newsletter of the friends of willapa national wildlife...

Refuge Update...page 3

Scholarship Awards...page 9

Vol. 13 No. 4 Summer 2013

Newsletter of the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeNewsletter of the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeNewsletter of the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeNewsletter of the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

You’re Invited!

Friends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeFriends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeFriends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeFriends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Annual Members BBQAnnual Members BBQAnnual Members BBQAnnual Members BBQ

& Silent Auction& Silent Auction& Silent Auction& Silent Auction

Saturday, August 10, 2013Saturday, August 10, 2013Saturday, August 10, 2013Saturday, August 10, 2013 11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge HeadquartersWillapa National Wildlife Refuge HeadquartersWillapa National Wildlife Refuge HeadquartersWillapa National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters

Lunch Served at Noon Great Food, Door Prizes, Live Music & Fun!

RSVP by August 3, 2013 to:

Nancy Beliveau Phone: 707-364-6158

Email: [email protected]

Join the Friends of Willapa National Join the Friends of Willapa National Join the Friends of Willapa National Join the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge!Wildlife Refuge!Wildlife Refuge!Wildlife Refuge!

Membership Renewal Membership Renewal Membership Renewal Membership Renewal

By Dave Hoch

www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org Willapa Tidings Summer 2013

The annual membership renewal time has arrived for the upcoming 2013 ~ 2014 membership year.

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge membership year starts on July 1st and ends on June 30th of the following year. The memberships are THE driving fi-nancial support for the operations of the friends group. Your membership contribu-tions go towards keeping the 4th grade environmental education program running and our scholarships program for students pursuing careers in the environmental and wildlife areas.

The importance of the membership support is at an all-time high as other avenues of grant resources for additional financial support are at an all-time low. Please renew your membership and invite others you know to join up with our group.

Your Membership Contributions are Valued and Appreciated!

Please Use the Form on Back Page & the Enclosed Envelope to mail your Membership Renewal

EarlyEarlyEarlyEarly----Blue Violets to the RescueBlue Violets to the RescueBlue Violets to the RescueBlue Violets to the Rescue By Madeline A. Kalbach

Early-Blue Violets are blooming in the Tarlatt Unit where a small number of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex volunteers braved the October winds and rain to plant them as part of a rescue plan for the Oregon Silverspot. The Oregon Silverspot is a butterfly that has been classified as a federally threatened species since 1980. It is found in coastal grasslands near the Pacific Ocean from Washington to Northern

California. Loss and degradation of habitat are the main reasons its existence is threatened.

The Oregon Silverspot depends on the Early-blue Violet for nourishment for its caterpillars or larvae and nectar in the spring for adult butterflies. How-ever, planting the violet to help restore the butterfly’s habitat is only the first step in helping this beautiful insect to survive. The next step is to take butterflies to their new digs. Both the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and the Oregon Zoo in Portland raise Silver-spots in captivity and release the pupae and/or lar-

vae into the wild at sites where violet habitat exists or is being restored. This pro-gram is helping to ensure that the Silverspot does not become extinct by helping to stabilize declining populations.

The WNWR is doing its part to ensure the survival of a species on the brink of ex-tinction. To learn more about this initiative or to become a volunteer for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex go to www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa


There are more than the bees abuzz this summer at the Refuge. From the tiny rufous hummingbird to rookeries of great blue herons, birds are work-ing overtime to feed their young. Families of mam-mals, such as long-tailed weasels, coyotes, rac-coons and elk, search fields, marshes and forests for food. Plants grow quickly towards the sun; blossoms broadcasting their color and scent in hopes of catching a pollinator’s eye (and legs and hair…). Summer is rich in daylight, warmth and growth. It’s a great time to come out to the Refuge and enjoy your wild backyard!

Conservation, monitoring and maintenance pro-jects are in full swing this summer. Biologists are reporting the first successful hatch-ing of western snowy plover chicks, as well as salmon and coastal cutthroat trout fry in refuge streams. Phase 2 of the Bear River Estuary Restoration Project has started with the goal of restoring 140 acres of Porter Point this season. New moni-toring equipment has been installed in the Lewis Unit to record the water quality data in the freshly restored estuary. A new Art Trail brochure has arrived, as well as an updated website for Willapa NWR, complete with videos and galleries of conser-vation projects and activities, a trail guide, wildlife watching tips and locations, and loads of photos and information about refuge wildlife. The Shoalwater Birders have adopted the observation blind at Tarlatt and are keeping this wonderful wildlife watching location ship shape. If you haven’t been yet, summer is a great time to lis-

ten and watch a diversity of birds at this location. Enter through the pedestrian gate off of 85th Rd (look for the Lone Fir Cemetery sign on San-dridge).

With a reduced staff due to the effects of seques-tration, the refuge is even more grateful for the work of dedicated volunteers. A special thanks to volunteers Joe Palena, Wade Codgill and Mark Johnson for their efforts in getting our trails and campsites ready for the summer season. And to Russ & Cheri Lewis and the St. Claires who spend countless hours keeping the ocean beach at Leadbetter trash free. If you have an hour or a few days, we have a project for you! Check out the list of volunteer events in this newsletter and/or contact the refuge directly for additional volun-teer opportunities at 360-484-3482 ex 23.

Visit our improved website at: www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa

and like us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/WillapaNWRComplex

Refuge Update ~ Summertime in the WildsRefuge Update ~ Summertime in the WildsRefuge Update ~ Summertime in the WildsRefuge Update ~ Summertime in the Wilds By Nancy Holman

Bee pollinates sea rocket along the ocean beach By: Rollin Bannow

Joe Whitton installs monitoring equip-ment to record water quality data.


Rally for the RefugeRally for the RefugeRally for the RefugeRally for the Refuge By Nancy Holman

Willapa’s wildlife wants you to rally for the Refuge. 2013 has brought increased federal budget constraints and a cut of the Refuges’ summer YCC programs. These youth crews conduct much needed work to keep facilities looking good, invasive species at bay, and accomplish other light conservation efforts. This summer and fall, join Refuge staff, Friends members and other volunteers for these fun events. Learn about your neighborhood Refuges, explore unique places, meet new peo-ple, and work hard for wildlife!

Saturday, June 22 nd - Celebrate pollinator week with a dune grass round-up and native plant patrol at Leadbetter. Meet at the Oysterville Beach approach at 9 am for this 3-hour event.

Friday, July 5 th – Join the Friends and the Grassroots Garbage Gang for Beach Clean-up. Meet at the Cranberry Beach approach at 9:30 am for this 2-hour event.

Saturday, July 13 th – Be the first to clean up the Friends Adopt-a-Highway section near Refuge Headquarters on Hwy 101. Meet at 10 am at Refuge Headquarters for this 2-hour event. Stay and participate in a potluck lunch.

Wednesday, July 17 th – Travel to Julia Bulter Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer for a wildlife wander, work party and sandwich potluck. Trans-portation from Willapa Headquarters is available. Meet at Willapa NWR Headquar-ters at 9 am to travel to JBH for a 10 am start to this 3 hour event.

Saturday, July 20 th – Be part of the solution to bring back the threated Oregon Silverspot butterfly to Washington State, and gather for a Weed Rumble at the Tar-latt Unit. Meet at the Refuge end of 95th (follow the event signs) for a 9:00 am start to this 2 hour event.

Thursday, August 8 th – Get your Zen on at this Trail Work Party. Walk the laby-rinth and learn why forests are great for relaxation, work and play. Gather at Refuge headquarters at 10 am for this 2 hour event. Stay for a veggie-themed potluck lunch.

Saturday, August 17 th – Get deputized as a Saltmarsh Marshall and help search for fugitives; the few outlaw Spartina plants that is. Commissions take place at 8:30 am sharp at Refuge Headquarters. The search will continue until 11 am. Space is limited – please RSVP.

Saturday, September 21 st – Get deputized as a Saltmarsh Marshall and help search for fugitives; the few outlaw Spartina plants that is. Commissions take place at 8:30 am sharp at Refuge Headquarters. The search will continue until noon. Space is limited – please RSVP.

For more details about these events, and to discover additional opportunities to vol-unteer at the refuge check the event calendar at www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa or con-tact Nancy Holman at 360-484-3482, [email protected]

REMEMBER...Annual Membership Renewal Time has Arrived!


It takes a lot of effort and quite an organization to pull off a quality education pro-gram for 4th grade classes for the schools in Long Beach (2 classes), Ocean Park, Naselle, Willapa Valley, Raymond (2 classes) and South Bend (2 classes). This education effort reached over 215 students and 12 teachers. That’s in addition to the 30 parents who participated on the field trip and 19 volunteers who helped teach during the classes or lead groups on any of the 3 field trip days.

The Volunteers Were Aaron Webster Nancy Beliveau Joe Cade Sharon Cade Wade Cogdill Diana Courtnier Steve Courtnier

This program’s success, and the success of the Refuge itself, depends on the dedi-cation and support of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Our thanks goes to: Jonathan Bates, the FWS Equipment Operator who made the boat transportation and water sampling possible for the field trip. William Richie, Biologist; Kate Benner, Biological Technician; and Joel David, Refuge Manager, for receiving the students’ observa-tions. Jackie Ferrier, Project Leader, for her on-going support of the program; And especially Nancy Holman, Visitor Services Manager, for her enthusiastic, positive leadership, impressive organizational skills, ability to deal with unknowns, countless twists, turns, setbacks, and obstacles (the ones that that threatened to become real but never did, the ones that did materialize, and the ones that morphed into even larger problems).

Ah, the enthusiasm, the bright eyed interest, the sense of discovery, the ability to see something with fresh eyes, the positive feedback when discovering answers, the recognition of the moment when something is understood, the good feeling you get when contributing to how something is thought about, and the potential for discover-ing the unknown. I noticed all of these things in the fourth graders and actually what I found in me when I participated as a volunteer on this effort.

This year’s fourth grade program started with classroom visits in February and cul-minated in May with a field trip to Long Island and a hike on the Willapa Art Trail and Cutthroat Climb. In the classrooms the students were introduced to the idea of train-ing to become Refuge Explorers. And so they had to learn something about the plants and animals in the habitats of the Refuge, what an explorer or scientist does, the facts and clues they might find, and inferences they could draw when confronted with their own scientific observations when doing field work.

Before actually going on the field trip we went to each classroom 4 times covering one of the following topics in order:

1. The Refuge System & Habitats – what are the L.A.W.S. (Light, Air, Wa-ter, and Soil) that make up a habitat;

Continued page 7

John Epler Joe Freitas Kathy Freitas Carolyn Glenn Gretchen Goodson Joanne Jambor

Sandy Nielsen Don Parsons Rose Power Michael Spencer Susan Stauffer Madeline Kalbach

Fourth Grade Field Trip ReportFourth Grade Field Trip ReportFourth Grade Field Trip ReportFourth Grade Field Trip Report By Joe Cade


4th Grade “Refuge Explores” visit Long Island for a day of Education and Fun!

The Elk antler

they found!

The barge ride...

The Exploring...The Exploring...The Exploring...The Exploring...

And the water samples

they took.


2. Adaptations – how do plants and animals need to handle the changes oc-curring in the habitat, their adaptations determine the role each will play in the habitat;

3. The Web of Life – discovering how so many things are connected to each other; and

4. Change – how do habitats change, who or what changes them, and what happens when this change occurs.

In each visit the 4th graders learned about 5 of the habitats found in the refuge: The Bay, Mudflats and Salt Marsh, Freshwater Wetlands, Streams & Ponds,

Dunes and Grasslands, and the Forests.

The kids showed quite a range of knowledge and experience about the refuge. For some this was their first time on a boat and wondered if they’d get sea sick. Many fourth graders had never been to Long Island nor had an understanding about the purpose of a refuge. Many others had some exposure to the plants and animals in the Pacific Northwest through their parent’s work or activities. Still others had al-ready been to the Refuge many times and found it even more enjoyable to learn in-depth about their island refuge and its habitats.

There were so many things to see on Long Island – both expected and unexpected: flushing out an elk calf as it lay in the tall grass; elk antlers, skat, and tracks; skulls of bear, beaver, and coyote; a humming bird nest and a swift nest; bear claw marks on many trees; manila clams; oysters; fish; pickleweed; different kinds of trees; and mud, lots of mud. Although it really only rained on one of the 3 days we were on Long Island, the salt marsh was still very muddy. On the way back to their school, one busload of kids called out that being in the mud was one of their highlights!

We also walked the Willapa Art Trail and Cutthroat Climb behind the Refuge Head-quarters. While there we were able to experience the Forest Habitat: seeing bee-tles, banana slugs, birds, salamanders, sword ferns, old trees and nurse logs giving life to new trees. The excited cries and happy voices of discovery gave testament to enjoyment the kids (and we adults) found in being able to experience this trip.

This program planted 4th grader seedlings of Wildlife Refuge understanding. The effects of this effort: the connections to the Refuge, the understandings of what makes up a habitat, who lives there and what is necessary for the habitat to thrive will continue and multiply. This is attested to by several of the volunteers who have done this before and have come across students from prior years. With smiles on kids’ faces and happy voices they recalled the “great trip to Long Island” and all the things they learned.

As a new volunteer for this effort I was a bit apprehensive: did I “know enough” to actually teach kids – I can barely identify different kinds of trees let alone recognize elements of different habitats; what if they ask me something I couldn’t answer or identify; how am I supposed to come up with inferences to investigate – I’m not a scientist; I’d never been to Long Island – how could I lead a group there; how am I supposed to keep control of a group of fourth graders? Well, as it turned out, I knew more than I thought I knew and had a lot of help from the more knowledgeable vol-unteers and, of course, Nancy Holman was ever present to answer questions and guide me. For me, and I think for the other volunteers, it was a great experience and I hope to do it again! Everyone should try it – you’d be surprised at what you discover!


President’s MessagePresident’s MessagePresident’s MessagePresident’s Message

By Clay Nichols

You’re Invited!

Friends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeFriends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeFriends of Willapa National Wildlife RefugeFriends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Annual Members BBQAnnual Members BBQAnnual Members BBQAnnual Members BBQ

& Silent Auction& Silent Auction& Silent Auction& Silent Auction

Saturday, August 10, 2013Saturday, August 10, 2013Saturday, August 10, 2013Saturday, August 10, 2013 11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge HeadquartersWillapa National Wildlife Refuge HeadquartersWillapa National Wildlife Refuge HeadquartersWillapa National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters

Lunch Served at Noon Great Food, Door Prizes, Live Music & Fun!

RSVP by August 3, 2013 to: Nancy Beliveau Phone: 707-364-6158 Email: [email protected]

What thoughts immediately pop into your mind when you see or hear the simple phrase, “Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge”? Do your thoughts immedi-ately focus on some pleasant experience you’ve enjoyed while participating in a vol-unteer activity on the Refuge? Do the experiences of happy children with whom you’ve shared your passion through the education programs jump to the front of your memories? Or does the mention of “Friends” cause you to recollect the team of fellow Refuge supporters and staff, these true friends with whom you’ve shared the good times and the challenging experiences which volunteering involves?

Perhaps like me, your first thoughts jump to the Refuge itself. It’s visions of Long Island on a fog-shrouded morning, the sounds and sights of thousands of migrating waterfowl finding refuge and renewal in its varied, protected ecosystem. On a very personal level, perhaps It’s our seeking refuge through the solitude and peace pro-vided by a grove of ancient cedars. There are times when we all, man and beast, plants and fish need to “Seek Refuge”!

“Seeking Refuge” was, in fact, the theme of the recent FWNWR members social event organized as a community service by Deb Sterling of Sterling Concepts. The theme, carried out through a “Speed Dating” approach, involved committing to vari-ous service volunteer activities in support of the refuge after visiting displays/tables/

Continued...


FWNWR Scholarship Awards FWNWR Scholarship Awards FWNWR Scholarship Awards FWNWR Scholarship Awards –––– 2013 2013 2013 2013 By Carole Wiegardt

It was my pleasure to be able to notify three very deserving high school students they would be awarded $1000 each for their outstanding academic records.

Lars Blix is our first applicant from Cathlamet/ Wahkiakum High School. He plans to attend Whitworth University in Spokane. His declared major is Wildlife Studies. “I would like to become an officer or agent and hopefully could come back to the area I am from to start my career” Lars has participated in the deer capture/transfer at the Julia Butler refuge, did work/study at the fish hatchery. He also did placement and monitoring of trail cams in school forest. Lars’s cumulative GPA: 3.328.

There were two applicants from Willapa Valley High School: Michaela Huber and Richard Ashley .

Michaela plans to attend Eastern Washington University with a major in biomedicine and a minor in biology. “I have always had a desire to give back to a community, and through medicine and science, I believe I can.” Her environmental activities in-cluded feeding and maintaining the fish pond at her family home, helping her grand-father build a bridge to replace a culvert on their property. She took biology courses at school and learned as much as she could about this subject. Michaela’s cumula-tive GPA: 3.971.

Richard Ashley is planning to major in Wildlife Ecology at Washington State Univer-sity with the goal of becoming a game warden. “I am an outdoors person and by be-ing a game warden I can make sure that the outdoors can be protected for many more decades.” He has been involved with fish planting, planting trees for river shade, fencing off animals from waterways, fixing storm drain runoff. Richard’s cu-mulative GPA:3.631.

The FWNWR program started in 2004 with two $500 scholarships, 2007 it was expanded to two $1000 scholarships and last year it was expanded to three $1000 and Cathlamet was added.

The recipients will be invited to the annual BBQ as our honored guests, and will re-ceive a year subscription to the Friends Newsletter.

members. If you missed this opportunity to renew and update your ties with the Refuge and its Friends Organization, please make a special effort to join us for the annual BBQ Dinner and program on August 10, 2013 at 11 am at the Refuge Headquar-ters across the Bay. We will begin a celebration at the Refuge headquarters of all these aspects of the Refuge and more. Live music, great food, and, above all, an opportunity to once again meet and greet the people and refuge that we love and share. Please mark your calendars and reserve this date to seek refuge with us.

Like Us & Support Us on FACEBOOK At: Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Have You Remembered To Renew Your Membership?


Local Photographer Doug Swanson shares a

few images of June in Pacific County Willapa Tidings Willapa Tidings Willapa Tidings Willapa Tidings

Published quarterly by Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Volume 13 No. 4 Summer 2013 Suzy Whittey, Editor

To request an address change, to contribute items of interest (including

photos), or to submit articles for publication, please contact

Friends of Willapa NWR

Mailing Address 3888 State Route 101

Ilwaco, WA 98624-9707 Phone: 360-783-2699

E-mail [email protected]

Web Site www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org

Facebook Site www.facebook.com/group.php?

gid=123317069999

Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

A nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, Friends of Willapa National wildlife Refuge

was established in July 2000 to provide support and assistance to Refuge

programs and to enhance awareness and appreciation of the Willapa National

Wildlife Refuge.

Board of Directors

Acting President - Clay Nichols Acting Secretary - Sandy Nielson

Treasurer - David Hoch Director - Ben Welton Director - Ron Craig

Cedar Waxwing

Hutton’s Vireo

Pileated Woodpecker

Pollen Laden Honey Bee

Memberships

Individual $ 20.00 Family $ 30.00 Patron $ 50.00 Benefactor $100.00 Business $ 90.00

New Member Renewal Invite a friend to Become a Member !

Membership Form

Make Checks Payable To: Friends of Willapa NWR

Mail to: Friends of Willapa NWR 3888 State Route 101 Ilwaco, WA 98624-9707

Name:____________________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________________________

Yes! I want to receive Friends e-mail announcements.

My e-mail address is ________________________________________

Contributions to the Friends of Willapa NWR are tax deductible.

Volunteer Interests

Community Outreach

Environmental Education

Membership Recruitment

Special Projects and Events

Fund Raising

Public Relations

Habitat Restoration

Trail and campground maintenance

Shorebird and waterfowl monitoring

Fish and amphibian monitoring

Office Use Only

DB CD NL YL

For more information about the different levels of memberships contact: [email protected]

Thank You for Your Membership and Support!

Donations

Scholarship Program $________ Education Program $________ Other _______________ $________ Total Amount Enclosed $ ________


newsletter of the friends of willapa national wildlife...

Documents