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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | November, 2021
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From the Friends
Thank You For Joining Us!
As Birdfest and Bluegrass 2021 fades slowly from view and we turn towards the winter season, I want to say - on behalf of myself, the Board of Directors, and staff - thank you for joining us this year!
Whether you watched our videos from home or under the tent set up at Overlook Park, visited the Marketplace, or watched a bluegrass concert at any Ridgefield location, your participation is what makes it all worthwhile, and I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your experience!
We want to say a special thank you to the City of Ridgefield, our stalwart Birdfest and Bluegrass partner, who donated the proceeds of their summer 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge to the Friends during the festival. We also want to thank Mauricio Valadrian of Valadrian Creative for making magic out of our cell phone video footage, and all the Fish & Wildlife and Friends staff members who let us film them doing silly things.
We also want to thank:
- Dr. Cameron Smith (Portland State University)
- Dr. Teresa Wicks (Portland Audubon)
- Janelle Wicks (Friends of Malheur NWR)
- Dan Friesz (Columbia Land Trust)
- All bluegrass performers and Birdfest and Bluegrass vendors
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All volunteers who helped keep things running behind the scenes
See you next year!
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-Anna Wilde, Friends of RNWR Executive Director
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It's that time of year again! 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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Friends Photo Contest Merchandise UPDATED! |
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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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Gate Times for Both Units: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
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The River ‘S’ Unit & Auto Tour (1071 S Hillhurst) will be closed to the public on Wednesday, 11/10/2021 for drainage work.
The Carty Unit (28908 NW Main Ave) will be open for walking as normal.
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
Fall Changes
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Where are all the swans? Usually, we anxiously await their arrival for BirdFest, the first weekend in October. And, generally, they do not disappoint. But as of today (Oct 23) we have had only one sighting of a single Tundra Swan reported on a closed section of the Refuge on Oct 11 during the Crane census (more on that below). So, I decided to go searching for sightings using e-bird. There was a Tundra Swan sighting at Fernhill in Oregon...Keep Reading...
-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
- Photo by Virginia Scott, of Tundra Swans
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events
Wild Geese & Fall
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Like many others, each fall I find myself quietly anticipating the return of the overwintering waterfowl to the wildlife refuge. Eagerly awaiting the cacophony of the geese and swans as move about my days. As a lover of all things hot and sunny their annual homecoming reminds me that the rainy seasons offer their own rewards and that even the sun needs to take a break.
-Juliet McGraw, Friends of RNWR Community & Cultural Education Director
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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
October 2021 Habitat Recap
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October brought rain to the refuge and for that we were most grateful. The first few showers did little more than push dust around, but as moisture continued to fall the flora responded and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Rumor has it that we’re in for a wet fall and winter and that makes for a good planting season. Native plants are produced locally, don’t require computer chips, and your kids will never forget the year they got plants for presents and will bring it up every holiday for the rest of their lives.
For those that regularly read the newsletter section on the Habitat Program you will notice a change in voice. That is because our habitat technician took a new position with another non-profit conservation group. She will still be out there fighting the good fight and looking for the occasional volunteer. In the spirit of thanking all the techs that helped on the refuge this year and saying goodbye to those moving on we took a moment to gather for food and conversation.
*For detailed updates on these projects in the past, visit RNWR: Emily’s Habitat Updates! a blog that will hopefully be restarted in spring of 2022, with a new author*
-Keith Rutz, Friends of RNWR Habitat Restoration Coordinator
Photo caption: River Otters
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Refuge Volunteering
Seasons Change
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The Friends are so thankful for our small but dedicated group of volunteers that have been working behind the scenes and on the land! Here are some highlights from the last month.
Habitat volunteers have been limited to 6 volunteers per work party this season as part of the Friend’s COVID-19 Safety Procedures and we have not been able to invite volunteers from the public. Our most experienced volunteers have been around to help with mission-critical projects such as brush blading blackberry from the port, planting maintenance, and Ricefield Bulrush searching.
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As the seasons change, volunteer work has begun to shift as well. Our habitat crews will be focusing on managing plant propagation, cleaning up planting sites, and removing invasive blackberries! Plant propagation is underway in the high tunnel. Volunteers helped to collect cuttings from red osier dogwood, snowberry, rose, ninebark, blue elderberry, and Oregon grape. Hopefully, we will have lots of stems put out roots soon! The pictures show a bag of ninebark cuttings and one of our volunteers dipping the cuttings into the high tunnel planting beds.
-Elena Tinoco, Friends of RNWR Volunteer Coordinator
Image 1: Volunteer Dave in the High Tunnel behind a sea of planting cuttings
Image 2: Nine Bark cuttings in a plastic bag
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here.
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Ridgefield First Saturdays -
Make a Difference Day
November 6, 2021
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Kick-off the season of giving by learning about community organizations and non-profits in Ridgefield. The city is stretching out November First Saturday with a month of content and activities.
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Species Spotlight
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
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The Wood Duck is one of the most recognizable and striking birds in the United States. To many, they are a good sign of fall and winter. During breeding, the markings of the male wood duck include red eyes and a red bill with a yellow patch at the base. The top of the bird’s head and crest are a metallic purplish-green. The sides of the face are black, and a white stripe runs along the neck. A small white stripe also extends...keep reading...
-Samantha Zeiner, Friends of RNWR Administrative Coordinator
-Photo by Douglas Beall, 2017 1st Place
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Vancouver Audubon Public Meeting |
Tuesday, November 2nd at 7pm, Katie Warner, winner of the American Birding Association's Young Birder of 2021, will be presenting on her experience achieving that national award as well as highlighting the new Young Birders Program she is starting in Vancouver, WA, for the Portland Vancouver Area.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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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 second Monday of the month and will be on Zoom until further notice, contact us to join in!
November 8th & December 13th, 2021
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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: Gary Grossman, 2018, 1st place Landscape Category, 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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