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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | September, 2020
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From the Refuge
Carty Unit Notice
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Believe it or not! The contractor is getting started on the administrative office building! This means two public use changes…
1) The Oaks to Wetland Trail on the Carty Unit will be closed on Wednesday, 9/2/2020. They are going to make a temporary trail linkage between the restroom and the bridge that keeps the public further away from the future construction there.
2) The spur trail that connects Main Ave to the bridge along the edge of the field will be closed during construction. Pedestrians can access the unit from Main Ave and into the Refuge at the entrance gate.
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Saying that the fall of 2020 will be unlike others is more than an understatement. While the weather changes and while many birds on the Refuge start migrating, many of us will still be inside our homes attending Zoom meetings and online classes. As the new season approaches, it’s more important than ever to get outside and let nature do its healing work. And not just because we want to soak up the last bit of sun we’ll see for a while - although that is important too! But being in nature is also a way to keep feeling connected to our surroundings and to each other.
It is also so very important for our young people to get outside as well. Not being able to go to school in person as the year begins is, frankly, going to be a huge challenge for students, teachers, and parents. Getting out into whatever natural spaces are available to us can help a little.
And speaking of available natural spaces, remember to enjoy the Refuge safely! Remember to follow all the signage for closures and trail directions, stay in your car on the Auto Tour, leave dogs at home, give everyone space, leave no trace and enjoy yourself! Check out the Refuge website for the latest updates on hours, closures, and fees. If you can’t get to the Refuge, follow us on Facebook and Instagram for photos and videos that can bring nature to you, and our Birdfest and Bluegrass page for previews of our virtual Birdfest on October 3.
Anna Wilde and the FRNWR Board of Directors
Photo by Kerry Wu, 2016 Refuge Photo Contest Winner
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BirdFest & Bluegrass Commemorative Buttons! |
Just $5.00
There will be a limited number of buttons this year, so get yours before they're gone!
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BirdFest & Bluegrass Updates |
This year, we are hosting this event completely online, so that you can virtually learn about the culture and the history of our area and how it affects how we use the land, or impress your friends when you can tell them what that backyard bird is saying. We are uniquely fortunate to have this resource right in our own backyard, and by learning not only how to appreciate the beauty, but the necessity of it, you come one step closer to being able to support it. You can, of course, visit the Refuge during the weekend as well, and enjoy all the things you learned about on October 3rd. Stay tuned for more details about Saturday events to tune into, and so much more! Click the flyer above to view a larger preview of events!
Our Facebook page will be the place for 2020 BirdFest & Bluegrass Festival updates – we will host all the videos during the event, Saturday, October 3rd, on Facebook. You don’t have to have a Facebook account in order to view any of the great content we are preparing for you! Stay tuned here!
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BirdFest & Bluegrass Trivia Night |
Register your team for Refuge Trivia Night, Friday, October 2nd, to kick off BirdFest & Bluegrass 2020! Grab your favorite beverage, get a comfy chair, and hang out on Zoom with us and friends who you may not get to see very often! We will cover Refuge facts, birding identification, BirdFest & Bluegrass history, and more about wildlife and Ridgefield.
This is a great opportunity to invite friends from far away to hang out with you for some fun, birding, and facts! Registration caps at 9 people per team, but you can register more if you need to by starting a second registration. Find Out More!
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Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest
Sponsored by Pro Photo Supply & The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
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Submit your favorite nature images taken within the boundaries of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to the 14th Annual 2020 photography competition!
CATEGORIES:
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BIRDS – Birds and water fowl in their natural habitat.
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WILDLIFE – Any wildlife other than birds – mammals, amphibians, fish, insects, reptiles, and invertebrates in their natural habitat.
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PLANT LIFE – Trees, grasses, flowers, fungi, mushrooms, and other flora in their natural habitat.
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LANDSCAPE & STRUCTURES – The refuge contains a mosaic of scenic views, including iconic structures such as the Cathlapotle Plankhouse.
ADULT CATEGORY PRIZES:
1st Place in each category: $150 Pro Photo Supply Gift Card
YOUTH PRIZES:
1st Place: $75 Gift Card
2nd Place: $50 Gift Card
3rd Place: $25 Gift Card
Gift Cards from Pro Photo Supply
Submission Deadline: September 8, 2020
Winners will be announced virtually during BirdFest & Bluegrass 2020, Saturday, October 3rd.
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Save the Date for GiveMore24! |
We’re counting down the days to September 24th and Give More 24!. We need your help to make our campaign a success, and we’ve included a few easy ways that you can support us.
Share and share alike. Online days of giving are successful because of our own networks. Help us grow our network by sending future emails and posts to your network, and ask your friends to do the same.
Be socially (media) active. Use your social media networks: post on Facebook, tweet about Give More 24!, and share your love for your particular passion, whether it’s education, health care, animals, or the arts. Ask others to do the same.
Become a fundraising champion. Everyone loves a champion, including us! We really need fundraising champions to help drive people to our Give More 24! profile on September 24. Contact us for more information on how to become a fundraising champion!
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events
Refuge Access Update During Pandemic
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CARTY UNIT: (FROM BOTH MAIN AVE AND THE PORT ENTRANCE)
All Carty Unit trails are now OPEN- BUT public use facilities and access to those facilities (including the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, restrooms, and the Refuge Office) are NOT available to the public. The end of the Oaks to Wetland will be posted as a one-way loop. Please follow all posted signs. The trail will be closed every Thurs at the old oak.
AUTO TOUR ROUTE:
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour Route on the River ‘S’ Unit re-opened May 5th, 2020 to vehicle traffic ONLY. There will be no public access to bathrooms, informational kiosks, parking lots, and the viewing blind due to the inability to uphold necessary social distancing guidelines during the pandemic. The Kiwa Trail opened Saturday, August 8th, as a one-way walking loop. Please wear your masks and keep your distance when getting out of your cars, and when passing others as you enter the trail. Be aware that parking is limited on this popular trail so you may need to do a loop around the auto tour to wait for a spot to park. Parking is NOT allowed along the shoulders of the auto tour.
Current gate times are: 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
The Refuge is fee free at this time.
Note that gates close automatically. Vehicles must exit before gate closes and there is no entry before or after hours. Please expect increased traffic and long waiting times to navigate around the tour and plan accordingly. By following these temporary adjustments to access you ensure the safety and health of yourself, other visitors, the Ridgefield community and our staff. We look forward to continuing to serve you by providing safe and healthy wildlife dependent recreation into the future.
Don't forget to continue to check the Refuge2020.info website for project updates, like the recent Prescribed Fire, the Steigerwald Lake re-connection 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. Find out more about one segment, #TakeaWalkTuesday, from The Columbian here.
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From the Contact Station (sort of):
In Brief
Most of the haying is done with just a couple of stacks left in the fields. Enough for raptors to use as a lookout. Everything has a just trimmed look about it. The nicest part of that is the Northern Harriers are back hunting the fields. Here is one sitting in the field having just enjoyed a field critter.
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Sometimes you are lucky and FINALLY get to SEE the American Bittern. I’ve been hearing them from spring into summer, but I would always just miss the one other visitors had seen. Very frustrating. But a good look now and then keeps you hoping that the next run around the auto tour will give you the treat you have been waiting for. That’s what I got on my latest tour between post 11 and 12.
Migration has already started with shorebirds coming through this last month. The cranes, swans, pelicans, more raptors and ducks will be arriving before we know it. Check out the Kiwa Trail now that it is open through September.
-Article & Photos by Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events
Clark County Historical Museum Exhibit
This month I am pleased to congratulate our partner, the Clark County Historical Museum, on another exceptional exhibit! It was a pleasure to work with Brad Richardson and his staff and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes when bringing an exhibit to life.
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(Her)Story: Founders, Leaders, and Visionaries chronicles the experiences of women in leadership across Clark County. Since Time Immemorial to present day, many notable women are featured in this exhibit. It is worth noting the care the CCHM team put into celebrating the leadership Indigenous women have long brought to the community. Noted Chinook women include Ch'ist (Catherine George Hawks) ancestor to Sam Robinson, the Chinook Indian Nation's current Vice-Chairman and longtime Friends Board Member.
Please take in the exhibit to learn more!
-Juliet McGraw, Friends 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
Bang Up End to Bulrush Season
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This bulrush season ended with quite the bang - a search in Middle Lake on the River 'S' Unit resulted in the location of a 200-stem bulrush plant - one of the largest we have seen in many years. We are so happy that this plant was found, and not allowed to go to seed! As bulrush season has slowed down, we have started to shift our focus to planting maintenance on the River 'S' unit, and invasive species control on the Oaks to Wetlands trail at the Carty Unit. Common Mullein and Himalayan Blackberry are just a couple of the target species we are in the process of controlling in these areas. It is important to note that current volunteers have returned to the refuge in a limited capacity, and social distancing measures have been integrated into current work parties, however, we are not taking on any new volunteers at this time.
Stay safe out there!
-Emily Lane, Bulrush Coordinator
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Volunteering with the Friends |
This summer our habitat volunteers were able to complete another successful season of Ricefield Bulrush removal. Volunteers were able to come back in small groups of 5 each week to help pull the stubborn wetland plant. Special thanks to our tiny but mighty volunteer crew Tom, Tia, and Jon for coming out each week to help restore our refuge! They should also be recognized for their commitment to safety and not letting social distancing prevent them from having a good time. Now volunteers will be starting invasive plant removal in the Oaks to Wetlands trail area on the Carty Unit. Please note that the oak release trail system will be closed on Thursday for Habitat Restoration and Washington Trails Association volunteer crews. Volunteers will be hard at work to remove Himalayan Blackberry and Common Mullein. We are not currently recruiting new volunteers but stay tuned for future updates!
-Elena Tinoco, Volunteer Coordinator
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here.
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Ridgefield First Saturdays: Multicultural Festival
September 5, 2020
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Celebrate diversity with your community through online activities and events, take home crafts, and educational opportunities. Find virtual activities and more on the event page.
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Species Spotlight
Glaucous-winged Gull
Larus glaucescens
PNW Gulls Part 2
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The Glaucous-winged Gull is the most abundant and wide-spread gull in Washington state, and the most recognizable because of it. Typically, during the non-breeding season, adult Glaucous-winged Gulls have a solid grey-blue mantle (back and wings), a white tail, and a white head streaked with brown. They have a very large bill that is yellow with a red spot on the underside, and their legs are pink. They have grey or grey-black wingtips, which helps to differentiate them... Keep Reading...
By Samantha Zeiner, Administrative Coordinator
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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!
September 14th, October 19th, November 9th, December 14th, 2020
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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 Shorty's 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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