links can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. Find out more about one segment,
#TakeaWalkTuesday, from The Columbian here.
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From the Contact Station (sort of):
Summer Families
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We are still missing all of you from the contact station on the River 'S.' I struggle a bit with this column because so many of the ideas come from the questions and exciting stories from the visitors each month. Lacking that, I have to find my own inspiration. July and August usually feel like slow months; but in reality, they are not. The birds often go quiet for a while to keep predators from finding their eggs or hatchlings and the grasses get very tall, blocking views.
Although somewhat adverse to crack of dawn birding and wildlife viewing...
Keep Reading...
-Article & Photos by Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events
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We continue to work behind the scenes to bring you education and updates from the Refuge and the House, as well as work on projects that will improve the landscape inside and out. We have an opportunity to work on and fix the floor of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse while things are closed- so stay tuned for updates on this long awaited project. If you notice work being done around the house in the coming months, please make sure to keep your distance, for your safety and theirs.
Also, don't forget, now that the Carty Unit has re-opened, please do not remove anything from the Refuge. From leaves and sticks, to feathers and rocks, everything plays a part in the ecosystem of the Refuge. Practice Leave No Trace principals when you visit this, and any, public land.
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Preserve America is a national initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President's Council on Environmental Quality.
RNWR Page here
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Habitat Restoration Updates & Events
Bulrush behind the Scenes
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As of right now, new volunteer programs are on hold until further notice. We are bringing some of our current volunteers to help out on the Refuge, to prevent losing the ground we have made in work like invasive species prevention- specifically Ricefield Bulrush removal- in a safe and socially distanced manner. If you are a current habitat volunteer, check your email for updates.
Stay safe out there!
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Volunteering with the Friends
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Note to visitors about volunteer activity on the refuge:
We have recently begun to bring small groups of volunteers back to the refuge to help with essential projects like invasive plant removal. The plant that we are removing is called Ricefield Bulrush. When you spot a volunteer on the Refuge, please respect them with the same rules that apply to wildlife viewing on the refuge. Please stay in your vehicle and do not interact with them beyond a friendly wave. We are working hard to keep the refuge healthy and beautiful while staying safe. You can expect to see volunteers driving the opposite
direction of the Auto Tour Route to get to their work locations. You can easily identify a volunteer because they will have their hazard lights on. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding! Enjoy your drive!
We are not currently bringing in new volunteers but if you would like to stay in the loop on refuge activity you can follow the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge on Facebook or Instagram!
-Elena Tinoco, Volunteer Coordinator
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge
here
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Ridgefield First Saturdays: Big Paddle
August 1
, 2020
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Big Paddle is going VIRTUAL with the Big Paddle Challenge: Paddle 5 miles anywhere on the Lewis River to Vancouver Lake Water Trail anytime during August 2020. No registration necessary.
Pick up your Big Paddle swag bag for free on Friday, July 31 (Ridgefield City Hall, 8AM-5PM) or Saturday, August 1 (Overlook Park, 10AM-Noon).
Find additional information and activities right here at RidgefieldBigPaddle.com
We are disappointed that we are not able to gather in celebration of the anniversary of the water trail this year, but we are excited to see you explore a new portion of the 32 mile trail!
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Species Spotlight
Pacific Northwest Gulls
Part 1
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*This is a general guide for telling gull species apart, subsequent newsletters will focus on some individual gull species.*
Many birders know to say “Seagull” is to speak blasphemy – and those who have been to wild bird shows like the one during BirdFest & Bluegrass have probably heard something similar. But why is that? The simple answer is that there is no such thing as a seagull. Because it's a gull—actually, one of about fifty gull species living in habitats all over the world, oceanic and otherwise.
By Samantha Zeiner, Administrative Coordinator
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Become a Business Alliance Member!
As a member of the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Business Alliance, you invest in one of our urban metropolitan area’s most unique and diverse natural and cultural resources.
Click here to find out more
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Board Seeking New Members
Or, Join a Committee
The Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit dedicated to promoting educational and cultural programs of the Ridgefield NWR, and protecting and enhancing its wildlife habitat. We are currently seeking candidates to serve on our board of directors. We are recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds and skills for several open board positions, in addition to candidates interested in serving on a committee (board membership not required).
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Join the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Board for their monthly meeting. Meetings start at 5pm every second Monday of the month and will be on Zoom until further notice,
contact us
to join in!
August 10th, September 14th, October 19th, November 9th, December 14th, 2020
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When you link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the Friends, you help us earn donations from Fred Meyer Community Rewards. It doesn't change your regular personal shopping and fuel rewards, but it does make a meaningful contribution to our work on the Refuge. It's easy to sign up.
Just click here.
You can search for us by our name, Friends of Ridgefield NWR, or by our non-profit number, PK822. Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping earn a donation to support the Friends and Ridgefield NWR. If you do not have a Rewards Card, ask at the Customer Service desk of any FM store.
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Log on to smile.amazon.com and shop as you usually would - .5% of your purchase will be donated directly to the Friends! Use the link with your existing user name and password. When prompted to select a charity, choose the Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.
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Giving Assistant makes it easy to donate to Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge! Simply shop online, earn cash back, and donate as much as 30% of your purchase price - Giving Assistant facilitates the whole process. Now, you can help change the world for free while saving money at over 3,000 popular online retailers like Home Depot, ULTA, and Macy’s!
Start HERE
! Thanks for being an EcoShopper and helping the Refuge!
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Would you like to enjoy a cup of coffee from Ridgefield's Seasons Coffee after a morning hike on the Refuge? Lunch at Vinnie's Pizza in-between the River 'S' and Carty Units? Dinner and drinks at the Historic Sportsman's Restaurant and Lounge after a busy day of wildlife viewing (5% off a meal with member card!)? Or maybe you would like to get a discount on some supplies at Shorty's or Backyard Bird Shop? How about a night out at Ilani?
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The Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge promote the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of native and endangered birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. We focus on our local community and the Pacific Northwest.
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Business Alliance Members:
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Granting Organizations & Partners:
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Header Photo Credit: Oca Hoeflein, 2018 2nd Place Landscape Category, Refuge Photo Contest
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Want regular updates on Refuge events and happenings? Follow the Friends on your favorite social media by clicking the logos below to stay connected even when you are off the Refuge.
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