|
|
|
Tips for Summer Refuge Visits
 The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge want to share some tips for a successful and fun visit to the refuge this summer:
1. Water: Make sure to bring water with you whether you are planning a long or a short visit, it is going to be a hot summer and there is no access to drinking water on the refuge.
2. Restroom facilities: There are restrooms at the trailheads of both the Carty and River 'S' Units, and one stop right before the Kiwa Trail on the River 'S' Auto Tour Route, but there are no other facilities available to the public.
3. Bring a Snack: Just like with water, we want you to stay healthy and happy, plan to bring a snack on longer walks, but keep in mind there are no picnic areas on the refuge.
4. Trash Receptacles: There are no trash cans available so please pack out anything you bring in with you, we really appreciate it, and the wildlife does too!
5. Appropriate Shoes: If you plan to walk anywhere on the refuge, we recommend wearing shoes that protect your feet. While refuge staff strive to keep grasses, poison oak and stinging nettle back from the trails, they are always around, as well as fallen branches, rocks and more.
6. Fire: Fireworks and burning are strictly prohibited on the refuge, please protect our wildlife.
7. Ticks: Ticks are crafty, even on open trails they can find their way onto humans, so make sure to check yourself after a visit to the Refuge.
Fun Facts:
From now until September 30th, you can walk along the River 'S' Unit Auto Tour Route. So now you can get out of your car and see more wildlife up close!
Dragonflies are out in abundance this time of year and can be seen everywhere on the refuge!
The Purple Martins are nesting in the hanging gourd shaped houses provided for them near the head of the Auto Tour Route and can be seen during the day.
And once again, don't forget to bring water! Thank you and we hope you have a great summer at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!
|
|
|
New Faces around the Refuge
The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge would like to introduce two more new faces around the refuge:
Lindsey Karr, Bulrush Coordinator:
Lindsey will be helping us to conserve our wetlands by leading volunteers in the removal of ricefield bulrush and other non-native plants. She comes to us with a background in invasive plants and outdoor guiding and is excited to spend her summer working at Ridgefield! Come help her keep our wetlands healthy and get a unique view of the habitat that usually only wildlife get to see!
Alexandra Danielsen, BirdFest and Bluegrass Coordinator:
Alix has signed on to be our new Coordinator for BirdFest and Bluegrass 2016. She will be working with the BirdFest Planning Committee to plan and execute all that is needed to make BirdFest a success. Her background in marketing, event management, and project management-- as well as time spent working with and on programs focused on sustainability, conservation and environmental awareness-- will be a great addition to our committee, and we can't wait to see what she does!
|
|
|
Columbia Land Trust Project Benefits Sandhill Cranes
"Noshing local cuisine is one of the pleasures of travel, and soon hungry migrating sandhill cranes will have another menu item to choose from during their stopovers in the Vancouver area."
Starting mid-June, farmers began plowing property to plant a variety of vegetables including corn, peas, and soghum to get ready for the migrating Sandhill Cranes.
To find out why, and to learn more about this project, check out the Columbian Article:
To see the original article click HERE
|
|
|
First Plankhouse Docent Social
Our first Docent Social took place on May 14 at the Historic Reserve in Vancouver!
Our outing started with a great meal at The Grant House where we were able to get to know one another a little better. We specifically enjoyed sharing stories of where we had traveled, past careers and educational backgrounds, as well as, what draws us to our local Refuges. Afterwards we met up at the Pearson Air Museum where we were fortunate enough to have Dr. Bob Cromwell, the Site Manager for Pearson, give us a personalized tour and take us through the exhibits.
This was the first event of its kind and a bit of an experiment. Originally our intent was to provide social opportunities centered around our local natural and cultural resources in the region for those that are involved in volunteer work associated with the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. However, word got out and interest grew... So while this reoccurring event is referred to as a "Docent Social" all of our community volunteers, staff, and board members from both Ridgefield NWR and Steigerwald Lake NWR are invited to attend.
The next Docent Social will be on July 23 and activities will include a tour through the Two Rivers Museum and a brief naturalist hike at Steigerwald Lake NWR, as well as lunch at a local business. Please contact Juliet McGraw at plankhouse@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us!
Photo Credit: MichaelbBishop.wordpress.com
|
|
|
Help Represent the Friends and the Refuge at Community Outreach events!
We are looking for a few dedicated volunteers who love the refuge and would like to help others discover what makes this place special. Outreach volunteers are needed to help staff Friends and Refuge booths at events in our community from Ridgefield to Portland. Outreach volunteers work alongside Refuge and Friends staff to answer questions about the Refuge, provide information about what visitors can do at this Refuge, and act as ambassadors for one of our region's best kept secrets. Interested in learning how to get involved? Contact Park Ranger Josie Finley at Josie_Finley@fws.gov or call (360) 887-4106.
|
|
|
Steigerwald Events and News
Camas Days is coming up: July 22 - 23
This event hosts thousands of visitors and is a great opportunity to teach locals about our Refuge. They are looking for trained volunteers to help! Contact Jared_strawderman@fws.gov
Sightings:
Fun sightings recently include long-tailed weasels, lazuli buntings, bitterns, bullocks orioles nesting at river side of seasonal trail, fun interactions between ospreys and kestrals near osprey nest, hooded merganser female with babies, willow flycatchers, yellow warbler, cinnamon teal with babies, as you know the list can go on and on!
Check ebird for more current bird sightings: http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L150417
Info on Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge and upcoming Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards Events and more here
|
|
|
From the River 'S' Contact Station
Meet Eldon Schmidt
If you have done the Auto Tour on the River 'S' Unit of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, chances are you have seen or spoken with one of the volunteers who staff the contact station. Most days have coverage at least for three or four hours. Volunteers come with many interests and backgrounds.
In this column, I want to introduce you to Eldon Schmidt. 
Eldon is the Friday morning volunteer. He has been at his duty station for more than six years. Born and raised on a Kansas farm, Eldon is familiar with many of the furry critters on the refuge, such as cottontails and muskrats. But he also fondly remembers the Mockingbird doing a loop-d-loop from a post and singing up a storm and Cardinals, Meadowlarks, and doves, which he enjoyed without binoculars as a boy.
He has always loved the outdoors, transitioning early in life from a hunter to an observer. Eldon’s career was as a middle school PE teacher.
He spent a number of years in Southern California, then moved to Beaverton as his wife was a native of Astoria and wanted to return to the Northwest. After retirement, he followed his outdoor interests and became a volunteer at Ridgefield NWR. He says what he likes about the work is meeting a lot of good people, enjoying conversations and learning from others. While we were talking, he had two visitors who were checking out the refuge for the first time. One couple was from Nevada looking for birds as they drove north with their trailer, visiting married children along the west coast. The other couple was from Georgia and the gentleman stopped long enough to relay a story about a mama grizzly and her three cubs in Yellowstone.
Eldon usually does a drive around the refuge on Fridays, stopping to walk the Kiwa Trail when it is open. He enjoys that walk the most, as he finds birds are still a challenge to learn and very enjoyable to watch. From the contact station, he keeps tabs on the Purple Martins’ arrival, watching them take care of the new broods and then leaving the gourd nest when the babies fledge. A favorite time of year for him, is during fall with the migration, watching the ducks arrive from the northern breeding grounds.
Eldon joins other members of the volunteer team to count bird species on Fridays. He is one of the volunteers who helps generate the sightings list posted on the window of the contact station. So take advantage of Eldon’s long tenure in the contact station, and knowledge about the critters you might find here, he is eager to get to know even more good people who visit the refuge.
Reporting from the River 'S' Contact Station- Susan Setterberg, Volunteer
Contact Station Photo By: Samantha Zeiner
|
|
|
Ridgefield Refuge Complex
News & Events
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Urban Wildlife Conservation Program Update
Connecting urban audiences to nature is one of the biggest 21st Century challenges facing the US Fish and Wildlife Service. How are our urban refuge surrounding the Portland-Vancouver metro area refuges tackling this challenge?
We are pleased to share with you Urban Refuge Program of the Portland-Vancouver Metro Area: 2015 Report Building Relationships.
Scroll through the link (or stop by the main Sherwood office for your own paper copy) to learn more about our inaugural year.
Questions? Want to get more involved?
Contact Kim Strassburg
Urban Refuge Coordinator
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
19255 SW Pacific Hwy
Sherwood, OR 97140
Thank you for visiting the refuge and supporting conservation. If you have any questions regarding activities and regulations on the refuge, call the office Monday through Friday 7:30am to 3:30 pm at 360-887-4106.
|
|
|
Cathlapotle Plankhouse
Update & Events
.jpg)
Second Sunday Event:
Contemporary Native Art Inspired by Cultures of the Columbia River
Join us for a mask exhbit and artist talks by Lillian Pitt and Bill Rutherford. Renowned Native Artists and Friends, Lillian Pitt and Bill Rutherford will speak on their creative process, how they draw inspiration from Native Cultures of the Columbia River, and why they use masks as a medium of artisitic expression. There will also be mask collections from each artist on display throughout the day.
The Plankhouse will be open for visitors from 12pm-4pm, and there will be activities for kids as well.
(Click this poster for a link to our website)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodations needs to Juliet McGraw, 360- 887-4106, Plankhouse@gmail.com. TTY 800-877-8339 with your request by close of business one week before the event.
Upcoming Events and Exhibitions:
Intro to Chinuk Wawa
Where: Cathlapotle Plankhouse
When: August 6, 13, 20, 27
10am-12pm
Cost: FREE
In this 4 part class, participants will gain basic knowledge of chinuk wawa, the contemporary Native language of Chinookan peoples of the Lower Columbia. This class will cover the history of the language, how language and culture go hand in hand, and will learn pronunciation, sentence structure, and useful phrases.
Class will occur in the Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge four Saturdays in August. Participants must attend all four sessions. RSVP by July 6th to plankhouse@gmail.com
2016 Paddle to Nisqually Canoe Journey
Canoe Journey 2016, Paddle to Nisqually, continues an inter-tribal celebration and annual gathering of Northwest Indigenous Nations. The annual tribal journey in the Pacific Northwest region was began with the Paddle to Seattle in 1989 and over 20 Canoe Journeys have been held since 1993. The Canoe Journey has grown to include over 100 canoes and the participation of Canoe Families from other Native canoe cultures, including Native American tribes, First Nations peoples, Alaska Natives, Inuit, Maori, Native Hawaiians, and other indigenous peoples from across the world.
Some of the Canoe Journey events are open to the public, and this is a great opportunity to see thriving canoe culture first hand.
Stay up to date on Canoe Journey activities on the official website: http://www.paddletonisqually.com/index.php/about/
Questions? Contact Sarah at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov
or call (360) 887-4106
|
|
|
Habitat Restoration
Updates & Events
As spring warms into summer on the Refuge volunteers and staff are busy with our annual Ricefield Bulrush (Schoenoplectus mucronatus) eradication project. Wetlands are being searched and plants are being pulled.
If you have not yet participated in one of our Wednesday bulrush events there are still plenty of chances to get signed up. We will be adding Saturday events starting July 2nd, just in time to volunteer your vacationing friends and family. If you have a big group looking for an activity, but can’t make a Wednesday or Saturday event, we can schedule a special bulrush excursion to a scenic wetland complete with gloves, boots, and snacks.
For more information contact ridgefieldbulrush@gmail.com.
(click this poster to go to our website for more info)
To volunteer contact: ridgefieldbulrish@gmail.com
You might have also noticed a crew of young folks with tools in hand cutting back vegetation, clearing trails, and other general outdoor maintenance projects. These 15-18 year olds, under the care and supervision of crew leader Kate, are spending part of their summer on the Refuge as a YCC crew and we are happy to have them. If you see them feel free to wave or tip the cap, and of course keep your distance since they are teenagers with sharp tools.
As we move farther into July we will be on the look-out for one of our late season bloomers, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). This invasive plant grows in wetlands and along waterways and is listed as a Class B invasive by the state. This plant is hard to control and generally requires herbicide treatment. We will post images and some identifying characteristics of this plant on the refuge kiosks and if spotted please feel free to notify the refuge or leave a message at 360.887.3883.
For more information or to sign up please contact: keith_rutz@fws.gov
|
|
|
Online Store Now Open!
The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge are proud to announce the opening of a new webstore! Now you can order our 50th Anniversary  Gear- including the Pelican Brewing Company 50th Anniversary T-shirt and Pint Glass, as well as our Chinookan Steller’s Jay T-shirt, all online!
Check out our Shop for links to the store and more info, or click HERE to go directly to the store!
Proceeds help support our unique education and restoration programs at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!
|
|
Follow the Friends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
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.
  
|
|
|
Help the Friends and the Refuge When You Shop Online
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 go to www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can search for us by our name, Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, or by our non-profit number, 89824. Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping the Friends earn a donation to support the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store.
You Can Also Shop and Give Online at AmazonSmile.com
Log on to smile.amazon.com, shop as you usually would and .5% of your purchase will be donated directly to the Friends. Use the special link, smile.amazon.com, with your existing user name and password.
To set up your AmazonSmile account, click this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-2018749. When prompted to select a charity, choose the Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Begin shopping as you normally would and the Friends will receive 0.5% of eligible purchases.
Thanks for being an EcoShopper and helping the Refuge!
|
|
|
Header Photo Credit: Javier Urquizu 2007 Photo Contest Honorable Mention
|
|
|
|
| |
|
