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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | February, 2022
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From the Friends
A Message From the Board
We want to say thank you to everyone who attended our virtual annual meeting on January 29. It was so nice to see all your faces on screen!
We want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to two departing board members, Drew Smith-Sahnow and Nick Legg. In the three years Drew has been on the Friends board she has been Treasurer, Vice-President, and President. Nick has been our Secretary for the past two years. Thank you for keeping us steady through these challenging years, and we look forward to seeing you out on the Refuge soon!
We also want to welcome Jim Maul (back) to the board. One of the founding members of the Friends of Ridgefield NWR, Jim has decided to return, and we are looking forward to working with him again.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Gate times for both units 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
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Don't forget that the Carty Unit Oaks-to-Wetlands Trail, within the Oak Restoration area, is generally closed Thursdays for trail maintenance, watch for signs.
NOTE: The Washington State Discover Pass is not valid on Federally managed public lands, including National Wildlife Refuges. Find out more about fees & passes here.
Check the Refuge2020.info website for project updates, like 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 of this newsletter.
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From the Contact Station
Christmas Bird Count on the Refuge
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Doing the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on the refuge can be lots of fun but it does have its challenges. This year we waited until January 2nd to do the count with fingers crossed. The refuge is a big part of the Sauvie Island Circle, which has been active since the 1960s. It includes areas south to Vancouver Lake and north to the Lewis River on the Washington side and all of Sauvie Island and Scappoose wetlands in Oregon. Since we plan around hunt days on both sides of the Columbia River, it didn’t leave us with many choices, we had one possibility. The River S was closed for most of the week prior to our Sunday count. Snow had piled up on the entrance road approach to the bridge and turned to ice with the very cold nights. But there was just enough thawing the Friday and Saturday before, so a careful entrance would get everyone onto the southern part of the Refuge safely.
We had nine teams covering all sections of the Refuge. Under very specific circumstances, including special Covid rules this year, we are allowed onto the refuge outside of visitor hours and into the closed sections. Everyone must sign a volunteer agreement and follow the rules. Eighteen...keep reading...
-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
image: Bald Eagle and swans by Susan Setterberg
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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
Weed of the Month - Shiny Geranium
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I would say the invasive that best defines a love/nonlove relationship here on the refuge is Himalayan blackberry. The love comes in the form of a tasty summer treat, and a plant that helps shield some of the bigger ash tree trunks from beaver. The nonlove is the pain associated with working on or around not just patches, but individual stems that will grab your foot and pull you to the ground when you least expect. With the ability to spread and aggressively outcompete native species, Himalayan blackberry is one of our most visible and widespread invasive plant species...
-Keith Rutz, Friends of RNWR Habitat Restoration Coordinator
Photo caption: himalayan Blackberry
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Refuge Volunteering
Wild Roses are Red, Camas is Blue... The Refuge Loves You!
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We have been getting some beautiful sunny days this winter and it has me looking forward to springtime blossoms. The dormant bulbs and wildflowers around our refuge are patiently waiting for their time to shine. Even if you are not an active volunteer on the refuge you can do your part to protect those pretty flowers by staying on marked trails during your visits and brushing your boots to ward off pesky invasive plant species. This helps protect the sensitive habitat we have been working so hard to restore.
Although we are not currently onboarding new volunteers, you can still reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator here to get on the email list so you will be the first to know when a new volunteer opportunity is available. We are hoping to have open a few volunteer positions for Virtual Volunteers within the next couple of months. You could help Fish and Wildlife and Friends staff to help with educational materials, community outreach, event support, committees, and more!
We have volunteer programs that will fit interests of biology, habitat restoration, cultural education, and visitor services! We look forward to welcoming you onsite once the COVID-19 situation aligns with our Volunteer Reactivation Plan.
-Elena Tinoco, FRNWR Volunteer Coordinator
image description: Camas in bloom, April 2018
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here.
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Ridgefield First Saturdays -
Move, Play, Eat!
February 5, 2022
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Due to rising COVID-19 Activity in Clark County, the City of Ridgefield has canceled the in-person event Spudder Olympics, and are providing virtual content to get you to Move, Play, and Eat!
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Species Spotlight
Great Blue Heron
Ardea Herodias
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A Great Blue Heron is a common sight at Ridgefield, so much so that I don’t think I have ever visited the Refuge and not seen at least one. Usually motionless among the cattails and grasses, this statue-like large bird can be identified by its grayish overall coloring, pale belly, dark streaks on the neck, brownish feathers mixed throughout, black crown and head plumes, and that signature “s” shaped neck curl. These herons also have an orange-yellow bill and legs.
Great Blue Herons can develop a rusty-colored shoulder patch, and in the breeding season, adults have dense, shaggy plumes of feathers on their back and neck. Despite their impressive size...keep reading...
-Samantha Zeiner, Friends of RNWR Administrative Coordinator
-Photo by Virginia Scott - young Great Blue heron
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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 third Monday of the month and will be on Zoom until further notice, contact us to join in!
2022: February 22*, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 21*, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21, December 19
(*moved due to federal holiday)
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Check out the 2021 Refuge Photo Contest winning images in this spectacular collection. Our 2022 calendar not only features the winning images along with their photographer's name and place, but also includes fun facts about the subjects of each photo, important Refuge-related holidays, and more!
Support wildlife, nature, and education, with the one gift that keeps on giving.
Available in regular 8.5x11 and XL 11x14 sizes!
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Check out our NEW store items, with more being added all the time! We have mugs that change colors, tote bags, sweatshirts, and more, all featuring our 2019, 2020, AND 2021 Refuge Photo Contest winning photos, 2021 Spring Break Youth Art Contest art, as well as the 2021 BirdFest & Bluegrass button image, and the "Back to the Refuge" logo!
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Get your friends and family (or yourself!) a gift that will remind them of nature's beauty and support a wonderful cause!
If there isn't something you like, you can always donate, or buy a membership to the Friends in someone's name - an annual gift program that supports wildlife, habitat, volunteers, education, and more.
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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 Shovel & Thumb 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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