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________________________________
From: Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends <refugefriendsnews@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2019 10:08 AM
To: Melissa
Subject: Refuge Friends Spring Newsletter
Check out the Spring Newsletter and see what's happening on the Refuge.
View this email in your
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Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends
Supporting the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
June 10, 2019
RWR Friends elsewhere
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RRValley Wildlife Refuge
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President’s Message
We are part of something much bigger than each of us, but together we get to
make a difference that will outlive us all. This includes all the physical
structures that you have built such as the observation decks, the benches, the
fishing piers, and the trails. It also includes the kudzu you killed saving
trees that will survive to protect the land and provide wildlife habitat, the
data that you gather from the vernal pool surveys, the bird counts, and the
bioblitz -- information that will help biologists make informed decisions about
protecting our wildlife and their habitat, and maintaining public units so that
the public can visit our refuge and experience nature first hand. All this
results in a lasting legacy -- or does it?
Over the past couple of years public lands, including refuges, have come under
attack. Examples include drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, reducing Bears Ears National Monument by 85%, and many other threats to
national lands. And these threats are not in some remote area. A constituent
who attended Congressman Rob Wittman’s environmental advisory committee meeting
stated that he would like to see all of our public lands sold to pay down the
national debt. This is a local person who does not understand the link between
our quality of life and our ecosystems; this is someone who does not understand
the economic value of our public lands to our local and national economies;
this is someone who with enough traction could potentially end our legacy and
destroy our refuge lands.
So, what is our legacy?
Our legacy is the conversations that each of you have with your neighbors,
friends, coworkers, and children about our refuge and the important work that
you do.
Every passing conversation, even those which you may not remember, may result
in turning someone into an advocate for the refuge or
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making them decide to pursue a degree in environmental science. And if you can
take the next couple of steps, you can increase your legacy exponentially. When
you are talking to someone about the Refuge, ask them to join the Friends.
Membership is free and prospective members will gain even more insight than you
can share in a passing conversation.
And you can actively advocate for our refuge. One thing I have learned over the
years is that private citizens have more power over their representatives than
most lobbyists, but only if enough of us act. The key is the numbers. As
daunting as this seems, sometimes we must do the hard work to make the biggest
difference. The conversation can be through a phone call, a face-to-face
meeting, or an email. As hard as it is, I would urge each of you to give it a
try. Make a call a couple of times a year and send an email every quarter
stating how much you care about your refuge. Urge your representatives to
support it through appropriate funding and appropriate use policies.
None of us may see the direct result of these efforts, but I contend that these
are the lasting legacies that we will leave to future generations: that we are
willing to speak up to anyone who would listen in support of the Rappahannock
River Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the wildlife that we protect.
Based on remarks made by Ann Graziano at the Volunteer Dinner.
Expand the Friends’ Audience
Please forward this newsletter to friends and family.
FWS Staff Honored Volunteers
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On March 2, 2019, the Refuge Staff honored the work of volunteers at the annual
volunteer dinner held this year at the Tappahannock and Essex County Volunteer
Fire Department. Shannon Carlin and John Jennings organized the dinner. Two
Fish Bistro from Montross, Virginia catered the delicious food.
Refuge Project Leader Kendra Pednault and Assistant Manager Bill Crouch with
the able assistance of Alena Pednault and Scarlet Crouch presented awards to
volunteers. Follow this link to the full
article.<https://RWRFriends.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9&id=415583a22b&e=da39c7971c>
2019 Go Wild Event Well Attended
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The weather cooperated as 300 people visited the Hutchinson Unit of the
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge on May 5th to celebrate the
ninth annual GO WILD Event. Cloudy but rain free skies with bursts of
brilliant sunshine kept the day on the cooler side. Downpours in the morning
and the afternoon made set-up and take-down challenging.
After Bryan Risley and a student volunteer guided visitors to a parking spot,
attendees headed for the Refuge/Friends table for an overview of the event.
Mesmerizing mounted wild animals, showing a sample of the wildlife living on
the Refuge, welcomed all to GO WILD. From there visitors spread out to the
various activities. Follow this link for the full
article.<https://RWRFriends.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9&id=caded27222&e=da39c7971c>
Port Royal Water Trails
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we looked out our windows on April 23rd, we could see dozens of brightly
colored kayaks holding a conference in front of our house located on the bank
of the Rappahannock River in Port Royal. The kayaks, manned by students from
Caroline High School, were on a paddle-trip sponsored by the Friends of the
Rappahannock. Seeing kayaks and canoes following the Port Royal Water trail on
the river is one of the pleasures of living here. Kayaks are gregarious and
usually appear in smaller or larger groups; canoes are solitary and usually
appear one at a time. Follow this link for the full
article.<https://RWRFriends.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9&id=76d8d17e60&e=da39c7971c>
Hate Kudzu? Goats Don’t!
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They say turnabout is fair play. So, if kudzu is the plant that ate the South,
it seems fair that kudzu should face being eaten! That is exactly what is
happening at the refuge’s Styer/Bishop tracts in King George County.
Who, or what, is eating kudzu? Why goats, of course! It turns out that goats
have an affinity for munching on kudzu leaves, and according to our local goat
herder, Andy Ball, they prefer it to almost anything else they can reach. Andy
and his wife Gail Wertz reside at Millbank, an historic property adjacent to
refuge lands near Port Conway. They maintain about 25 goats on a portion of
their 180-acre farm, where the goats have virtually eliminated kudzu. Andy has
generously lent a few of his herd to the refuge to work goat magic on public
lands. Follow this link for the full
article.<https://RWRFriends.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9&id=7b4dc25948&e=da39c7971c>
To Tube, or Not to Tube?
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On a sunny, warm afternoon in March, a crew of eight Friends and Refuge
Biologist Lauren Cruz crawled through blackberry brambles at the Tayloe Unit to
remove plastic pipes that were stuck in the ground over ten years ago. Some of
the pipes had split open when the tree seedlings planted inside them grew
larger than the tube’s diameter. A few had already freed themselves from their
trees and were lying on the ground, but most still encircled the growing trees
inside them and were stuck firmly in the ground. It took knives and shears and
quite a bit of tugging to release them. Follow this link for the full
article.<https://RWRFriends.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9&id=adfd007bf0&e=da39c7971c>
Vernal Pools Survey News
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In February, Refuge Biologist Lauren Cruz conducted a class on vernal pools.
The class showed participants how to identify and log observations of wood frog
and spotted salamander eggs. Participants learned that vernal pools (seasonal
shallow pools of water) are the only breeding habitat for wood frogs and
spotted salamanders.
Three Northern Neck Master Naturalists, Marty Hill, Porter Washington, and
Kevin Howe, formed a team. Each team was assigned specific vernal pools to
observe. This team met Cruz in Farnham to see the assigned vernal pools. Before
the team even saw an assigned pool, they stopped to relocate spotted salamander
eggs that had begun life in the truck tracks on the road! Follow this link for
the full
article.<https://RWRFriends.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9&id=b2141dcfdb&e=da39c7971c>
[https://gallery.mailchimp.com/603274efb8dffce4f766ab0c9/images/ca1df334-1fd7-41e8-b1f7-fed4f1cf2b3e.jpg]Wilna
Gardeners Hard at Work
During an early April spring clean-up at Wilma Lodge garden, Friends volunteers
(from left to right) Sue Grabb, Nora Kroll, Bonita Russell, Betty Swift,
Earline Walker, and Marie Minor, pose in the bright T-shirts designed by Marie
Minor for the group. The colorful baskets in the foreground are “tub trugs”
purchased from Gardener’s Supply. The company replaced a broken trug in
exchange for this photo.
Calendar
Board Business Meetings
• July 11
• September 5
All meetings at 5 pm at Wilna Lodge unless otherwise noticed.
Other Events
• Menokin Makers Day – June 15, 11 am to 5 pm
• Junior Ranger Day – June 22, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
• Richmond County Fair - August 9 and 10
Volunteers Needed
Junior Ranger Day
(pre-registration required)
When: June 22nd 11:30am-3:30pm
Where: Meet at Wilna Pond Parking Lot
Volunteers will help children ages 5 to 13 with fishing (bait, hooks, casting,
etc.) A few volunteers are needed to lead trail tours/nature walks. Volunteers
may also take photos and hand out Refuge information/brochures.
Richmond County Fair
When: August 8th and 9th
Volunteers will set-up, take-down, and man the Friends booth: selling raffle
tickets, soliciting members, and describing the Refuge.
To volunteer, contact Ann Graziano at rwrfriends@xxxxxxxxx.
The newsletter is actively seeking photos of volunteers, refuge activities, or
wildlife. Please send to Mollie at mdanforth2@xxxxxxxxxxx. To submit or
suggest an article contact Mollie. Next deadline is August 12.
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
Elizabeth Danforth, Liz Duffy, Gerry Fairman, Marcia Fairman, Lance Gardner,
E. Robert Giammittorio, Martha Hall, Randy Heubusch, Libby McClary,
Cindy McInteer, Harry Meeks, Fran Nevel, Michelle Phillips, Katie Rabago,
Willis Robertson, Elena Swick, Lauren Whittaker.
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Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends, a support organization for the
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Our mailing address is:
Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends, P.O. Box 1565, Warsaw, VA 22572
How to Join
Joining is easy because there are no fees involved. We only need your name,
address, phone number and
email address. Membership benefits include the newsletter, notices of events
and volunteer opportunities, plus
the joy of supporting wildlife and leaving a legacy of conservation for your
children and grandchildren.
Please encourage your friends and family to sign up too. You can:
• Send your information to our email address at: rwrfriends@xxxxxxxxx.
• Visit our website at: www.rwrfriends.org and click on the join button
at the top.
• Message us on our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeRefugeFriends/.
• Check out our public events and sign up at our booth.
Links
Friends Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeRefugeFriends/
Friends Website http://www.rwrfriends.org/
Refuge Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/search
Newsletter Staff
Editor-in-chief - Mollie Danforth, Layout Editor – Kathryn Murray, Copy editor
– Cindy Packett.
Contributors: Joe McCauley, Jim Heimbach, Steve Colangelo, Porter Washington,
Nora Kroll, Marie Minor, Michelle Phillips, Bruce Callis, and Lauren Cruz.
We are actively seeking photos of volunteers, refuge activities or wildlife.
Please send to Mollie at mdanforth2@xxxxxxxxxxx. To submit or suggest an
article contact Mollie. Next deadline August 12.
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22304-1720 · USA
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