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From the Contact Station
More Days for Harrier and Owl Watching, Yes!
As I write, we are waiting for the announcement of the date for River 'S' Unit to be open during the week again. It’s almost painful to wait. You will be seeing some of the contact station volunteers returning to the weekday duties. Some things to keep in mind when you visit. With the mild winter, we are already seeing snakes on the road, coming out of their dens to warm. Make sure the stick you are about to drive over isn’t a snake. Also, the wildlife is used to having the Refuge to itself lately, so be aware the animals might not be as used to you anymore. Our habitat specialist said the deer born this last year are bouncing around like new puppies ...Keep Reading...
- Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
- Photo: Kerry Wu, Adult Honorable Mention, 2016 Refuge Photo Contest |
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 Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events Cathlapotle Plankhouse 15th Birthday Celebration
The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge & The Chinook Indian Nation present:
MARCH 29, 2020, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Join us in celebrating the Plankhouse’s birthday! RIDGEFIELD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CARTY UNIT, 28908 N MAIN AVE, RIDGEFIELD, WA, 98642 Stop by Sunday, March 29th, for Cathlapotle Plankhouse talks, kid's crafts and activities, and more birthday fun! Download the flyer and more, here. Event free with $3.00 per vehicle Refuge admission THE PLANKHOUSE IS ALSO OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 2ND- OCTOBER 4TH, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (click flyer to view larger or download)
 Greg Robinson was the Project Foreman for the building of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, and this year while we celebrate 15 years of the House being open, we are featuring Greg Robinson’s art on items in the Friends Merch Shop.
 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. |
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Habitat Restoration Updates & Events
Oso berry, Camas, and Daffodils, Oh My!!!
 The first signs of spring are popping up around town and within the refuge. Oso berry (Indian Plum) is a native shrub that indicates the coming of spring. It is the only shrub in bloom right now on the refuge. You can recognize it by the clusters of vibrant green leaves and little droopy white flowers. The shrub is anywhere between 2 inches - 10 feet in height! In the summer it will form small plum-like berries that are yellow, red, and purple. Come walk our trails and see them while you can. Another flower is starting to grow in one of our planting sites along the Oaks to Wetlands trail on the Carty unit. You may have noticed an area near the Cathlapotle Plankhouse with white pin flags under an oak tree. This plot of land is a restoration site for common camas, a star shaped purple/blue flower that stands around 4 inches tall. The bulb of this plant was a key resource for food and trade to the native peoples that lived in this area. There used to be fields of this plant that were so large and dense that they created illusions of lakes or smaller bodies of water. If you come visit between April and May you should start to see them bloom. Please take all the photos you want, and you will do the flowers a great favor by not picking them or walking on the grass. By doing this you will help promote future generations of this beautiful plant and protect them from being overrun by invasive plants that may cling to your shoes.
High Tunnel
Our high tunnel project is quickly wrapping up! Within the last few days we have started to put  up the plastic walls. We are excited to start building planting beds and collecting plant cuttings. We plan to take branches from shrubs like red osier dogwood, willow, and indian plum that are on the refuge.
Habitat Volunteer Work Parties:
Wednesdays & 2nd Saturday of the month
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
The weather has been holding up perfectly for work parties. It is cool and crisp in the morning and cheerfully bright. Volunteers have been working hard at removing Himalayan blackberry and common mullein from the Oak Release restoration site on the Carty Unit. They have also been planting native grass seed to help cover up bare spots and keep invasive plants from growing back. You can join or find out more information from keith_rutz@fws.gov. |
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Species Spotlight
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
For those experienced birders and frequent Refuge visitors, late winter through the early summer is an exciting time on the Refuge for a variety of reasons. Of course, as spring comes around, things are in bloom, but more importantly, it’s breeding season for many species of bird and mammal on the Refuge.
Raptors, in particular, have been putting on mating displays, building nests, and defending territory. Bald Eagles have been spotted bringing nesting material to their nest to the north ...Keep Reading...
-Samantha Zeiner, Administrative Coordinator
Photo: Dennis Davenport, Adult Honorable Mention 2016 Refuge Photo Contest |
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Seeking Business Alliance Members 
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 Board 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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Calling All Volunteers!
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Save the date for new quarterly volunteer orientations! The first one is April 11th, 2020.
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Volunteer Opportunities:
Habitat Restoration
Volunteers get to see the most beautiful places on the Refuge while helping to ensure that native wildlife have food and shelter. Summer work is focused on maintaining winter plantings and controlling invasive plants that threaten to take
over habitat. Crews meet on most Wednesday
and Saturday mornings. Contact Keith Rutz at Keith_rutz@fws.gov or 360-887-3883 x 14.
Refuge and Trail Greeters
Over 120,000 visitors flock to the Refuge annually
to enjoy nature through participation in wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, cultural interpretation, hunting, and fishing. Volunteers help to make their experiences meaningful. Share your enthusiasm for nature and make the Refuge a welcoming place for people walking our trails, stopping at the Visitor Contact Station and driving the AutoTour.
Volunteer naturalists needed to walk trails and
teach people about what they can see and enjoy
at the Refuge this summer!
If you are interested, email Josie_Finley@fws.gov to be put on the
update list.
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse
The Cathlapotle Plankhouse draws thousands of visitors to the Refuge each year. Help share the legacy of the Indigenous people who have tended to this place since time immemorial as a Plankhouse Docent or Cultural Educator. Field trips take place during the weekdays. Docents staff the house on weekends from April - September.
If you are interested, email Josie_Finley@fws.gov to be put on the
update list.
Support the Friends
Help us inspire people to support the Refuge! Whether you help us out during BirdFest & Bluegrass in October by giving directions or helping set up, or by providing outreach for what the Friends do, or joining the board or a committee, every little bit helps.
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Birding Enthusiasts
Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here. |
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Ridgefield First Saturday:
Arts Quarter Block Party
March 7, 2020
Encourage a lifetime of creativity! Explore the downtown Arts Quarter, see performing arts, take an arts class, visit the kids arts & crafts activity center and help kick-off Ridgefield Youth Arts Month. Youth Arts Month represents a partnership between Ridgefield School District and the Ridgefield Art Association encouraging young people to take part in artistic endeavors including literary, visual, musical, and performing arts.
Youth Arts Month happens throughout the month of March with events taking place at all four district schools as well as at community businesses and organizations.
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healthier through a connection to wildlife. New and returning volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend!
As we celebrate the completion of two major and very impactful visitor access projects, and the good weather starts to make regular appearances, I see smiles in this community. Big smiles. Smiles when I say that the River S bridge is almost done and people can soon return to their beloved auto tour route months sooner than projected (March 2
