News

Refuge Association Announces Grants to Assist Gulf Coast Refuges
First Grant Awarded to Friends of Bon Secour for Dune Planting Project

Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) has announced the award of a $3,000 grant to the Friends of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a project to stabilize the refuge's fragile sand dunes and attempt to keep oil out of fragile wetlands. Bon Secour NWR is one of the first Gulf coast wildlife refuges to be impacted by the BP oil gusher that began April 20. The Refuge Association's grant is the first to be awarded from a special fund set up to aid refuge "Friends" groups responding to the Gulf disaster. Other refuge Friends groups along the Gulf coast can apply for funding for spill-related work by contacting Joan Patterson (202-292-2422). Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis with no deadlines, and will be reviewed by NWRA staff.

More than 30 volunteers from the Friends of Bon Secour NWR–including a local sixth-grade class– braved 105-degree heat indexes for a week in June to plant stabilizing beach grasses on newly enhanced dunes at six locations within the refuge. They planted 5,000 native sea oats plants, along with other vegetation. Once established, the sea oats’ 20- to 30-foot-deep root systems will help prevent the sand from being blown away and oil from washing in. "Our volunteers played a critical role in getting this done," says Ralph Gilges, President of the Friends of Bon Secour NWR. "The refuge didn’t have either the funds or the staff to accomplish this on their own. They called on us, and we were able to step in. We’re extremely grateful to the National Wildlife Refuge Association for this grant, which covers our direct costs for 3,000 sea oats plants."

Since the first days of the BP disaster, the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) has been alerting its supporters to the fact that as many as 36 refuges in the path of the spill could be adversely affected by the spreading oil. Many of those supporters have sent donations. "Even at the best of times, national wildlife refuges rely on the efforts of dedicated volunteers for as much as 20 percent of the work that gets done in these special places," says Evan Hirsche, President of the Refuge Association. "In a catastrophe like this one, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff charged with managing refuges are overwhelmed, and the need for volunteers is even more critical. This new grant program is part of our commitment to help FWS and other Friends groups of Gulf coast refuges respond to the disaster."

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, whose name means "safe harbor" in French, is small but important. Its 7,000 acres provide vital habitat for shorebirds and for more than 350 species of migratory birds. As one of the largest undeveloped parcels along Alabama’s coast, Bon Secour’s fragile dunes, beaches and marshlands are home to a variety of species, including critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, the endangered Alabama beach mouse and piping plover, and rare least terns.

Additional media resources: Video of beach stabilization: http://www.refugeassociation.org/new-issues/delta.html

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity. NWRA works across the U.S. to conserve the most biologically sensitive landscapes, enlisting the support of local citizens and diverse state and federal partners. In addition, NWRA provides training and guidance to more than 250 local refuge "Friends" volunteer groups that are vital to creating public support for national wildlife refuges and wildlife conservation. www.refugeassociation.org

Will the Gulf Oil Spill Affect Backyard Birds?
Scientists ask bird watchers to monitor nests

Ithaca, NY—As oil washes ashore along the Gulf Coast, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is asking birders to keep an eye on nesting birds—not just near water, but hundreds of miles inland.

“Wildlife biologists are monitoring species such as pelicans and plovers in the immediate path of the oil,” said Laura Burkholder at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “But we need bird watchers across the country to help us find out if birds that pass through or winter in the Gulf region carry contamination with them, possibly creating an ‘oil shadow’ of declines in bird reproduction hundreds of miles from the coast.”

To help, Burkholder said that anyone with an interest in birds can learn how to find and monitor nests as part of the Cornell Lab’s NestWatch project (www.nestwatch.org). It involves visiting a nest for a few minutes, twice per week, and recording information such as how many eggs it contains, how many chicks hatch, and how many leave the nest.

“Many birds that nest in backyards all across North America, such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Tree Swallows, spend part of the year along the Gulf of Mexico, where they could be affected by the oil spill,” Bukholder said. “Toxins often have profound effects on reproduction, and it’s possible that toxins encountered in one environment can affect the birds in another environment, after they arrive on their breeding grounds.”

When participants across large regions contribute information, Burkholder said, scientists can assess changes in nesting success in relation to environmental factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and pollution.

Citizen-science participants have helped the Cornell Lab monitor the success rates of nesting birds for 45 years. Now, Burkholder said, it’s especially critical to capture data on nesting birds to reveal the health of birds before they encounter the oil spill—as well as in the years ahead, to detect possible long-term effects.

To help the effort, visit www.nestwatch.org. In addition to accepting observations from the general public, NestWatch is available as a data repository for wildlife agencies and scientific organizations to support their research on the impacts of the oil spill.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

SC Johnson Assists National Wildlife Refuge Association with the Gulf Oil Disaster Grant Funds Public Awareness Campaign, Wildlife and Habitat "Safety Net"

Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) is pleased to announce that SC Johnson has awarded a grant to assist NWRA in responding to the wildlife and habitat impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil-rig blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. SC Johnson will partner with NWRA to generate public awareness about the wildlife and national wildlife refuges affected by the Gulf disaster, and will support NWRA’s efforts to pursue a "natural safety net" for wildlife species and habitats harmed by the still-unfolding environmental disaster.

"While much of the response to the Gulf oil disaster has understandably centered on providing help to the families and communities whose livelihoods are being devastated by the spill, it’s imperative that we also focus on the long-term impacts to wildlife and their habitats," said Evan Hirsche, President of the Refuge Association. "More than 30 of our national wildlife refuges and the hundreds of wildlife species they protect are in imminent danger from the oil spill. We are grateful for SC Johnson’s support in helping us ensure that strategies are in place to secure the conservation of manatees, sea turtles, brown pelicans, whales, migratory birds, bluefin tuna, and other impacted species into the future."

"For decades, SC Johnson has been committed to preserving and protecting our environment," said Kelly M. Semrau, Vice President - Global Public Affairs and Communication at SC Johnson. "We are glad to partner with NWRA in cleaning and protecting our Gulf coast culture now and for future generations."

The gushing leak in the Gulf of Mexico has polluted the water with more than one hundred million gallons of oil, jeopardizing the Gulf’s marine ecosystem and the rich diversity of life it supports. Along the Gulf coast, tens of thousands of nesting pelicans, herons, egrets, and shorebirds are in harm’s way from oil washing up on their nesting grounds. The endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of four species of sea turtles that depend on Gulf waters and beaches for survival, could be lost forever. The endangered West Indian manatee, whose population declined sharply during the extremely cold winter of 2009-10, is in danger from oil and toxic chemical dispersants. Oil already has washed up on several refuges, including Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) in Louisiana, Grand Bay NWR in Mississippi, and Bon Secour NWR in Alabama. With no end to the disaster in sight, wildlife populations could be decimated.

SC Johnson’s support will facilitate NWRA’s media outreach work; support NWRA’s efforts to engage volunteers in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s spill response; and assist NWRA as it leads a diverse coalition of organizations to create a "natural safety net" to secure the well-being of harmed species into the future.

About NWRA
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity. NWRA works across the U.S. to conserve the most biologically sensitive landscapes, enlisting the support of local citizens and diverse state and federal partners. In addition, NWRA provides training and guidance to more than 250 local refuge "Friends" volunteer groups that are vital to creating public support for national wildlife refuges and wildlife conservation. www.refugeassociation.org

About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 124-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

National Wildlife Refuge Association Backs Government Decision to Halt Louisiana Dredging

Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) today praised the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their decision to halt the State of Louisiana’s dredging operations near the Breton National Wildlife Refuge off Louisiana’s coast. The refuge, most of which is a federally designated Wilderness area, is located on the Chandeleur Islands, and is home to tens of thousands of nesting sea- and shore-birds, including brown pelicans, piping plovers, and least terns. All these species are in grave danger from the BP oil disaster. According to Refuge Association President Evan Hirsche, "the State of Louisiana has blatantly disregarded the terms of federal dredging permits, conducting massive dredging operations close to the Chandeleurs despite a legally binding agreement to dredge farther offshore. The federal government did the right thing in calling a halt to this illegal activity."

Despite the concerns of federal and independent scientists that dredging could amount to nothing more than an expensive boondoggle that could do more harm than good for the fragile wetlands of Louisiana’s coast, the Interior Department and Corps of Engineers expedited the federal permit process to allow Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal to dredge sand and construct protective berms offshore. The permits allowed for dredging three miles off the coast, yet Jindal defied the permits’ restrictions and commenced dredging close to the Chandeleurs, leading to yesterday’s decision to shut down the operation. "The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Corps of Engineers went to great lengths to get Gov. Jindal the permits he needed to build the berms, yet he flouted the rules and did as he pleased," said Hirsche. "It’s disingenuous for him now to blame the government for his own transgressions."

"We understand Governor Jindal’s concern for his state’s residents and economy, and are sympathetic to the devastation the BP oil gusher has caused to Louisiana’s people and communities," said Hirsche. "However, two wrongs don’t make a right, and Gov. Jindal had an obligation to abide by the terms of his state’s agreement with the federal government."

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity. NWRA works across the U.S. to conserve the most biologically sensitive landscapes, enlisting the support of local citizens and diverse state and federal partners. In addition, NWRA provides training and guidance to more than 250 local refuge "Friends" volunteer groups that are vital to creating public support for national wildlife refuges and wildlife conservation.

French Creek Cleanup

The Friends of Erie NWR would like to get a team together to participate in the French Creek Valley Conservancy's 18th Annual French Creek Cleanup to be held September 11th from 9am until 3pm. Cleanup crews should be able to paddle or walk a few miles and lift possibly heavy trash. Drivers and support personal may also be needed.

Participants receive a free T-shirt and a picnic lunch at Bicentennial Park. Music at the picnic preformed by Unkle John's Band. Prizes are awarded based on weight and uniqueness of trash collected.

For more information on the event visit http://frenchcreekconservancy.allegheny.edu/cleanup.html

If you are at all interested in participating in this project please email us at info@friendsofenwr.org or call the Refuge at 814-789-3585 and we can get the planning started.

Top Ten Reasons to Purchase a Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp

1. There are over 540 individual units within the United States. Each refuge is managed as a protected haven for birds and other wildlife. Since 1934, a huge proportion of the funds used to acquire these critical habitats in the lower-48 states were provided through sales of what is today known as Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps – commonly called “Duck Stamps.” All outdoor recreationists who enjoy wildlife and natural landscapes can thank those who have already purchased stamps over the decades, for they have contributed over $700 million and protected 5.3 million acres of habitat for wildlife and future generations of people.
   
   
2. The Stamp costs only $15 and it’s easy for everyone to purchase – nearly all Post Offices carry them. Even better, it is extremely cost-effective: fully 98 cents out of every dollar ($14.70) goes directly to acquire land for the Refuge System. This $15-purchase is perhaps the single simplest thing one can do to support a legacy of wetland and grassland conservation for birds.
   
   
3. The funds not only go to refuges, but since 1958, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has used a portion of the Stamp revenues to purchase wetland and grassland habitats within the Prairie Pothole Region of the upper Midwest and northern Great Plains. Through their Small Wetlands Acquisition Program, the FWS has perpetually protected and conserved nearly 3 million acres of wetland and grassland habitat for prairie wildlife. These small wetlands and grassland complexes - commonly referred to as Waterfowl Production Areas or WPAs - include more than 29,000 permanent easements, covering 2.1 million acres, and approximately 7,000 fee tracts, totaling over 677,000 acres of habitat for wetland and grassland wildlife. All WPAs are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Every unit in this system provides important benefits to migratory bird species, other wildlife, water quality, aquifer replenishment, and the environment in general.
   
   
4. In response to serious downward trends of many species of "prairie" nesting birds, the FWS began purchasing permanent grassland easements to conserve existing habitat for prairie nesting birds. The grassland easement program is integrally related to and compliments the FWS's fee acquisition programs.
   
   
5. The purchase of a Stamp is not something that will just benefit ducks. Among scores of other bird species, numerous kinds of shorebirds, long-legged waders, and wetland and grassland songbirds are dependent on habitat derived from Stamp purchases. (Densities of grassland bird species such as Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow and Sedge Wren, are remarkably higher on Refuge System grasslands than on the landscape in general.)
   
   
6. You can say the same about that status of other wildlife – not only birds – and water quality as benefiting from the use of the Stamp. Reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies, all flourish through Stamp investments. Water quality is also strengthened.
   
   
7. Some of the most diverse and wildlife-rich refuges in the nation have been acquired with Stamp funds. For example, see the following list of refuges and the percentage paid for by Stamp purchases.
   
   
   Sacramento in California 99.6%
   Parker River in Massachusetts 99.3%
   Bosque del Apache in New Mexico 99.2%
   Pea Island in North Carolina 99.2%
   Quivira in Kansas 99.1%
   Horicon in Wisconsin 98.7%
   Muskatatuk in Indiana 98.9%
   Monomoy in Massachusetts 97.8%
   Bombay Hook in Delaware 95.1%
   Santa Ana in Texas 94.9%
   DeSoto in Iowa and Nebraska 90.8%
   Okefenokee in Georgia 88.2%
   Anahuac in Texas 87.5%
   Ottawa in Ohio 86.4%
   Laguna Atascosa in Texas 86.0%
   Edwin B. Forsythe (Brigantine) in New Jersey 84.3%
   Blackwater in Maryland 77.6%
   
   And if that isn’t enough incentive, consider that 99.8% of all WPAs in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana were acquired through Stamp funding.
   
   

   A Stamp is a “free pass” for an entire year – for a vehicle full of people at all refuges that charge for admission – a real bargain if ever there was one!
   
   

   Whether or not you’re a hunter of any sort, you can appreciate the wise balance of activities ascribed through Congressional refuge legislation and Stamp application over the years (e.g., 1935, 1958, 1966, 1978).  Basically, all refuges established under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act with an "inviolate sanctuary" purpose for migratory bird conservation, can open up to 40% of the total acreage of said refuges to migratory bird hunting. In practice, and especially since the late 1970s, this 40% standard balance can be exceeded only when such migratory bird hunting activity is determined to be compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established or if the Secretary of the Interior determines that it would be "beneficial to the species."
   
   

   The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation [Duck] Stamp is probably the best-kept secret in all of bird conservation. And, by buying and displaying a Stamp you will show that you appreciate what long-term habitat protection for all birds and other wildlife is, and that you care!

The White House Is Listening
By Greg Siekaniec
Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System

Could this be the next chapter in wildlife, land and water conservation history in America?

The White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, held April 16, ignited hope in those of us who have been waiting for years for an administration to be this interested in the Refuge System and conservation across the landscape.

I was in the audience at the Department of the Interior when President Obama talked of Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy, saying, “From [Roosevelt’s] commitment sprang an effort to save the great redwoods of California and the petrified forest of Arizona, the great bird rocks of the Aleutian Islands and the Tongass of Alaska. From that commitment sprang a breathtaking legacy of conservation that still enhances our lives . . . and, no matter how long I have the privilege of serving as President, I know I can never match it. But I do intend to enrich that legacy, and I feel an abiding bond with the land that is the United States of America.”

The president spoke about the pursuit and partnership of conservation outside of Washington – by state and local governments, by tribes and by private groups – “so we can write a new chapter in the protection of rivers, wildlife habitats, historic sites and the great landscapes of our country.” He promised help to landowners – including ranchers and farmers – who want to conserve their land, and to families so they can spend more time outdoors. President Obama vowed to help foster a new generation of community and urban parks so that “children across America have the chance to experience places like Millennium Park in my own Chicago.”

Finally, he noted, “Even in times of crisis, we’re called to take the long view to preserve our national heritage – because in doing so we fulfill some of the responsibilities that falls to all of us as Americans, as inhabitants of this small planet.”

So, where do we go from here? First, make your voice heard. Go to the Department of the Interior Web site to join the conversation: http://www.doi.gov//americasgreatoutdoors/. Scroll down the page to the link to “Share Your Story,” where you can tell the White House and the Department just how important wildlife refuges, waterfowl productions areas, conservation easements and large working landscapes are to you and your community. You can even leave photos of your favorite places.

Then there’s the link to “Share Your Ideas & Join the Conversation,” where you can tell the administration your thoughts about what should be happening regarding land conservation. Now you can share conservation strategies that engage communities, explain how to build buffers around protected areas by using conservation easements or, explain the value of wetland easements in the prairies. You can give examples of successful projects and partnerships where you have delivered conservation strategies. Talk about the role and influence that all agencies – state and federal – can have on conservation when we together work toward common conservation goals.

Second, the Secretary of the Interior will be holding public listening sessions. Frequent the Department Web page (http://www.doi.gov/) regularly to make sure you get to one of those public sessions.

I can’t recall a time when we have been presented with this kind of chance to make our viewpoints known. The White House has opened the dialogue. It’s our job to engage, listen and learn so we can enrich the discussion and, most important, the results.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

As hundreds of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff work furiously in the wake of the Gulf oil spill, Americans across the country are wondering what they can do. Here are some information sources:

1. Continuous updates on the oil spill are being provided online by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/index.html
   
   
2. To volunteer or report oiled shoreline, call 866-448-5816.
   
   
3. To report oiled wildlife, call 866-557-1401.

1. Louisiana: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
   
   
2. Mississippi: http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
   
   
3. Florida: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
   
   
4. Alabama: http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx

Trained in Handling Contaminants

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t wait for crises like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to learn how to handle contaminants that threaten people and wildlife. Service leaders routinely assign staffers to attend 24 to 40 hours of specialized training in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, commonly known as HAZWOPER training.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration requires training for all federal employees who are likely to encounter or supervise the handling of hazardous materials. The training teaches participants how to minimize health and safety risks from exposure to toxic chemicals.

Frank Drauszewski, deputy refuge manager from Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver/) in Newburyport, Massachusetts, began HAZWOPER training the same week the Deepwater Horizon well exploded in the Gulf. The course was planned months earlier. Along with Drauszewski was Parker River’s Park Ranger Chris Husgen and 13 more employees from National Wildlife Refuge’s in the northeast region.

“Since I work on a coastal refuge, I felt it was important to have a couple of people trained in this area,” said Drauszewski. “You can’t pick up oiled birds or work on cleanup unless you have HAZWOPER training.”

Participants had barely zipped up their white hazmat suits and adjusted their respirators before the size of the Gulf oil disaster became apparent. Since classes ended several trainees have been deployed to crisis teams in the Gulf.

The training was led by Joseph Trujillo, Owner and Director of Training for Intermountain Technical Solutions, a government contractor based in Tooele, Utah. According to Trujillo, he’s trained more than 130,000 federal and private sector employees, including more than 1,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel in 18 years of hazardous material classes.

All Service personnel in the field responding to the Gulf crisis have received HAZWOPER training. In a crisis such as Deepwater, responders might receive an intensive four-hour training class instead of the longer 24 or 40-hour training sessions.

Trujillo said the most important advice for people joining emergency response teams in the Gulf is to remember that while toxic chemicals can be managed, the greatest risk to people is fire. “There’s no easy system to protect ourselves from flammable environments,” he said, “so whether we’re working with a solvent or other chemical that will degrade the crude oil, we have to be ever mindful of the risk of fire.”

For more information, visit the Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center’s Web site at: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/ To learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s response, visit: http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/index.html

CARE to Obama: Take Wildlife Refuge Cuts Off the Table
Cutting Refuge Funding Would Have Dire Consequences in Wake of Gulf Oil Spill

June 10, 2010 (Washington, DC) – In a letter delivered to President Obama today, a national coalition of wildlife conservation and sporting organizations has asked the President to take cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge System’s budget off the table as he considers cutting federal agency spending by five percent in FY 2012. The coalition called the proposed cuts "wrong and inappropriate" at a time when refuges and the species they protect are dealing with potentially one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It is neither the time nor the place to propose funding cuts for the National Wildlife Refuge System or for the Fish and Wildlife Service," said Evan Hirsche, Chair of the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE). "Agencies are already spread thin responding to the belching oil in the Gulf of Mexico, and the President’s proposed five percent budget cut would have dire consequences in the Refuge System’s ability to help wildlife recover. The survival of species like the brown pelican, which was only recently removed from the endangered species list, is now looking more bleak than it did just a year ago."

National wildlife refuges protect a host of species that are being decimated in the Gulf of Mexico, including sea turtles, manatees and numerous migratory birds. The FWS is projecting that 20% of its nationwide staff will be deployed to the Gulf at some point to address the ongoing crisis, making it difficult for the agency to address ongoing refuge needs or future emergencies such as floods, hurricanes, and forest fires. Should the proposed funding cuts occur, the problems will be magnified ten-fold. Understaffed wildlife refuges will be forced to make difficult decisions to cut programs that protect wildlife, such as vital scientific monitoring programs. Ultimately, the cuts will compromise the System’s congressionally mandated conservation mission.

Download CARE's letter to the President here: http://www.fundrefuges.org/care/potus_fy12.pdf

Geocaching on the Refuge

On May 22nd a special geocaching event was held on the Erie NWR. This event was made possible by a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and the ENWR. This was a test of a pilot program which may be implemented nationally.

Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunt using a hand held GPS unit. Treasure boxes, or "geocaches", were placed along three of the hiking trails on the Refuge. While hints were given about the locations the object was to find the boxes using the GPS coordinates. Once you found the boxes you were to sign the log book and you had the opportunity to trade for trinkets in the cache. Then the cache was hidden back where it was found, ready for the next person to come along.

The day dawned rainy but that didn't keep the participants away. Many groups and families braved the weather and finished all three courses. Whether or not the test was a success, the day certainly was, and a great time was had by all. Especially the kids!

On Birthday of Silent Spring Author, Wildlife Again in Danger

Brown Pelicans and Other Species on the Brink as Oil Inundates Coastal Refuges

Washington, DC- When Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, brown pelicans and other birds were among those in danger of extinction from the effects of pesticides like DDT. Carson, whose birthday is celebrated today, spurred public outrage and launched a new era of strong government protection for air, land, water and wildlife. As the Gulf oil disaster continues unabated, the brown pelican again hangs on to survival by a slim thread. Only recently removed from the Endangered Species list, brown pelicans, which nest at the Breton and Delta National Wildlife Refuges on the Louisiana coast, are threatened by the toxic aftermath of millions of gallons of oil released from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Some 30 National Wildlife Refuges along the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida coasts are in imminent danger from the flood of oil, along with the birds, mammals, fish, crustaceans and plant life they protect.

"Rachel Carson reminded us that all life is connected, and that breaking the threads that make up the web of life can have tragic consequences," said Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "The BP disaster puts not only the human communities of the Gulf coast at great risk, but also the natural communities on which all human life depends. Our coastal National Wildlife Refuges are crucial ecosystems that play a key role in protecting the livelihoods and health of Gulf coast residents."

Hirsche commended President Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for their leadership in announcing a six-month moratorium on all new offshore drilling, including a proposed new project in the Arctic Ocean offshore from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "As the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico makes clear, spilled oil is a deadly toxin for wildlife. We cannot afford to risk another oil disaster in a place that has been called ’America's Serengeti.’ Just as Rachel Carson spurred strong government regulation of air and water pollution, we hope that the Gulf oil disaster will launch a new era of strong government oversight of our precious natural resources."

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

NWRA Urges Donations to Aid Gulf Coast Refuge Friends Groups

Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association, which works with tens of thousands of volunteers across the country in support of the 150-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, today launched a Gulf oil spill relief fund and volunteer registry. With oil expected to severely impact critical wildlife refuge habitat in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, funds and volunteers will be vital in supporting the efforts of local volunteer refuge "Friends" organizations.

"There are 20 national wildlife refuges in the immediate path of the oil spill, and they depend on Friends organization volunteers to provide critical support to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service professionals," said Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "20% of the work done on our federal refuges is already being done by volunteers; the disaster in the Gulf is going to require an even greater volunteer commitment."

While BP must be held accountable for clean up costs, groups such as the Friends of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on the Alabama coast are doing whatever they can to help refuge professionals now to prepare for oil which is expected to reach their refuge by the weekend. Friends groups and volunteers at refuges in the path of the spill will assist refuge staff gather as much baseline data as possible before the oil makes landfall. From water samples to bird, mammal and turtle counts, Friends will help refuge staff accurately detail what could be lost.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified an additional five national wildlife refuges that are under most immediate threat by the oil spill: Delta NWR, LA; Breton NWR, LA; Bayou Sauvage NWR, LA; Grand Bay NWR, MS and Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, MS. These refuges are historically and ecologically significant and the timing of the spill could not happen at a worse time. Birds that are nesting right now include wading birds such as egrets and herons, seabirds, and beach nesters that live in large colonies, such as gulls, terns and skimmers. Contact with a drop of oil as small a dime can cause fatalities in many birds.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association works with more than 220 Refuge Friends Groups throughout the country, of which 192 are affiliates. These local not-for-profit organizations along with dedicated volunteers nationwide are crucial to protecting our national wildlife refuges and Americas wildlife heritage.

To donate to NWRA's fund, register to volunteer, or learn about how oil will impact Gulf refuges and wildlife, visit:

http://www.refugeassociation.org/new-issues/delta.html

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

The Friends of ENWR Has a New Page on Facebook

The Friends of ENWR has a new page on Facebook. You can find it here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119983438021998&ref=mf

If you are a Facebook user please join and feel free to post your thoughts about and adventures on the Erie NWR. Hope to see you there!

Let Your Voice Be Heard on America’s Great Outdoors

President Obama has launched a national dialogue about conservation in America following the April 16 White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, where more than 600 invited sports enthusiasts, conservationists and others joined in the first such conference in more than a century. Americans are now being encouraged to share their ideas about community-level conservation.

Americans can share their stories about the places where they caught their first fish, camped for the first time, or discovered their connections to America’s great outdoors. There are the places where families spend time together, where children play, and where we each forge memories that stay with us for a lifetime. You can add your comments about national wildlife refuges and other special places – along with photos – at: http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Feedback.cfm.

Another site -- http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/ -- is called the “idea jam,” where people can give their viewpoints on. People are already leaving their comments on the Web site, where Web visitors are encouraged to vote for ideas they like on the issues:

1. Reconnecting with the Great Outdoors: Where you can give your ideas for helping Americans get outside and recommend with the nation’s land and water, history and culture, and wildlife.
2. Public Lands Conservation: Which open spaces, watersheds, historic or cultural sites, wildlife habitat or other public lands are most important to you, and what can be done at the local, state or federal level to improve their management?
3. Private Lands Conservation: How can the U.S. better support the voluntary efforts of farmers, ranchers and private landowners?

NWRA/Southwest Airlines Celebrate Earth Day with Refuge Volunteer Days

Washington, DC- In celebration of Earth Day, the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) and Southwest Airlines have teamed up to provide volunteer opportunities for Southwest employees on wildlife refuges in Florida and Georgia. Both states are home to some of the most biologically rich refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and rely heavily on volunteers to achieve their vital wildlife conservation objectives.

"I can think of no better way to observe Earth Day than to volunteer on one of our 554 national wildlife refuges," said Evan Hirsche, President of the NWRA. "We’re excited to partner with Southwest Airlines to provide a little "Luv" for our national wildlife refuges in Florida and Georgia!"

America’s national wildlife refuges are invaluable to wildlife and offer outstanding opportunities for people to experience and appreciate our natural world -- there’s a national wildlife refuge within just an hours drive of nearly all major metropolitan areas. Refuges in Florida and Georgia protect a wide variety of wildlife including manatees, alligators, Florida panthers, whooping cranes, and almost countless migratory bird species. Yet all face challenges from invasive species, pollution and human encroachment, and depend on active and engaged local communities.

"What is important to the community is important to us, which is why we are thrilled to have partnered with the National Wildlife Refuge Association to preserve these natural spaces," said Linda Rutherford, Vice President of Communication and Strategic Outreach. "Being a good steward of the environment is the right thing to do, and each day our Employees Share the Spirit to make our world a better place."

Volunteer days will occur during Earth Day and over the coming weeks at Crystal River, Merritt Island, Okefenokee, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee, J.N. "Ding" Darling and Florida Panther national wildlife refuges. Refuge Friends groups will assist refuge staff at each of these locations, and projects will range from removing fishing line from mangroves, to removing invasive species and picking up trash.

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

NWRA Presents Vision for 'America's Great Outdoors'

Washington, DC- At the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors, the National Wildlife Refuge Association today commended President Obama for launching a nation-wide discussion on the future of conservation in America, and released "Conserving America's Great Outdoors," a report that presents a vision and set of guidelines to help inform the President’s vision.

"Like Teddy Roosevelt 100 years ago, the President has an extraordinary opportunity to shape the nation's conservation vision for the next century," said Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "Our challenges are great, but the ingredients are there for achieving success in conserving wildlife and habitat for the benefit of the American people."

The conservation framework of the last century protected natural gems from the Florida Keys to the Alaskan Arctic, and in a true American success story prevented the extinction of iconic species such as the American bison. Yet in spite of these inspiring successes, our wildlife and wild places continue to be harmed by habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and the effects of climate change.

Also today, NWRA released a report entitled "Conserving America’s Great Outdoors." The report presents a series of guidelines that include diversifying partnerships and funding opportunities, as well as emphasizing climate change mitigation values, stakeholder participation, and opportunities for youth conservation engagement. It highlights ten "Flagship Landscapes" that illustrate how conservation success can be achieved when these criteria are applied in major ecosystems such as the Northern Everglades in Florida.

"America’s Great Outdoors can be the mechanism for re-engaging the reconnecting the American people with our natural heritage," said Hirsche. "Success in conserving wildlife will in turn assure the improved health of the nation and a sustainable future for our children."

Working with the nearly 250 National Wildlife Refuge Friends groups, and in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the 150-million-acre Refuge System, NWRA seeks to conserve American wildlife through innovative partnerships across the country.

Download "Conserving Americas Great Outdoors" here: http://www.refugeassociation.org/new-pdf-files/AmGreatOutdoors.pdf

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

Through the Lens: Reflections
by Gabby Salazar

Have you ever looked at your reflection in a pool of water? Reflections are fun to photograph because of the way they both mirror and change the way objects look.

You may have noticed how your reflection in a pool of water changes if it is windy or if there are ripples in the water. The next time you visit a large lake, river, or another body of water at a national wildlife refuge, bring along your camera and experiment!

Tips for Photographing Reflections:

• For clear reflections visit the body of water on a day with no wind so that the water is still. On the other hand, I like it better when there is a little wind so that the reflections change each time the wind moves the water.
• Try tossing a small pebble into the water to create ripples and other patterns in your image.
• Take pictures of flowers or leaves reflected in the water – they may be crisp and clear over a still lake or blend together in a moving river. Try taking a landscape image including the reflections or focus just on the reflection to create an abstract picture.

Michigan’s First Wetland of International Importance

Humbug Marsh on Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has become Michigan’s first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The marsh serves as vital habitat for 51 species of fish, 90 species of plants, 154 species of birds, seven species of reptiles and amphibians, and 37 species of dragonflies and damselflies.

Humbug Marsh is the 27th Ramsar site to be listed in the U.S. and joins approximately 1,880 sites listed worldwide. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 to encourage voluntary protection of wetlands. Countries that sign the treaty demonstrate their commitment to conserve wetlands as a contribution toward sustainable development throughout the world.  

To receive this prestigious designation, a wetland must meet at least one of nine criteria, such as supporting rare species, providing a significant hydrological function, or serving as essential habitat for large numbers of fish and waterfowl. Humbug Marsh met five of the nine criteria.

Newsletter Gets New Name - Look

Our Friends newsletter has gotten a new name... Duck Tales. At the last board meeting Duck Tales was selected from a list suggested by members. Watch your mail for the spring edition, it should be coming your way soon.

Heritage Fest Update

The plans for the 4th Annual Guys Mills Heritage Fest are coming together nicely. The Friends have been meeting with representatives from other organizations in town the last couple of months to work out the details. There will be changes to some activities but some of your favorites will remain the same.

The Faith Builders Educational Programs has decided to move their annual auction to a different date but, don't worry, they have found many other exciting activities to fill the void. In keeping with their focus on education, they will be offering a science demo, a used book sale, and are working on lining up other displays and activities. The usual historical displays will also be there but tours will only be available on request. Faith Builders will be offering pizza by the slice and soft pretzels for sale.

The United Evangelical Free Church will not be holding their children's carnival this year but the popular cruise in car show is still going forward. They plan to offer live music, a puppet show and the bounce house. All your favorite carnival junk food will still be in attendance also.

The Randolph Volunteer Fire Department's line up will remain the same. Kids can see the fire equipment, visit with Smokey Bear and learn about fire safety. The smoke house will be there to challenge young and old. Randolph's great grilled hamburgers and hot dogs will be for sale as well.

The Erie National Wildlife Refuge will be going with the theme of Migratory Birds this year. The ever popular guided birds walks will fit right in with this theme and will be available on a regular schedule. Displays by the Audubon Society and Tamarack Rehab Center featuring live birds have been confirmed. At least three local nature artists will be displaying their work as well. Children can have fun playing games and making crafts while learning about nature. Patty is also working on an idea that would let kids earn a patch after completing the activities.

The Guys Mills Heritage Fest will be held June 26, 2010 from 10:00am until 4:00pm. Mark your calendar today!

WeLoveBirds.org Photo Contest Launches

New York, NY & Ithaca, NY--The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology today announced the launch of the WeLoveBirds.org photo contest. Anyone can join this free interactive online community and submit one original photograph of a wild bird for the contest. Site members will vote for their favorite photographs. The winning photos will be announced and featured on Earth Day, April 22.

WeLoveBirds.org offers an open social network of people who are passionate about birds; access to information on birds and birding from a leading ornithology lab; and an opportunity to make a positive difference for birds and their habitats. WeLoveBirds.org members can already submit photographs to the site, along with videos, comments, discussions, and blog posts.

“WeLoveBirds.org members are amazing bird photographers”, said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, NRDC senior attorney. “WeLoveBirds.org already showcases over 3,000 photographs that have been posted by its members.”

“WeLoveBirds.org is a place where birders from across the world are connecting with one another”, said Miyoko Chu, director of Communications at the Cornell Lab. “Photographs are a vibrant way to make these connections as people share their favorite photos and decide the winners.”

The site represents a first partnership between NRDC and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, nationally recognized conservation organizations that will offer NRDC’s expertise in policy and advocacy and the Cornell Lab’s authoritative bird research, online birding resources, and citizen-science programs.

For contest rules and information, go to: http://www.welovebirds.org/page/photo-contest

Tap into tap water!

DID YOU KNOW? Bottling and shipping water is the least efficient method of water delivery ever invented. The energy we waste using bottled water would be enough to power 190,000 homes. But refilling your water bottle from the tap requires no expenditure of energy, and zero waste of resources (source Pbs.org). Link to a slide show below to see environmental consequences of using bottled water.

Not all tap water is created equally, though. Here at the RO and at home, I drink tap water every day, but earlier this month I was in Florida and didn’t like the sulfur taste of the tap water there. Where is the best tasting tap water in the world? Hamilton, Ohio, according to the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting contest held last month. This competition touts itself as the largest of its kind in the world and is right here in our region at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says tap and bottled water are both safe to drink if they meet standards set by the EPA and Food and Drug Administration, although people with severely compromised immune systems and children may have special needs. See EPA’s brochure on bottled water basics for more information. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/pdfs/fs_healthseries_bottledwater.pdf

If your water comes from a public water system, the best way to learn about your water is to read your water supplier’s annual water quality report. Use EPA’s interactive map at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html to find out more. If your water comes from a household well, EPA recommends testing the water regularly for bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants.

Other information from the EPA:

Some bottled water is treated more than tap water, while some is treated less or not treated at all. Bottled water costs much more than tap water on a per gallon basis. Bottled water is valuable in emergency situations (such as floods and earthquakes), and high quality bottled water may be a desirable option for people with weakened immune systems.

Consumers who choose to purchase bottled water should carefully read its label to understand what they are buying, whether it is a better taste, or a certain method of treatment.

Interesting links:

2004 PBS POV Borders documentary series on water: http://www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2004/water/index.html

Slide show on environmental effects of bottled water: http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/AgNatRes/Sustainability/water-disaster.pdf

Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting http://www.berkeleysprings.com/water/about.htm

Writen by Catherine J. Hibbard, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5

Alaska Road to Nowhere a Solution in Search of a Problem
Another $30 Million for 800 Villagers Who Already Got $37.5 Million

Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association today called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to reject construction of a $30 million, nine-mile gravel "Road to Nowhere" through the biological heart of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, a premier American wilderness area. Comments were made at an Interior Department scoping meeting.

"This boondoggle is a solution in search of a problem while endangering the biological heart of a national wildlife refuge," said Desiree Sorenson-Groves, NWRAs Vice-President of Government Affairs. "The American taxpayer should not be asked to shoulder the $30 million cost of an often-impassable road for a community of 800 people, particularly after giving them $37.5 million which has already addressed their needs."

Congress solved King Cove’s health and safety needs in 1998, when it appropriated $37.5 million to this tiny community. Of that, $9 million was spent to purchase a 98–foot, all–weather hovercraft ferry that has a 100 percent success record with at least 35 medevacs to date. Another $26 million was spent building a still–incomplete and treacherous, single-lane gravel road that dead-ends at the edge of the refuge wilderness area. The remainder was allocated to create a state–of–the–art community medical clinic.

With a top speed of 58mph, the hovercraft can ferry an ambulance between the two communities in just 20 minutes. Even the mayor of the Aleutians East Borough agrees, saying the hovercraft ferry is a "lifesaving machine," and "is doing what it is supposed to do."

In order to help get legislation passed that ultimately required FWS to conduct and Environmental Impact Statement on the road, the Alaska Congressional delegation offered a land exchange. Izembek NWR and the nearby Alaska Peninsula NWR would receive an additional 61,723 acres in exchange for 206 acres to build the road. However, those 206 acres represent the biological heart of the refuge – and the road construction would have a severe impact on the birds and wildlife that depend on the refuge.

"If we’re opposed to receiving more than 60,000 acres for the price of just 200 acres, you know its a bad deal," said Sorenson-Groves.

Ninety–eight percent of the Pacific black brant population, medium–size geese that utilize the refuge as a critical stopover and nesting site, depend on this one location for survival. The species, which gorge on the eelgrass beds of Izembek Lagoon, flies non–stop between Izembek and wintering grounds in Mexico. Road construction could jeopardize their feeding – and their migration. In addition, the isthmus through which the road would be carved is an important corridor and foraging area for caribou and Alaska brown bear.

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve Americas wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

Download NWRA's Road to Nowhere Report at: http://www.refugeassociation.org/new-publications/Izembek.html.

From C.A.R.E. Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement...

BUDGET CUTS THREATEN REFUGES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM
Coalition Calls on Congress to Restore Funding for National Wildlife Refuge System

March 8, 2010 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System, which fuels the economic engine of local communities in all 50 states, is under threat from an Obama Administration proposal to significantly cut the system's budget. A report to be released to Congress today by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) warns that unless Congress acts to restore funding for the Refuge System, the economic benefits that refuges provide could be in jeopardy at the very time they're needed most. Also at risk are the lands, waters, wildlife, birds and recreation opportunities that the more than 550 refuges in the 150-million-acre Refuge System were established to protect.

The report, Restoring America's Wildlife Refuges 2010, notes that despite recent funding increases by Congress, the Refuge System is still funded at a level far below what is needed to fulfill some of its most basic functions. Because the Refuge System needs at least $15 million annually to maintain management capabilities in the face of inflation, if Congress does not act to reverse the administrations proposed cuts ($3.3 million below FY 2010 funding levels), those cuts combined with inflation will reduce the Refuge System's spending power by at least $18.3 million, warns CARE. That could translate into more crime on refuge lands, fewer programs for visitors, continued deterioration of refuge facilities, and a loss of protection for the birds, animals, fish, and plantsmany of them already endangered or threatenedthat call wildlife refuges home.

Economic Benefits

According to a 2006 economic analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 87 percent of the $1.7 billion in annual refuge-related revenues is spent by travelers from outside the communities where refuges are located. This spending created almost 27,000 jobs and generated approximately $543 million in employment income.

"National Wildlife Refuges bring in over 41 million visitors a year and pour nearly two billion dollars a year into local economies," says Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Chair of the CARE coalition. "Every dollar invested in the Refuge System returns, on average, $4 to local communities. This is no time to cripple a critical federal program that provides such an impressive return on investment."

Key Findings

In making the case for increased Refuge System funding, the CARE report found:

• Refuges face a $3.7 billion backlog in deferred maintenance and operations funding. Washed-out trails, leaking roofs, closed roads, and broken equipment are just a few of the more than 11,000 problems currently waiting to be addressed on refuges nationwide. Unless funding is secured to address the backlog, many refuge facilities could deteriorate beyond repair.
• Crime is a big problem in the Refuge System, yet only 213 officers patrol its more than 150 million acres. A minimum of 209 additional officers are needed (at an additional annual cost of $31.4 million) to protect refuge visitors and respond to crimes that include drug production and dealing, wildlife poaching, illegal border activity, assaults, and a variety of natural resource violations.
• The Refuge System is fighting a losing battle against invasive plants and animals. Approximately 2.3 million acres of refuge lands are overrun with non-native invasive plants, while more than 4,400 invasive animal populations ravage millions more acres. The Refuge System needs at least $25 million per year to treat just one-third of its infested plant acreage and begin low-level control of invasive animals.
• There has been a dramatic increase in oil and gas drilling on 155 refuges, but the Refuge System is not well equipped to oversee these activities or clean up degraded sites. Some $15 million per year is needed to adequately oversee oil and gas operations on wildlife refuges.
• With the recent addition of more than 50 million acres of marine monuments in the Pacific Ocean, the Refuge System faces increased management, coordination, restoration, and law enforcement challenges. These increased responsibilities carry a price tag of between $18 and $35 million annually.

Memorial Book Fund

The Friends of Erie National Wildlife Refuge invites you to consider donating money to the Memorial Book Fund as a meaningful way to remember a person, group, occasion or milestone.

Your gift will help the Erie National Wildlife Refuge expand the library of nature and wildlife books available to the public at the Refuge Visitor Contact Station. For more information you can call the Refuge at 814-789-3585.

Students Invited to Participate in Endangered Species Day Art Contest

Students from kindergarten through high school are invited to celebrate Endangered Species Day – May 21, 2010 – with original artwork. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans are sponsoring the art contest. Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day recognizes the importance of endangered species and educates the public about how to protect them.

Entries are due March 26. A national panel of highly-acclaimed artists and conservationists will judge the art works. Winners will be chosen in four age categories and one national winner will be selected. The winning artwork will be displayed at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans in May 2010. One national winner will be honored at a reception in Washington, DC.

National wildlife refuges are home to more than 280 of the nation's 1,311 endangered or threatened species. Fifty-nine refuges were established specifically to protect one or more endangered species. The Endangered Species Coalition is a national network of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, humane, business and community groups.

For more contest information go to www.EndangeredSpeciesDay.org.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mourns Death of Director Sam Hamilton

The conservation world lost one of its most dynamic leaders on February 20 when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Sam D. Hamilton, 54, died suddenly of an apparent heart attack while skiing in Colorado following a Service regional leadership meeting, which ended February 19. Hamilton, 54, was a career Fish and Wildlife Service employee whose vision and commitment to wildlife conservation was unmatched. Sam is survived by his wife Becky, his sons Sam Jr. and Clay and a grandson, Davis, all of Atlanta, GA.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on February 20 released the following statement on the passing of Sam Hamilton, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service: “The Interior Department family has suffered a great loss with the passing of Sam Hamilton. Sam was a friend, a visionary, and a professional whose years of service and passionate dedication to his work have left an indelible mark on the lands and wildlife we cherish. His forward-thinking approach to conservation - including his view that we must think beyond boundaries at the landscape-scale – will continue to shape our nation's stewardship for years to come. My heart goes out to Sam's family, friends, and colleagues as we remember a remarkable leader and a compassionate, wise, and eternally optimistic man.

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Thomas Strickland released the following statement:

"We are all saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague Sam Hamilton. A dedicated Fish and Wildlife Service employee for more than 30 years, Sam brought more than just a wealth of experience to the job, he brought courage and outstanding leadership. The Department of the Interior will miss him greatly."

Bio of Sam Hamilton:

On September 1, 2009, Sam D. Hamilton was sworn in as the 15th Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the nation's principal federal agency dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats. Hamilton brought to the position more than 30 years of experience with the Service, beginning when he was 15-years-old and working as a Youth Conservation Corps member on the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi. Prior to his appointment as Director, he served as Regional Director of the agency’s Southeast Region in Atlanta, Ga.

Throughout his career, Hamilton has exhibited outstanding leadership and fostered creative and innovative solutions to the challenges facing wildlife conservation. In the Southeast Region, he supported efforts leading to the establishment of a carbon sequestration program that has helped biologists to restore roughly 80,000 acres of wildlife habitat. Hamilton provided key leadership and oversight to the Interior Department’s restoration work in the Everglades, the nation’s largest ecosystem restoration.

Hamilton was a strong advocate for the National Wildlife Refuge System, comprised of 551 refuges and encompassing 150 million acres of protected habitat. Throughout his career, he supported the expansion of existing refuges and the addition of new refuges as an essential step in providing for America’s wildlife heritage.

  Earlier in his career, Hamilton served as Assistant Regional Director of Ecological Services in Atlanta and as the Service’s Texas State Administrator in Austin. Hamilton graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1977. 

Hamilton strongly believed no single entity, whether federal, state, or private, can ensure the sustainability of the nation’s fish and wildlife resources working independently. He worked toward building collaborative partnerships that allow for the development of ideas and solutions that are greater than any one entity can accomplish.

BirdWise Partnership

Wild Bird Centers, retail stores across the country, are offering bird seed in bags that promote America’s National Wildlife Refuges as places where birders and birds connect. “Your national wildlife refuges are home to more than 700 species of birds and offer some of the best bird-watching opportunities and facilities throughout the country,” the bags note. Each seed bag directs bird lovers to the Refuge System birding Web site, http://www.fws.gov/refuges/birding/.

George Petrides, Sr., chairman and founder of the Wild Bird Centers of America, was a member of the Refuge System Birding Team, created to shine a spotlight on the central role of refuges in bird conservation. More than half of all federal lands designated by the American Bird Conservancy as Important Bird Areas are on national wildlife refuges.

In late 2009, Wild Bird Centers began selling a variety of mixed seed in the new bags, each with individualized artwork by Charley Harper. Both Petrides and the National Wildlife Refuge System look forward to a longstanding partnership to promote the increasingly popular activity of birdwatching. In 2001, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analysis reported that about 40 million people watch birds from their homes and communities and ad additional 18 million people travel to watch birds.

A Place of Renewal – And What We Take for Granted

By Greg Siekaniec
Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System

For the past quarter century, Katy Sheehan Morris and Susan Macdonald Bray have kept their friendship fresh and vibrant through their connection with Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri. Sure, Katy was a bridesmaid in Susan’s wedding. And for years, they’ve swapped stories about child rearing and family successes and travails.

But what’s given them a sense of renewal year after year? A fall weekend of birding, hiking and camping at Swan Lake Refuge, an easy drive from Kansas City. They missed the annual trip the year that Bray got married and for a few years when pregnancies made such travel a little tough. But they haven’t skipped the trip for very many years.

They camp at Pershing State Park, next door to Swan Lake Refuge, where they have seen coyote pups, armadillos, egrets and white pelicans – including the pelican migration. “For me, this trip is a renewal,” says Bray, who works for the Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation. “I couldn’t go into winter without hearing the wild call of geese every fall,” says Morris, who trained as a naturalist – as did Bray.

They discovered Swan Lake Refuge when they led a children’s field trip to the refuge and learned of its wildness and naturalist values. “Thank goodness for the Refuge System and its pockets of nature,” says Morris.

Typical story? Not really. But more and more, it should be – and it could be.

The first step for us is to understand that being comfortable and knowledgeable about the natural world isn’t second nature to the millions of youngsters – and their parents – who live in high-density cities. Just consider a recent round of the television game show, Jeopardy, when none of the contestants could identify North America’s tallest bird. At the time, I was with a group of Fish and Wildlife Service employees who blurted the question before that answer was read. We knew, but what does that tell us about America’s natural resource education when three, obviously intelligent individuals were stumped by a “whooping crane” question? It made us all pause.

Second, we need to find and support more people like Katy and Susan to be mentors to young people, to teach them to camp, hike, fish, hunt, identify birds and be comfortable in nature. Your community may well be filled with people whose passion is the natural world – but they may not know it. As your new year’s resolution, make it your business to bring them into the National Wildlife Refuge System fold. America’s conservation future depends on it.

I’ll see you in the field.

To Green Your Garden, Go Native

How ‘green’ is your garden? Well, now may be the time to order seeds of wildflowers native to your region that will give you low-maintenance blooms next spring and all summer long. Not only will they thrive — they’ll support native birds, insects and other pollinators that depend on familiar, home-grown species for a healthy ecosystem.

“Native species evolved in the local environment and have developed complex interrelationships with other area plant species as well as fine tuning to local climate and soil conditions,” says Kathleen Blair, an ecologist at Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona. Exotic plant species — non-natives, including many commercially available garden flowers — haven’t. That means, she says, “If you plant non-native or exotic species, a whole lot of other local species cannot use them.”

It’s possible that going native might help save a local ecosystem, or at least parts of one. That’s what motivates Pauline Drobney, a biologist at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, where the staff is working to restore the globally threatened tallgrass prairie savannah. Each year, says Drobney, staff and volunteers plant up to 250 species of native plants on the refuge.

Does planting native mean sacrificing flash and drama? No way, says Drobney, who won over a skeptical neighbor by showing him the butterfly milkweed and blazing star in her yard. “It was just knock-your-socks-off color,” she says.

Some non-natives or exotics have become ecological nightmares, escaping backyards to rampage across entire regions, choking out native species as they spread. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, native to Europe) is a prime example. “It’s a nightmare of a plant. It’s now clogging up the wetlands of the East Coast,” says Blair.

Beyond that, planting an appropriate species will improve your odds of success. Some wildflowers are highly site-specific in terms of rainfall, elevation and soil type.

Here are just a few examples of some native wildflower favorites by region:

Great Plains/Prairie: blazing star, cream gentian, fall sunflower, prairie phlox, prairie violet, heath aster, bird’s foot violet. (“Not only does it bloom profusely, but it’s the obligate host food for the rare regal fritillary butterfly,” says Drobney about the last plant species.)
Southwest: lupin, beard-tongue (or penstemon; a real hummingbird favorite)
Chesapeake Bay watershed: butterfly weed, Joe-Pye weed (also known as trumpet weed), eastern or willow bluestar
Southeast: bee balm, black-eyed Susan
Pacific Northwest: broad-leaf lupine, spreading phlox
Upper Plains: rigid goldenrod, wild lily
Northeast: blue flag iris, New England aster

For reliable information on plants native to your region, consult your local native plant society. Some other good sources are:

1. Department of Agriculture: http://plants.usda.gov/ or http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/nativegardening/index.shtml, which offers a variety of links and native plant information.
2. Native Plant Information Network http://www.wildflower.org/ – houses a native plant database and searchable image directory maintained by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
3. Plant Conservation Alliance http://www.nps.gov/plants/ – contains links to plant guides by region.
4. U.S. National Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.gov/ – search “native plants”.
5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/ – search “native plants”.

Duck-Drawing Time

On your mark . . .get set . . .draw! Youngsters in grades kindergarten-12 have just a little more time to prepare their entries for the 2010 Junior Duck Stamp contest that combines science and art to teach students about waterfowl conservation. The competition is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act enacted by Congress in 1994.

Participants, grouped in four age categories, compete to create visually compelling and biologically accurate drawings or paintings of any of 46 native species of ducks, geese and swans. Students are encouraged to visit National Wildlife Refuges with their families or environmental education groups to observe or photograph waterfowl for their drawings and paintings.

The winning national entry is reproduced on stamps sold by the U.S. Post Office and some National Wildlife Refuges. Sales of the $5 stamps help support environmental education programs and provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools participating in the program.

Each state or territory first selects winners. The “best in show” from each state or territory contest goes on to compete nationally. National winners will be selected April 23 during ceremonies at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The top three national winners earn cash prizes ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.

In most states, the submission deadline is March 15; Arizona and Ohio require entries by March 1. For contest information and entry forms, visit: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/.

2010 Northeast Region Friends Workshop

Three members of the board will be attending the 2010 Northeast Region Friends Workshop. Ron and Char Oswald and Kathleen Palmer will be traveling to the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in West Virginia for this event March 5 – 7.

The 2010 Northeast Region Friends Workshop is an opportunity for Friends groups from our refuges and fisheries and their staff to network and think strategically about the specific contributions Friends make to their stations. The workshop is also a time to celebrate the accomplishments of Friends, meet new Friends, and share information and ideas among Friends members about the day-to-day responsibilities of maintaining a support group.

NCTC is one of the world’s premier conservation training facilities, created by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for natural resource managers and volunteers. The facility’s buildings resemble the 19th century farm landscape and blend into the rural grounds. This provides a unique and idyllic retreat setting to foster learning. Although not technically a refuge, the scenic campus is home to many species of wildlife. A bald eagle’s nest is visible from many points around the campus, including a number of classrooms. To learn more about NCTC visit http://training.fws.gov.

Board Officers Elected

At the January Board of Directors Meeting the Board officers for coming year were elected. The officers will say the same in 2010:

Richard Eakin, President
Ron Leberman, Vice President
Kathleen Palmer, Secretary
Ron Oswald, Treasurer