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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | January, 2022
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From the Friends
Why I'm here
As a newer board member of the Friends organization, I’m truly amazed at the amount of community support for our “Friends” group – from the many hours of volunteer work at all the Columbia basin refuge properties to the funding support from individuals, businesses, and foundations. I would hope everyone in the community would take the time to visit (often) the Ridgefield NWR and – to the extent possible – help with the volunteer efforts to maintain and enhance the refuge itself.
A special call-out to the City of Ridgefield for contributing time and effort to the refuge system (including a board member!), Fish & Wildlife Service staff, and local businesses that support in various ways the work of The Friends.
My involvement with the refuge and the Friends began with the volunteer opportunities to help maintain and enhance this wonderful, and ancient property that is truly magical, whether you walk the trails, drive the car loop, or simply enjoy the wildlife in, and adjacent to, the NWR itself. Never have I even seen as many Bald Eagles, the beautiful hawks, and the migratory ducks, geese, and magnificent Sandhill Cranes that stop in the refuge. We are fortunate enough to be able to hear the Sandhill Cranes “talking” to each other as they settle into the evening from our home in Ridgefield – what a blessing!
Please join us if you can, and enjoy the Refuge whenever you can. Nothing could be so pleasant in this busy season of the year more than the peace and quiet afforded by Ridgefield NWR!
Regards –Jim Nindel-Edwards, Board Member
image: Jim loads gear into a truck bed during a fence removal
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex |
Friends and Stewards,
I want to wish you and yours very happy and warm holidays. I am humbled every time we meet, by the dedication, heart, expertise, and passion that our Friends and Stewards invest in the Refuge Complex. Truly, my appreciation and thanks go beyond words. Every step you take with us moves the conservation and community needle more than we could ever do on our own. I am very grateful for you, I appreciate you, and I look forward to celebrating a new year of successes and collaboration in the new year.
On behalf of myself and your Ridgefield NWRC family, happy holidays!
-Juliette Fernandez, RNWR Complex Manager
-Mesha Wood, Ridgefield Refuge Complex Park Ranger
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Thank you so much to all of our 2021 donors, including, but not limited to:
(as of 12/29/2021 - click to view PDF)
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Gate times for both units (barring inclement weather closures) will change from 7:30 am to 8 am - 4:30 pm as of Saturday, January 1st, 2022.
*The River 'S' Unit & Auto Tour is closed through 12/30/21 due to unsafe conditions on the entrance road and bridge - check our social media channels or website for updates on when this closure will be lifted*
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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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Annual Member Meeting Save the Date! |
Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 29th for our Annual Membership and Volunteer Appreciation Meeting!
Stay tuned for more details and an official invite, coming soon!
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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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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events
hayu masi
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This year’s Winter Solstice has me a bit more reflective than usual. It has long been my second favorite holiday of the year and I have my own personal routines that I follow to honor our shortest day and longest night. However, amid all of the chaos of 2020 I don’t have strong memories of last year‘s entire holiday season. Which means, for me, I was greatly distracted and focused on other things besides gratitude.
Yesterday, while checking on the Nettle that our Native gathering group tends on the Refuge, I encountered many of our four-legged and winged relatives. It had been a very challenging morning and I was grateful for duties that called me outdoors. The short errand quickly became an exercise in grounding. Wildlife abounded and I did not want to disturb my family. What was required was focus on the living present moment rather than the concerns of hours past. I drove quietly and cautiously enough that I spooked none of the Columbia White-tailed Deer I passed on the way to the location. The resident Eagles...Keep Reading...
-Juliet McGraw, Friends of RNWR Community & Cultural Education Director
image: Juliet McGraw - River S Unit sunset
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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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Winter on the west side of the Cascades is a good time to survey for one of the most aggressive invasive species we encounter on the Refuge. Shiny geranium (Geranium lucidum) is a Eurasian plant species that is not only quick to establish on disturbed open ground but can also infest healthy native landscapes. Listed as a Class B invasive by the state of Washington, and included on the state’s quarantine list, shiny geranium has started to show up as a contaminant in nursery stock. Shiny geranium is shade tolerant and will establish at the base of shrubs and trees and quickly spread underneath a shrub layer. Because the plant stays green after other plants have shed...
-Keith Rutz, Friends of RNWR Habitat Restoration Coordinator
Photo caption: Shiny Geranium
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Refuge Volunteering
Solstice Musings
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As 2021 comes to a close I find myself feeling grateful for the volunteers, supporters, and staff that have come together during an unforgettable year. Our volunteers have been supportive and flexible during these unpredictable times. I look forward to the days when we can share lunches in circles less than 6 feet apart. One thing I can appreciate about social distancing is the unique perspectives and challenges that come with taking group photos!
I am pleased to report that with our small volunteer crews, the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge was able to record 1,197 volunteer hours this past year! That is something worth celebrating. Best wishes, and a happy new year!
-Elena Tinoco, FRNWR Volunteer Coordinator
image description: Socially distanced meeting by Elena Tinoco
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here.
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Ridgefield First Saturdays -
New Year Celebration
January 1, 2022
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Due to taking place on a holiday, January First Saturday will be virtual in 2022. Stop by the event page or the Facebook Page, Ridgefield First Saturdays, for New Years traditions, recipes, and more. Kick-off 2022 in Ridgefield!
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Species Spotlight
Ring-neck Duck
Aythya collaris
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Of all the diving duck species, the Ring-necked Duck is most likely to drop into small ponds during migration, making them a common visitor during the spring and winter here in Ridgefield. Despite their name, the ring on the neck is almost never visible. Male Ring-necked Ducks are compact ducks with a peaked, deep-black, iridescent head, breast, and rump, and light flanks in the breeding season. Overall, the Ring-necked Duck is similar in appearance to both the Greater and Lesser Scaups, but unlike the scaups...keep reading...
-Samantha Zeiner, Friends of RNWR Administrative Coordinator
-Photo by Virginia Scott - a male Ring-neck Duck
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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: January 18*, 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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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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