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BirdFest & Bluegrass Planning Committee Seeks New Members and Chair!
BirdFest & Bluegrass Planning Committee Seeks New Members and Chair!
Do you love attending our annual BirdFest celebration? Do you want to see it be successful in 2016? If so, than we need YOU to get involved in planning next years event. Commitment is one two hour meeting a month, March - September, and volunteering BirdFest Weekend (October 1st & 2nd).
We are looking for help in the following areas:
- Committee Chair (Work with current committee chair to schedule/host monthly meetings, and handle big picture event logistics)
- Organizing Kids activities in Davis Park
- Coordinating the vendors in the Birders Marketplace at the Community Center
- Coordinate special walks or talks
- Just sit in and brainstorm new and exciting BirdFest activities!
Want to Make BirdFest a success?
Contact Sarah at: sarah_hill@fws.gov (360) 887-4106
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Calling All Volunteers!
Volunteer Orientation Webinars:
Tuesday evenings in March
This four part series will help to orient and education both returning and new volunteers. These interactive webinars will be offered the following Tuesdays in March from 5 to 6 pm and can be viewed from the comfort of your own home. We hope that you can join us in learning more about your refuges and how our volunteer programs work. (*Some regularly active volunteers will be required to view either the live or recorded versions. See your volunteer supervisor for details.)
- 3/8: Introduction to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Ridgefield, Steigerwald Lake, Franz Lake, and Pierce).
- 3/15: Introduction to the Cathlapotle Plankhouse
- 3/22: Volunteer Program (*required viewing by those regularly active volunteers)
- 3/29: Safety (*required viewing for those regularly active volunteers)
Plankhouse Volunteer Training:
Saturday- April 2nd, 10 am - 3 pm
The Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge provides the community a space to celebrate, learn about, and interact with local Native American culture. Volunteers lead that learning and discovery on the weekends with the public and during the week with school groups. Come to this introductory class and learn how you can be part of this amazing team. No experience necessary. Just bring your interest in culture and nature and we provide all the training.
Volunteer Naturalist Training: For those interested in working with school groups and the general public at Ridgefield AND Steigerwald Lake!
Fridays- April 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th.
Thousands of adults and school children visit our local refuges annually and volunteers are often the only people they get to share their stories and questions with. Share your interest and passion with others by exploring with school children, leading guided walks with the public, or simply greeting people on our trails and in the contact station. This training will introduce both Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake Refuges and how to interact and communicate with many fun and interesting people.
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The Chinook Indian Nation Petitions White House For Tribal Recognition
One of our partners, The Chinook Indian Nation, has started a petition to regain federal Tribal recognition and is hoping to gather 100,000 signatures by March 23, 2016. The Tribe was granted formal recognition in 2001, and eighteen months later, this decision was reversed by the administration of George W. Bush.
To find out more about the Chinook Indian Nation's recognition campaign you can visit their website at www.chinooknation.org
or see their petition HERE
Photo Courtesy of Mildred Robinson: Sam Robinson, vice chairman of the Chinook Tribal Council, and Friends of Ridgefield NWR Board Member poses in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
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Junior Duck Stamp Contest
All entries must be postmarked by March 15th!
Last year’s contest for Washington, held at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, received 125 entries from across the state. The high quality artwork from all the young artists made for a very competitive contest. The judging panel consisted of five judges: Robyn Thorson (Regional Director, US Fish & Wildlife Service Northwest Region), Nate Pamplin (Assistant Director, WA Department of Fish & Wildlife), Shelley Carr (local artist), Dale Thompson (retired Chief Naturalist at Mt. Rainier National Park and local wildlife artist) and Ryan Perry (local wildlife artist and former two-time WA Junior Duck Stamp Best of Show winner).
Judges selected three 1st place, three 2nd place, three 3rd place, and up to sixteen Honorable Mention winners from four groups based on grade level (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12th grade). Out of all the 1st place winners in from each group, a Best of Show has been selected to represent Washington at the national competition held April 19 at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This year’s 1st place winners were Katie Beuhl, Vincent Li, Ryan Wang, Emma Carag, Hannah Ferdows, Jean Lin, Donna Ferdows, Ayaka Hicks, Sophie Tsai, Maria Schaljo, Kris Ahn, and Alina Bogachuk. The Best of Show winner selected from among these artists depicted a Wood Duck and was painted by Maria Schaljo, 16 years old, of Vancouver. In the national contest, her painting went on to rank in the top ten, which is an achievement to be very proud of! Congratulations to Maria and all the winners in last year’s Washington Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest!
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest would not be possible without the efforts of volunteers, who assist both with the contest itself and with all the year-round program publicity and outreach throughout the state. A huge debt of gratitude is also owed to the Friends of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge for their generous financial support.
The exhibit of last year’s winners is now on display in the Visitor Center at Nisqually NWR. A traveling exhibit will travel throughout Washington State to colleges, libraries, and education centers, art galleries/museums, festivals, and fairs.
For the Official Website, click: HERE
If interested, contact Byrn Watson at (360)736-1082.
Photo by:
2015 JDS Best of Show winner Maria Schaljo, 16, of Vancouver, WA
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex
News & Events
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Volunteer Work Party
March 5th, 2016
8 am - 12 pm
Join us on March 5th to clean up the hunt blinds and button up everything for the season. This is a great opportunity to see the hunt area and speak with others that are familiar with the program. No need to sign up! Questions can be directed to Josie Finley at 360-887-4106 josie_finley@fws.gov
Access Projects
The Federal Highway Administration and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been working together to make access to the refuge safer and more enjoyable to both vehicles and pedestrians. Follow the link below to learn more about plans for a new River S bridge as well as improved pedestrian access to the Carty Unit.
Click here for Federal Lands and Highways Project Summaries
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.
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse
Update & Events
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The Plankhouse Spring Opening Celebration is going to be on April 17th!
Come out to the Plankhouse from 12-4 for Naturalist lead hikes, special family activities, and a special presentation which will be announced soon.
Upcoming Events and Exhibitions:
Native American Education Program Title VII & Native American Parent Association of SW Washington- Pow Wow
Saturday, March 5th, 2016
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Grand Entries: 1pm and 6pm
Covington Middle School: 11200 NE Rosewood Ave
Vancouver, WA 98662
The public is welcome to join the Evergreen, Vancouver & Battle Ground Schools Native American Education Programs as they celebrate their annual traditional Pow Wow. Admission is free!
Click HERE for a schedule of events and to find out more!
Portland Art Museum Presents:
Contemporary Native Photographers and the Edward Curtis Legacy
Zig Jackson, Wendy Red Star, Will Wilson
FEB 6 – MAY 8, 2016
This major exhibition will feature contemporary photographs by Native American photographers Zig Jackson, Wendy Red Star, and Will Wilson in dialogue with photographs from Edward Sheriff Curtis’ renowned body of work The North American Indian. This timely exhibition and associated educational programming will ask visitors to consider Curtis’ continuing influence on the interpretation of Native American culture while highlighting contemporary reactions to his complex role within the history of representation of indigenous peoples.
For a schedule of events, to buy tickets, and learn more click HERE
Woven: The Art of Contemporary Native Basketry
March 1 - April 23, 2016
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 2, 4-7pm
Workshops and artist talks Sunday April 3rd
in Foster Auditorium (Clark Community College)
Location: Archer Gallery, Clark Community College
1933 Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA
The exhibition features the work of 12 incredibly talented contemporary indigenous artists: Joe Feddersen, Gail Tremblay, Dawn Nichols Walden, Pat Courtney Gold, Shan Goshorn, and Bernice Akamine.
The Woven exhibit examines selected works of twelve contemporary Native artists, each with their own unique and modern approach to the age-old craft of weaving. The works in this exhibit will explore themes ranging from the basket as a beautiful vehicle to confront difficult issues to the use of traditional techniques and materials to express 21st century ideas and influences.
Upon entering the main gallery it becomes vividly clear that this exhibition’s focus is not on historic baskets. Each of the artists in this exhibit has researched, practiced and even mastered their traditional forms of basket weaving. Some use their art to tackle political and often uncomfortable social issues; others combine their traditional weaving skills with contemporary materials and imagery to create works that pay respect to tradition but also are clearly the work of a 21st century artist.
For Details and More Info Click HERE
Questions? Contact Sarah at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov
or call (360) 887-4106
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Habitat Restoration
Updates & Events
Spring has truly sprung for the Refuge! Many of our Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis) and Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) shrubs are displaying bright green growth, and most other plant species are beginning to break out of their winter dormancy. We are beginning to wave goodbye to our resident winter populations of geese and swans, and welcoming the incoming migratory songbirds. You can see a time-lapse image of the migration patterns of several bird species in the United States here!
On March 5th we will have finished our plantings for the Columbian White-tailed Deer project. Over the last two years we have planted nearly 30,000 trees and shrubs, half of which were planted by volunteers. Those volunteers collectively donated over 2600 hours to the plantings, which converts to nearly $60,000 in labor – and this doesn’t include the numerous hours spent searching for or removing invasive plant species, maintaining our plantings, or any number of other tasks our volunteers do to support us and the Refuge’s mission. We are truly honored by our volunteers’ commitment to the Refuge.
Beginning in March, the Friends Habitat Restoration program will shift its focus to removing invasive plant species on the Refuge, as well as monitoring and maintaining our many planting sites. If you’d like to get involved, email Aiden Forsi at Aiden_Forsi@fws.gov for more information. We hope to see you on the Refuge!
Contact Aiden_Forsi@fws.gov for more details!
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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.
  
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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!
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Header Photo Credit: William Lee, 2010 Photo Contest Honorable Mention
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