2019 Refuge Photo Contest Calendars!  The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest Calendar is back for the 2019 calendar season! Check out the winners from the 2018 contest, learn about the subjects of the photos, and stay up-to-date on important events, volunteer opportunities, and more. Support volunteer programs like habitat restoration and educational programming, and host beautiful photos of wildlife and your refuge in your home the whole year through. Just $18.00 for the standard heavyweight gloss 8.5x11 (opens to 11x17) calendar, or $23.00 for the XL 11x14 (opens to 14x22) size! Choose your own preferred binding color- and keep a little piece of the Refuge right in your own home. To buy in-store (8.5×11 only), find them at the Hometown Celebration on December 1st! Or check out these amazing locations: |
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Save the Date for the Friends Annual Member and Volunteer Brunch! Saturday, January 26th, 11:00am - 1:00pm All members and volunteers of the Friends are invited to our annual gathering. We'll celebrate our accomplishments of 2018, look ahead to 2019, and conduct our board elections... all over a shared meal. Mark your calendars! Saturday, January 26th, 11:00am - 1:00pm Ilani Casino 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield, WA 98642 Join us for our annual volunteer & membership meeting and brunch! More details and RSVP information will be sent out in December. We look forward to bringing everyone together in January! Not a current member, or need to renew? Become a member & receive all the benefits of membership! Also, be able to vote in this year’s elections! Friends’ membership details & online payment can be found here! |
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events  Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Christmas Bird Count  Every year between December 14thand January 5th, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain to take part in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action. Ridgefield NWR has been a part of the “Sauvie Circle” since the 1960s. Our 15-mile diameter circle encompasses the Columbia River covering Sauvie Island and some of the Scappoose area on the Oregon side and west of I-5 from Vancouver Lake bottoms through the refuge and up to the Lewis River on the Washington side. This year our count will be on December 23rd with a back up date on December 31st. Teams are assigned an area to survey, results are submitted to the compiler who puts it all together and submits the information to the National Audubon Society. Being part of the count can be as simple as counting at your own feeder if you are within the boundaries of the circle, surveying a park you like to visit for a couple of hours or spending all day in the field walking your territory. If you are new to the CBC, we can pair you with more experienced birders. There will be several teams on the refuge and adjacent areas who will be out that day. You will need binoculars, a good field guide or app, and likely good winter weather clothing and footwear. If being part of this big citizen science effort has appeal for you, check out the National Audubon website at https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count. If you would like to participate this year, contact Susan Setterberg at smsett...@yahoo.com, preferable before December 7th,for more information.
Thank you for visiting the Refuge and supporting conservation. If you have any questions regarding activities and regulations on the Refuge, call the office Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at |
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Cathlapotle Plankhouse Second Sunday Series The 2018 Cathlapotle Plankhouse Second Sunday Series has drawn to a close. This past year we were able to host six events in total, with our first ever off-site talk co-hosted with and at the Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM). This year’s Series brought in over 600 people to take in our speaker’s presentations, skills demonstrations, and family activities. Our final lecture in the Series, Colonial Mythologies of the Oregon Indian Wars, with indigenous anthropologist Dr. David G Lewis was co-hosted with the CCHM at their location. The November lecture was successful with over 25 attendees filling the intimate space at the CCHM. Dr. Lewis’ lecture was especially well timed as it coincided with the final week Making Beauty: Native Beadwork of North America was on display at the Museum. Did you know? You can earmark a donation to the Cathlapotle Plankhouse Second Sunday Series or other specific programs the Friend of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge provide to the community? Just enter the program name in the notes section when donating! p.s. Stay tuned for the CCHM’s upcoming exhibit, Music, Movement, & Sound: An Exploration of Clary County’s Musical Roots, with a segment that features two Friends Board Members, Sam Robinson, Vice-Chair of the Chinook Indian Nation, and Tanna Engdahl, the Women’s Spiritual Leader for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, on the Indigenous roots of music in the Pacific Northwest.
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 Whereas October on the Refuge marks the return of the cranes, November brings in the swans. Carty Lake, River S, and Bachelor Island are all playing host to trumpeters (Cygnus buccinators) and mutes (Cygnus olor). If you are new to birding these would be two of the easier to spot birds to check off your list. I’m still looking for the one playing the bugle. Then, if you are looking for a greater challenge we have three subspecies of Canada geese that frequent the refuge. Learn to tell them apart and you could be a potential candidate the next time we recruit refuge goose counters. Habitat volunteers, when not distracted by all the waterfowl, were busy as beavers this month helping to restore wintering habitat for western pond turtles at the Pierce NWR, and clearing plastic grow tubes that did the intended job but needed to be removed from plantings at Carty Field and Long Meadow. The tubes were designed to be photodegradable, but seemed to be lasting longer than advertised. Recent information about plastic and microplastics in the environment, and the impacts to aquatic life and movement throughout the food chain, led us to choose the best worst option and send them to a landfill. This project took multiple work parties, two seasons, and removed thousands of tubes. Much gratitude to all that participated, especially those that braved the wasps and weather to help get it done. Upcoming work parties will spend December clearing blackberries and old barb-wire fencing (not very exciting but beneficial to all who walk, crawl, run, or fly across the refuge) before we start our winter plantings after the first of the year.
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Thank you Members, Donors and Sponsors Thank you to all the people who donated on Giving Tuesday, November 27th! January 2018-November 2018  Members and Donors 2018 3 Peaks Alder Creek Kayak Sharon Agnor AnsleyArt Marilyn Arnesen Libby Adcock & Jack Bernhardsen Jeanne Androvich Backyard Bird Shop Rollin Bannow Bill & Kathy Baumann Beck’s Original Woodworking Chris Bidleman Robin & Lyle Bradford Ivan Brink Rick Browne Dan and Cindy Buell Canyon Creek Metal Works Eugene Carroll Susan Calvert Marion Cassidy CatFish Photography Jane Chinn Jim Clapp David Collier Columbia Credit Union Community Foundation for SWWA- Laspa Family Fund Barbara Comnes Pat Corkill Dennis & Pat Cox Jason A. Crotty Sandra Day Paul & Bonnie Donavan Kay Duncan Daniel and Lin Dzurisin Catherine Eastman Pat & Ron Eastman Tanna & Lynn Engdahl Dale Estes Tom Finn Fire & Ice Concession Bob Flores Garden Fever! Richard Garrison Heather Gramp Michael Greenstreet Jim Gola Mary Grout Jan Haig Bonnie Hankins Richard Hannan Irene Fisher & Craig Hansen Dede & Ken Heath Kristi Herron Dan and Rita Hill Randy Hill Barbara Howard Scott & Cathy Hughes- Ridgefield Hardware Bob & Phyllis Hyatt Ilani Casino & Resort Lorre Jaffe Dennis Johnson Kevin Merchant Photography Don & Helen Klopfenstein- In honor of their mother Vera Lee Knottnerus Julie Koch Barb Kusik Kent C. Landerholm Sandor William Lau Gloria Lawrence Peter Lent Mair Lewis Beth Marlin Lichter Ridgefield Lions Michelle Maani Joe & Donna MacKenzie Marc Mathieu Twila and Mark McCombs Aletha McGee Steven McLaughlin McMenamin’s Heather Memarian Curt & Debbie Mohler Annie Moorhead MudSlinger’s Pottery Nice Nests NW Natural Jim Nindel-Edwards Elizabeth Oedell Christine Olson Leslie O’Rourke Laura Pagano Patagonia Marilyn Pitts David Phelps Port of Ridgefield Port of Vancouver Steve Rauske Ridgefield Floral & Gifts Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Fund- Community Foundation SWWA Greg Robinson Sam Robinson Jim & Darcy Rourk The Recovery Village Ridgefield Cory Samia Mel Sanchez Claudia & Mark Sanzone Virginia Scott Susan Setterberg Carol Silva & Mary Cox James Smith Russel Smith Pat Snyder Jill Spencer Stephanie Stacker Gary Suda- Suda Bowls Dave & Julie Tanner Bob & Marsha Taylor Aschlie Moriah Town Jane Tuck Robert Vanderkamp Henry VanWyhe Janis VanWyhe Susan Wickersham Jennifer Wolcott & Daniel Heinrichs Karen Wood Tom and Lisa Zeiner Everyone from our Annual Member Dinner, January 2018 Everyone from our Annual Fundraiser, July 2018 In Memory of Syndey Reisbick: Jan Haig Mrs. James Johnson In Memory of Lance Wilson: Enas H Wilson In Honor of Greg Hranac: Gary Blefgen & the USFWS Division of Engineering To protect our member's identities, you must opt-in to be added to this list. If your name is not on this list and you think it should be, please contact us. |
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Help the Friends and the Refuge When You Shop 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 go to www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can search for us by our name, Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, or by our non-profit number, PK822. Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping the Friends earn a donation to support the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store. Shop and Give Online at AmazonSmile.com  Log on to smile.amazon.com, shop as you usually would and .5% of your purchase will be donated directly to the Friends. Use the special link, smile.amazon.com, with your existing user name and password. To set up your AmazonSmile account, click this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-2018749. When prompted to select a charity, choose the Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Begin shopping as you normally would and the Friends will receive 0.5% of eligible purchases. Or Shop Online and Give through Giving Assistant  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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Follow the Friends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! 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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| Header Photo Credit: Raul Moreno, 2nd Place, 2017 Refuge Photo Contest |
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| Benefits of Membership: Discounts at Local Businesses for New and Renewing Members: Would you like to enjoy a cup of coffee from Ridgefield's Seasons 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 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, or a beautiful yard courtesy of Shorty's Nursery? |
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Types of 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. 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 Auto Tour. 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. Education Help us inspire the next generation. Kids of all ages need hands-on learning and inspiration in the great outdoors as part of a well-rounded education. We need your help to make their visit to the Refuge fun and memorable. Field trips take place during the weekdays starting in April.
Don’t forget to glance at the Refuge calendar, your one-stop shop for fun activities and volunteer opportunities! |
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Wintering Waterfowl, Cranes and those Pesky Rules Waterfowl: The ducks and swans have been slow to arrive this year. Fairer weather north has kept them there. Without temperatures to freeze ponds, many of the ducks just stayed north and fed on what was available. But we saw some good movement of ducks onto the refuge mid-November. The swans also arrived about November 8th when our first sightings were reported at the contact station. They have been seen on Big Lake between numbers 11 and 12 (along with some Snow Geese) and in the ponds to the right of the road around #3. Because the ponds were still rather low in mid-November... Keep Reading... -Susan Setterberg, Volunteer & Board President |
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Friends seeking new Board Members 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. Please review the position description and submit your application by the extended deadline, December 7th. Thank you for your interest in the Friends and the Refuge! |
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Ridgefield First Saturday: Hometown Celebration December 1st, 2018 9am - 9pm Join your friends and neighbors at the Hometown Celebration! All day fun for the whole family and kids of all ages. The fun begins in historic downtown Ridgefield with an Ugly Sweater Run at 9:00 AM and the Community Center Art & Craft Bazaar. The fun continues with the Columbia Credit Union Food & Gift Festival at Overlook Park at 10:00 including the Farmer’s Market vendors, roasting nuts, and 20+ additional vendors. You will also enjoy live music performances on the stage. Don’t worry about the cold — there will be heaters and canopies. Other activities around town include cooking decorating and holiday crafts, meet SANTA, holiday trailer rides, a living nativity scene and a family games & activity center. The tree lighting ceremony and caroling will begin at 4:30 PM at Overlook Park. Enjoy a holiday performance by DanceFusion, a cup of hot chocolate or hot cider, sweet treats and a community sing-along. For later evening fun, attend the acoustic guitar holiday concert. |
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Species Spotlight
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Hawks can be found in our area in this time of year, because they are a species that breeds in the never-ending sunlight of arctic tundra summers, migrating to Canada and the northern United States in the winter months. They subsist on mostly rodents, and on their wintering grounds prefer to eat mostly voles, mice and shrews. Rough-legged Hawks have been shown to hunt more in areas experimentally treated with vole urine than in control areas. They may be able to see this waste (as American Kestrels can), which is visible in ultraviolet light...keep reading... Photo By: Lyn Topinka |
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Granting Organizations & Partners
BirdFest & Bluegrass
In-Kind Support |
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