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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | November, 2022
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2022/2023 Merch Updates
Photo Contest Calendar, BirdFest & Bluegrass button image, and more!
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Check out the 2022 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest-winning images in this spectacular collection. This 2023 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 one purchase that keeps on giving.
Available in 8.5x11, XL 11x14, and Jumbo 12x12 sizes as well as PDF download.
More 2022 photo contest items updated daily!
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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!
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Gate times for both units: 7:30 am - 6:30 pm
Seasonal Trails close Sept 30th & re-open May 1st
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*Reminder: daylight is quickly shortening, pay attention to gate times when you visit* |
Naturalist-led Walks
Volunteers make it possible to offer public naturalist-led walks about a variety of topics. The following opportunities are listed by walk leader and topic.
(Please keep in mind that these hikes are limited, and only sign up for one or two at a time.)
Dates at Ridgefield:
Birding with Ron Escano
- Saturday November 19th
- Saturday December 17th
Birding with Robert Vanderkamp
- Saturday November 12th
- Saturday December 10th
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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 on all our Refuges in the Ridgefield Complex.
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From the Contact Station
Anticipating Seasonal Arrivals
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We spent much of August watching the water disappear from the Refuge along with many of the visitors. Just a few muddy puddles remained. When they could be viewed, they had some nice surprises with not often seen shorebirds and bitterns in full view. Frogs were hopping everywhere as herons were smiling at the easy meal offerings. In mid-September visitors began to reappear, asking “Are the ducks here yet? Where are the geese? Have you seen any cranes?” Sometime in September, after all the delayed treating and discing of the wetlands for invasives was complete, FWS started pumping water into the River S from the Columbia River/Bachelor Slough...keep reading...
-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
image: Sandhill Cranes on Ridgefield Refuge. Photo by Susan Setterberg
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here.
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Ridgefield First Saturdays
Multicultural Festival
November 5, 2022
The Make A Difference Month Challenge returns for a third year! Complete weekly challenges that benefit our community throughout the month of November and track your progress.
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Habitat Restoration
Climate and Emerald Ash Borer
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Summer of 2022 was a dry, drawn-out affair full of challenges and some bad news. Challenges are expected in habitat work. Climate change is happening, weather patterns are responding, and temperature and precipitation data reflect the change in climate. We may not have all, or any, solutions to a changing climate, but it is something we have had decades to prepare and mitigate for.
The detection of an emerald ash borer infestation eleven miles south of the refuge is bad news for riparian habitats in the region. The importance of ash trees in lower-elevation riparian forests can not be overstated. Although we could save individual ash trees through prophylactic poisoning, we cannot save the riparian ash forest as an intact functioning system, and we are expecting over a 90% loss of ash trees in the northwest based on ash borer impacts to eastern forests.
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-Keith Rutz, Habitat Restoration Coordinator
image from the Washington Department of Natureal Resources
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Species Spotlight
Western Painted Turtles
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The painted turtle is brightly marked with a smooth shell. It has a relatively flat upper shell with red and yellow markings on a black or greenish-brown background. Males mature at 3 to 5 years when their lower shell is about 2.8 to 3.7 inches long. Females take longer to mature, up to 10 years, and get larger, up to 5 inches for their lower shell. Turtles continue to grow slowly after maturity, and their upper shell can reach almost 10 inches when living for many decades.
The most widespread North American turtle, the painted turtle is the only turtle....keep reading...
-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
images sketched by Susan Setterberg
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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, 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 5 PM every second Monday of the month and will be in-person at the Ridgefield NWR Administration Building (28908 NW Main AVE), contact us to join in!
2022: November 14 (2 hour closed workshop), December 12
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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. |
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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 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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