MAY E-NEWS …SPRING GREETINGS from Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
See acres of beautiful Refuge habitat normally off limits to visitors when you help pull Ricefield Bulrush! Please help us keep the habitat healthy and prevent the invasive Ricefield Bulrush from taking over. This is an invasive plant that has no thorns or poisons, and is easy to pull. We just need more hands! All ages encouraged, large and small groups wanted. If you are interested please contact Josie Finley at josie_finley@fws.gov
We also need people to survey wetlands for this invasive plant from an ATV. You must have completed an ATV safety training to be able to participate. Dedicate 40 hours to this project and the refuge will send you to this $125 training for free!
Refuge Ramblings for May from Roger:
The Refuge is a beautiful and busy place in the springtime. If you haven’t been out to see what is happening, you are missing a treat! The Canada Geese (Cacklers) had their fly-out on April 24. It seems awfully quiet now at the station without the company of the thousands of Cacklers all around. Some of the summer regulars are back, though. Black-headed Grosbeaks are being sighted on a regular basis. Western Tanagers are just now making their appearance. Some of the warblers are back, also. Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Wilson’s Warblers have been seen. Of course, the Yellow-rumped Warblers have been “all over the place” for some time now. All the swallows except the Cave and Bank have been seen. Vaux’s Swifts are also sighted from time to time. Two birds that can now be heard quite often but rarely seen are the Virginia Rail and the Sora. If you’re patient and looking in the right place, you will be able to see these illusive shorebirds.
Some of the unusual sightings that have been recorded over the last month are: Black-necked Stilts (two different sightings), Eurasian Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Bullock’s Oriole, Swamp Sparrow, Redhead, a flock of 40 White-fronted Geese, Ross’ Goose (seen several different times), a white-faced ibis, and a Wilson’s Phalarope.
We are still looking for some more of the migratory “exotic” birds to show up. Come and visit. Who knows, you might be the one to discover one of these rare ones!
Wild Oats BBQ! This Saturday May 19th Wild Oats supermarket will be having a BBQ to benefit the BIRDS! For $5.00 you can get an Organic Beef Burger, chips and a coke and all Profits Go To The Friends OF RNWR! Tell them you came to support the Friends. Be a friend, bring a friend and tell ALL your friends. Wild Oats at 815 SE 160th Ave, Vancouver, WA (on the corner of SE 164th and Mill Plain, by Borders Books) from11:00am - 3:00pm.
Join us for a fun social event for all on May 19! The Friends of the Plankhouse are hosting a gathering in honor of International Migratory Bird Day and all are invited. Enjoy presentations and taste Chinookan foods between 1:00 and 4:00, Contact Kate for information at Catherine_Mueller-Wille@fws.gov or call 887-4106.
Volunteer Training for the Cathlapotle Plankhouse Docents keep the house open and explain it to visitors, lead tours for school children and interested groups, and join work parties to keep the house in good shape. If you would be interested in serving as a volunteer, a training session will be held on June 2nd from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Shop. At the end of this training session volunteer docents will have the necessary skills and knowledge to staff the Plankhouse as part of a two person team. More information, including driving directions and days and times when the Plankhouse is open to visitors, can be found at www.plankhouse.org. Please call or email Kate at (360) 887-4106 or Catherine_Mueller-Wille@fws.gov to register for the Docent Training Session.
BirdFest and Bluegrass Sponsors needed!! NOW is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to sponsor BirdFest and Bluegrass and get advertising as we promote Ridgefield’s premier event. Please contact Marguerite Hills by June 15 at 360-887-9495 to join us as a sponsor. Any and all support is appreciated for this great nature-fest.
Nature Adventure Camp at the Refuge July 16-20 from 9:00 to 4:00 for students entering 4th to 6th grade. Register by June 8 by contacting Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership at 503-226-1565 and visit www.lcrep.org for more info.
Birding Walks with Ron Escano. All walks start at the respective TRAIL HEAD at 0800 and should last 2-3 hours. KIWA Trail: Wednesday, 5/23/07 and June 3, 9, and 17. OAKS TO WETLAND Trail: Saturday 5/19/07 and June 2.; Contact Eric to reserve your spot at 360-887-4106 or eric_anderson@fws.gov.
National Trails Day is June 2nd- Did you know that the Oaks to Wetlands Trail on the Carty Units is a National Recreational Trail?
THANK YOU! The Friends have received generous donations honoring the memory of Josh Hull, John Hancock and Cliff Mohr. We are using these gifts to update the educational trunks used by school groups studying birds and ecology.
Keep us in mind: Currently the tax code allows tax-free donations from IRA’s to non-profits like the Friends. Unless extended by Congress, these provisions will only be in effect in 2007.
You can always reach us at rfriends@pacifier.com if you are interested in becoming a member and participating with some great projects! Our phone number is 360-887-9495 and our Website is www.ridgefieldfriends.org
