date: december 1, 2015 9:52:16 pm pst to:...
TRANSCRIPT
From: "Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge" <[email protected]>Subject: Friends December 2015 eNewsletter
Date: December 1, 2015 9:52:16 PM PSTTo: "Joan Patterson & Family" <[email protected]>
Reply-To: "Friends Information email" <[email protected]>
Hello Joan Patterson & Family, here is what's happening on The Refuge. Your renewal date: March 31, 2016. Not a member? Click here to join now!
December 2015
In This Issue
President's Perch
Nature's Overlook Store
Youth Hunt Update
Waterfowl Watch
Kids' Corner
Wildlife Center
Env Education News
Photos by Friends
Fred Meyer Rewards
Smile while you shop
FOR Social Media
From the President's Perch
By Keith Mays, President of the Board
December is here, flocks of birds are here and we are well into the winter holiday season.
This is a great time of year to visit the refuge. While the days are shorter, temperaturecooler and likely more moisture falling from the sky, visiting the refuge during the holidaysgives you a break from daily stress. I find few things more relaxing than exploring theRefuge, looking for new animals that have arrived since my last stroll, alone or withfriends/family.
Next time you are at the refuge this month, drop in the Wildlife Visitor Center. The Nature’sOverlook Store has great gift items for you, your family and friends. In addition to the greatitems to buy at the store, maybe also buy a membership to the Friends of the Refuge as agift.
Thinking of others: This year, Friends of the Refuge has partnered with Sherwood 4 KidsSake, a not-for-profit organization serving children in our community. During the holidaysthey provide holiday gifts for kids in low-income families. At the store you will find giftrequest cards that you can pick from and buy goods thathave been asked for that can be found at the store.
FOR Social Media
This Month's Events
Owl ProwlDec 4nd 6:30pm-8:30pm
Store Committee MeetingDec 3rd at 5:00pmRiparian Room
Photo Society MeetingDec 3rd 7:00PMRiparian Room
Waterfowl WatchDec 12th 10:00am-12:00pm
Guided Nature WalkDec 19th 10:00am-11:30am
Please see our Friendswebsite calendar for moredetails.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 20th Annual Tualatin RiverBird Festival is May 21, 2016.
Join the Planning Committee.We meet the first Tuesday ofeach month @noon.Contact:[email protected]
Year End Tax Planning: As the new year quicklyapproaches, please consider making a donation of cash orstock to Friends of the Refuge. Becoming a member ormaking a donation is easy to do online atwww.friendsoftualatinrefuge.com or at the Nature’sOverlook Store.
On behalf of the Board of Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, I want to wishyou very Happy Holidays and hope you are able to spend time with friends and family.
We are thankful for your interest in and support of the Friends organization and TualatinRiver National Wildlife Refuge. Without you, our members and volunteers, the refuge wouldnot exist and our many programs would not be possible.
Nature's OverlookReady for the Holidays? Neither are we. But, we're ready to help with your gift list! Shopin the Nature's Overlook Store for that special handcrafted and unique gift for your naturelover.
There is still time to donate a special toy for a needy child in Sherwood. Nature’s Overlook,the retail store in the Wildlife Center, is working with Sherwood 4Kids Sake to fulfill the wishes of some of those children. The way itworks is simple. Pick a gift tag off the display. The tag will specifythe gender and age of the child, and will indicate what the childwould like to have. You purchase that item, attach the tag, and leavethe item with the clerk at Nature’s Overlook. Sherwood 4 Kids Sakewill pick up the donated items and make sure they get to the rightrecipients. Most of the requests are for items sold in Nature’sOverlook – stuffed animals, books, science kits, games – but itemscan be purchased elsewhere too, and returned here for pickup. Allgifts must be purchased by Friday, December 11.
"Wear" in the World
We are looking for photos of people wearing their Friends of TRNWR logo wear at othernatural areas. Please send your photo to [email protected] and you might
just be in the next Making Tracks e-newsletter.
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Update on the Youth Hunt from Mark NewellOn Sunday November 15th the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge hosted its secondyouth hunt day.
Participants arrived at 5:20AM to a steady down-pour of rain and cool temperatures in theearly morning dark. As the first participants made their way to the furthest blind, geese roseoff the sheet water in a black cloud against a dark sky voicing their displeasure at the earlyintrusion. Headlamps shone in the distance as the decoys were set, and then all theparticipants settled in to wait for the 6:40AM shooting time. 6:40 came and went, and allwas quiet. With the clouds and rain it was still too dark to see. As 7:00AM neared, a flurryof shots rose off the water and over a thousand ducks took flight at once. As a lifelongwater fowl hunter I had never seen ducks in such numbers before. They rose like starlings,dark clouds pulsing with wingbeats. The air was full of the sound of feathers brushing air asthey circled the area. Another volley of shots and still more ducks took to the air. And then,silence returned. For the next 2 hours shots were sporadic as ducks made their way to thearea. The rain came and went and the sun even managed to shine before the clouds andrain returned. The participants, 5 youth and their three adult mentors, were immenselyappreciative for the opportunity to have a duck hunt so close to where they live. They had agreat time, got to experience a hunt of a lifetime, and went home with ducks bound for thedinner table.
A total of 10 ducks were taken: one spoonbill, two widgeon, four teal, a pintail and twomallards. But in the end it wasn’t the number of ducks taken that these youth will remember,it will be the hunt itself. The time spent in the blind with their fathers and friends. The earlymorning light breaking through the darkness, the sound of the marsh coming alive, and thedrum of the wingbeats of the ducks coming off the water. It will be the sound of the geeserising from the pond in the early morning, honking as they took flight. They’ll remember thewalk in the dark, guided only by the beams of their headlamps, dim light in the depths of thedark marsh. They’ll think fondly of the twelve year old lab making some of the last retrievesof its lifetime. All of these thoughts and feelings, this time spent hunting, these memories;right here in the backyard of the largest metropolitan city in Oregon.
Mark Newell, Visitor Services Manager, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge503-625-5944 Ext. 228
Check It Out! New Youth Hunt Info:http://www.fws.gov/refuge/tualatin_river/riverboat_youth_hunt.html
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Waterfowl Watch--Volunteers & Members OnlyWaterfowl WatchSaturday, December 12th 10 AM – 12 PM
The ducks and geese are flocking to the refuge! Come learn about how to identify them withUSFWS Biologist, Michelle McDowell. Start with a presentation on waterfowl watching andthen venture out on the refuge to see them in the wild! Please bring binoculars and a birdguide if you have them.
To register, go to www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org/maincalQuestions? E-mail Rachel Dunham at [email protected]
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Kids' Corner!Hey Kids! Bring your parents to the refuge - then tell us what you have seen. Take a photo,draw a picture, write a short story, pen a poem. With your parents permission and help,send us your imaginings. Our newsletter will include a Kid's Corner imagining every month.See you on the refuge!
For more information, contact: [email protected]
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Wildlife Center, Trail Rover & Interpretive ProgramThe Wildlife Center is busy with visitors coming in to see the eagles and the returningmigratory birds. Thank you to all the volunteers who have kept that center running all year!You are a wonderful team and have represented the refuge with smiles and passion!
The Wildlife Center will be closed for the Holiday season from December 24rd until January1st. It will reopen January 2nd.
If you are out on the trail this time of year, you’ll likely see a Trail Rover! What a differenceit makes for visitors to interact with a volunteer who shares their knowledge and passion.Thank you to all the rovers who have been out on the trails! You’ve kept our trails safe,clean, and engaging!
The Guided Nature Walk last month was on the Secret Life of Plants by Ginny M and Jim B.Thank you both for doing such a wonderful job! Jenna Mendenhall led our Owl Prowl andshared her expertise with enthusiastic visitors. Thank you, Jenna! There is a newInterpretive Exhibit coming to the Wildlife Center in January. The theme will changemonthly, so be on the lookout!
by Rachel Dunham, Friends Wildlife Center & Interpretive Program Coordinator
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News from Environmental Education ProgramsEnrichment Opportunities Open to Public:
Owl ProwlWednesday, December 2nd 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Whoo whoo? Come learn about owls and their unique adaptations to awaking in the night.Then go on a walk on the refuge with owl enthusiast Jenna Mendenhall.To register, go to www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org/maincalQuestions? E-mail Rachel Dunham at [email protected]
Guided Nature WalkSaturday, December 19th 10 - 11:30 AM
Venture out with a refuge naturalist for a free nature walk to explore the oak savanna,riparian forest and wetland ecosystems and natural history of Tualatin River NationalWildlife Refuge. Topics will vary from walk to walk but will be appropriate for all ages.
To register, go to www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org/maincalQuestions? E-mail Rachel Dunham at [email protected]
Other Volunteer opportunities
There are many fun and rewarding programs and events that take place throughout theyear. We would love to have you be a part of the refuge fun! Please visitwww.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org
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Photos by FriendsTo see hundreds of photos of scenes on the refuge as well as refuge events, visit ourFLICKR web site at Friends FLICKR
If you have a photo taken on the refuge and would like to share it with the Friends, email theimage along with a brief note to members@friendsoftutaltinrefuge.
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YOU CAN HELP Friends of TRNWR EARN DONATIONS JUST BY SHOPPING WITHYOUR FRED MEYER REWARDS CARD! We have seven members signed up alreadyand have received donations!
and have received donations!
Fred Meyer is donating $2.5 million per year to non-profits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon andWashington, based on where their customers tell them to give. Here's how the programworks:
Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer RewardsCard to Friends of TRNWR at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You cansearch for us by our name or by our non-profit number 93278.Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping Friends ofTRNWR earn a donation!You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today.If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service deskof any Fred Meyer store.
For more information, please visit www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
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Support FOR While You Shop Online!
If you are a frequent Amazon shopper, here's a great way to supportthe Friends while you make your purchases! And the great thing is,
there's no extra cost to you!
Simply go to smile.amazon.com and log in using your Amazon account, then type "Friendsof Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge" into the search box. Once it appears on yourscreen, check the "Select" box and you're ready to buy, buy, buy, while the Friends willreceive a donation of .5% of every purchase from the Amazon Smile Foundation.
Bookmark smile.amazon.com so you use it every time you shop and those cents will add upinto dollars that will help the Friends support programs and projects on the Refuge. Howeasy is that!?
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Connect with Us! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr
We made it to 500 likes before the end of the year, thanks to you! Next goal is 1000, socheck it out and repost, invite your Friends to like us too.
Not a Facebook user? Did you know that you can follow the posts to our Facebook page onour website Home Page? Point your browser to: http://friendsoftualatinrefuge.org.
You can now follow us on Twitter @FriendsTRNWR and Instagram atFriendsofTualatinRefuge.
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Remember, Let Us Know What You Think!
Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter. Please help us make it something you look forward to receiving bytelling us what you want to know about, and how we can improve the look or content. This is a work in progress, and we lookforward to hearing from you! Click here to email your thoughts.
Contact Info
Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge19255 SW Pacific HighwaySherwood, OR 97140503-625-5944 x227
www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org
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