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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | December, 2020
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Join us TODAY, December 1st, for Giving Tuesday 2020! |
"It is so inspiring to me to see the dedication of our volunteers, and the way they have created a community around caring for this special place"
– Anna Wilde, Board President
You can help support the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge by making a donation this Giving Tuesday!
By donating to the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, you get to support a group of hardworking dedicated volunteers, staff, and supporters who work diligently to make the distinctive programs of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge come to life. Donate to the Friends on our website HERE, because every little bit makes a difference.
We hope to raise $5,000 during #GivingTuesday to support our Habitat Restoration and Cultural & Environmental Education programs and with your support, and if you spread the word, we can reach our goal by the end of the day!
$5,000 would help us complete the work still needed on the Oak Restoration Project on the Carty Unit, and bring more programming and the Refuge to you at home.
- $25 Purchases about 25 native plant bulbs to restore the understory of the oak restoration areas of the Oaks-to-Wetlands Trail.
- $50 Purchases 4 lbs of seed mix used to seed the Carty Unit in the oak restoration area.
- $100 Purchases supplies for our Thursday habitat restoration work parties, working to restore the oak woodlands and Oaks-to-Wetlands trail areas of the Carty Unit.
- $200 Purchases about 160 shrubs that could be planted in the oak restoration area of the Carty Unit.
- $500 Helps support our efforts to bring the Refuge and our education programs back into classrooms safely.
Any amount can make a difference, from native plants, to tools, to snacks for volunteers and classroom supplies for cultural education activities- we simply couldn't do it without you.
Give your tax-deductible gift to support our work!
You can also help by sharing our posts on social media, and make sure to use hashtag #GivingTuesday and tag us, so we can share!
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2021 Refuge Photo Contest Calendars Available Now! |
View the 2020 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest Winners in this stunning collection.
8.5x11 size, with bonus contest photos
Highlights important Refuge dates and more!
XL size available
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From the Friends
Happy Holidays from the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
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From all of us on the Friends Board of Directors, we hope you have a safe, healthy, and joyful holiday season.
This is the time of year when we start to turn from BirdFest toward our annual general meeting for Friends members. However, as I write, we are entering another season of social distancing that will likely take us through 2020.
Due to health and safety concerns for Friends staff, board, and all of our members, we will be doing our meeting virtually this year. Please stay tuned for more details as we plan for a safe - but still fun! - annual meeting on January 30th, 2021 from 10:30am to 11:30am.
-Anna Wilde and the Friends of Ridgefield NWR Board of Directors
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Refuge Access Update During Pandemic
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CARTY UNIT: (FROM MAIN AVE)
The 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.
Access from the Port Entrance is closed for the season.
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, and the viewing blind due to the inability to uphold necessary social distancing guidelines during the pandemic. The Kiwa Trail is closed for the season.
Current gate times are: 7:30 AM – 4:30 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.
Don't forget to continue to check the Refuge2020.info website for project updates, like the recent Prescribed Fire, the Steigerwald Lake reconnection project, Carty Unit Oaks-to-Wetlands Trail developments, and more!
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.
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From the Contact Station
Season of Thanksgiving Continues
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I am thankful that we have a refuge so close to us that we can visit it every day if we want. Like many, I have spent way too much time indoors this year, but I can run out and visit the wildlife and the wonderful scenery when I need that breath of fresh air and peaceful ambiance. It never fails that I see a familiar face when I do a drive around River S. And I often see people pausing to chat across a car width along the drive. Yes, it is something to be thankful for this year.
We have been having a bit of fog lately and it is one of my favorite weather times on the refuge. For our second goose count, the fog was hugging the ground and we had to wait an extra hour before we could start the count. When the fog lifted at 10 am, the geese came in and we could finally see them. Some of the volunteers have been counting for years; I think this is my fourth... Keep Reading...
-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
Photos by Susan Setterberg
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events
Moving into the Holiday Season almost caught me by surprise! Can winter truly be just around the corner? Didn't summer just end? Despite my mystification on the quick passage of time, I think I enjoy the changing of the seasons more than the fullness of each season, with winter being a high point for me. The anticipation and preparations in nature fill me with excitement for what's to come. (I suppose that should be obvious given that I am a planner.)
Wetlands have always been my favorite habitats. Their exceptional and unique beauty relies on the changing of the seasons. The rising and falling of the water levels, differing dominant bird calls throughout the year, and the yearly birthing cycles of our four-legged family members remind me that change is always present.
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As everything begins to cool and dampen, the returning of our Swan relatives brings me tremendous joy. Their seasonal return has always been one of the most calming and peaceful traditions for me. I hope that with the changing of the seasons you are all able to find your own sources of joy in the present moment.
Members, please remember to stop by and see Samantha and I to share a bird or nature ornament for our Drive Thru Tree Jubilee entry, on Saturday, December 5th, any time between 10 am and noon! A reminder email will be sent to members about this on Wednesday, December 2nd.
Cheers and best wishes,
-Juliet McGraw, Community & Cultural Education Director Friends of Ridgefield NWR
Photo by Virginia Scott
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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
November Habitat Season Recap
The past month has been full of planting site preparation and planting! Up at Pierce NWR we have been working to clear the blackberry canes left by our brushblade crew in order to reach the soil underneath - so that we are able to effectively sow native grasses.
The High-Tunnel Project has also progressed quite a bit over the last month. We have been focusing on re-potting the propagations that grew roots that were planted back in
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September, and also on refilling the planting beds with more cuttings to propagate over the Winter.
If the habitat program were to gain extra funds - this would give us the opportunity to purchase a surplus of native trees & grasses to plant this Winter. Not to mention, our High Tunnel project could always use additional funds to pay for things like soil, fertilizer, rooting hormone, irrigation supplies, etc. All of which are necessary to produce healthy and viable native plantings!
-Emily Lane, Habitat Technician
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Volunteering with the Friends |
This is likely going to be a rough holiday season since many are choosing to not to gather. This will be the first year that my family is not going to come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. If any of you are in the same boat, I found an article that may help you figure out how to stay connected and maybe create some new holiday traditions for you and your family.
Our volunteer family has also chosen to wind down our volunteer work parties. All of the mission critical habitat work in the Gorge at Pierce National Wildlife Refuge has been completed by our mighty blackberry warriors. This crew of 5-6 volunteers was able to clear hillsides of Himalayan blackberry bushes! The landscape is almost unrecognizable, and for the better! In early 2021 volunteers will start to plant native trees and shrubs to re-diversify the habitat. Hopefully consistent maintenance and tending will keep the pesky blackberry at bay.
Wishing you all health and happiness this holiday season! Hopefully things will get better next year and more of you join our volunteer family too!
-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: Hometown Celebration
December 5, 2020
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Celebrate the Holiday season in the Ridgefield tradition with Hometown Celebration! Things look a bit different this year, but there are still ways to celebrate the season, connect with your community, and enjoy a town flooding with holiday cheer. Join us for activities around town, online activities, a Drive-Thru Tree Jubilee, and more!
Members - Don't forget to stop by and bring us an ornament on Saturday (we will send a reminder email on Thursday)
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Species Spotlight
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
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Gulls Part 4 (final):
For this final iteration of my spotlight on gulls, I bring you the Mew gull, which, of several similar gulls having white heads and black wingtips with white spots, this one is the smallest. I could go on for months covering all the different kinds of gulls you may see in Washington and Oregon, but what I have learned from my research for these articles is that the chances are highest that the gull you are seeing is a Glaucous-winged (GW) gull, or some hybrid of one. They are in the largest size grouping and group size (confused yet?) of our Pacific Northwest gulls. If it’s winter on the Pacific Northwest Coast, and you are seeing a group of gulls that look like a ton of GW and baby GW gulls, you are seeing GW and Mew gulls. The easiest way to tell...Keep Reading...
-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!
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. |
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: Raul Moreno, 2017, 2nd Place, 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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