Fox Nature Preserve Grand Opening Ceremony
|
Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge was honored to host a small gathering on April 29 to celebrate the families involved in the creation of the Fox Nature Preserve. The 77 acre Fox Nature Preserve is located about a quarter mile south of the main refuge entrance on Lickert-Harder Rd. Learn more about the Fox Preserve here.
Photos: Matriarchs Barbara Fox and Donna Genzman cut the ribbon on the finished 1400' ADA compliant trail loop surrounded by refuge staff, board members, family, and Friends; Barbara Fox with the Trotting Fox Trail sign, honoring the legacy of her late husband, Rev. Charles Fox.
|
This amazing success story and all of the work accomplished by the Friends to support the conservation mission of the refuge would not be possible without YOU. We would like to thank the many individuals, organizations, and foundations who contributed to the Joan and Richard Kimple Conservation Fund allowing us to purchase and restore the Fox Nature Preserve and open it as Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's newest outdoor recreation site. The restoration work was financed in part by the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. EPA with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Many thanks to the Stranahan Supporting Organization, the Andersons Fund Supporting Organization, and the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, the Ottawa County Community Foundation, the Schlink Foundation, the Joan and Richard Kimple Family, anonymous matching donors, and supporters of the Friends Innovation Fund who contributed $130,000 to make public access at this site possible. Thank you!
|
Storybook Trail
More great partnerships! The Oak Harbor Public Library received a Park and Trails Improvement Grant through the Ottawa County Park District to create "Wild Pages", a program dedicated to encouraging literacy while enjoying a casual hike outdoors. Storybook trails are a fun way for families to enjoy a walk on a trail while blending in learning through reading. To create a storybook trail, pages from a children's book are separated and placed in order along the trail.
The Fox Nature Preserve now has a storybook trail of its own! The currently featured book will be "At the Marsh in the Meadow" by Jeanie Mebane and illustrated by Gerald Guerlais. A new children's book will be placed along the trail each season. Activity stations placed periodically along the storybook trail encourage participants to take in their surroundings, learn, and get moving.
Photos: An activity station along the storybook trail; Oak Harbor Public Library staff with Puddles the Blue Goose, the National Wildlife Refuge System mascot; Daemon Britt and Scout Troop 370 who installed the signs!
|
|
Eyes on Invasive Species Eradication and Native Plantings
|
|
Spotted Knapweed and Garlic Mustard bit the dust at the hands of dedicated volunteers. The crew removed about 100 pounds of these invasive plants, and another 20 pounds of trash at Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge.
|
Experimenting with Phragmites Treatment Ottawa Refuge
Summer is almost here, and native plants and pollinators are thriving; however, with the advent of summer and the beautiful blooms in your garden come chores as well. Invasive plants are likely to pop up just about anywhere and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is no exception.
The easiest and safest option is usually to pull these plants, as removing as much plant material as possible is important to ensuring they do not return. This is easier when plants have more compact tap roots, but what happens when plants have rhizomatous (spreading across the ground) roots?
Follow this link to learn more about how our Wetland Technician Intern Phoebe Jackson (left) has been using a creative technique to treat Phragmites at Ottawa Refuge. (The answer might surprise you!)
|
Hands on Habitat
This outstanding group of conservationists spent some time improving the refuge pollinator habitat in early June. The group includes Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever staff from 36 different states and they took part in a "Hands on Habitat" event at the refuge. We thank them for all of their work!
Photo: Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever staff in front of the mobile field station at the Ottawa NWR Visitor Center by USFWS/J. Finn
|
New faces at Ottawa Refuge
|
|
Our Visitor Services program is adding additional staff as we prepare to host events and educational programs this summer and beyond. Click each name to get to know our newest Friends!
|
Alexis Faul
USFWS Career Pathways
Visitor Services Intern
|
Ever wanted to work at the refuge?
|
Now Hiring:
Custodial Worker - WG 2
|
Part Time (20 hrs/week NTE 1039/year) $21.17/hr
|
Tell us a little about you.
|
We are conducting a survey to learn how you and other supporters feel about the work that the Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge does.
Gaining your input will help us to connect with more people who care about helping our Refuge, broaden our base of support, strengthen the impact of your partnership with us, and inform our current planning efforts to ensure future sustainability of our mission.
This survey should take around 5-10 minutes to complete or slightly more if you have a lot to share!
|
|
IN MEMORY OF MERIDITH BECK
1941-2023
|
|
Help us celebrate the life of a beloved Refuge Friend through two causes she cared about. Save lives by donating blood, watch eagles as you explore the Wildlife Drive, and find your true refuge with us on July 8th.
Meridith had a lifelong mission of service to others and to the environment. For five years she worked with the American Red Cross, serving military hospitals, including a one-year assignment aboard the Navy hospital ship Repose in the waters of Vietnam. Meridith was the director of Ottawa County Red Cross from 1972 through 1975. Meridith's favorite volunteer job was pursuing her lifelong interest in preserving the natural beauty of Ottawa County and she loved Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. We were honored to call her our Friend.
|
July 8, 2023: 9am - 2pm
at the Visitor Center
|
Bird Collision Monitoring Program
Glass City Bird Crew is a bird collision monitoring program in Toledo, Ohio. This program is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (stationed at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge), Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and the Toledo Zoo.
Volunteers monitor predetermined route(s) in the downtown Toledo area to record data on dead and injured birds as a result of window strikes in this metropolitan area. This program helps to pinpoint where additional measures need to be taken to prevent bird and bat deaths and injuries.
Spring 2023 Stats
- Almost 200 birds found, about 45 different species
- 66% were found dead
- 11 warbler species found. The first found was a Northern waterthrush (dead) on April 27th, and the last one found was mourning warbler (alive) on May 24th
- 337.5 volunteer hours!
|
Announcing the 24th Annual Photography Contest
To celebrate National Wildlife Refuges and the beauty of nature, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge invites all photographers to enter the 24th Annual Nature Photography Contest. Entries will be accepted July 1 - September 5, 2023. Participants may submit up to four entries, with a maximum of 1 entry per category. The categories will include: Birds, Wildlife other than Birds, Landscapes and Plants and People Enjoying Nature. There will be the following age categories: Adult (18+), Teen (13-17 years old) and Youth (5-12 years old).
|
Recycle your electronics and textiles at the Refuge Recycle Round Up on July 8!
Electronics items accepted include: computers/servers, keyboards and mice, monitors/displays, cell phones, etc. Textile items accepted include anything made from cloth or artificial fabric like vinyl. Recycle your items for $10/carload at the Visitor Center from 10am-2pm. Visit our website for more details.
|
|
Tickets now available!
West Sister Island Sunset Cruise
|
Join us for an evening cruise around the largest great blue heron, great egret, and black crowned night heron rookery in the U.S. Great Lakes.
|
The Visitor Center and Rookery Nature Store are open Wednesday - Sunday from 10am - 4pm. Come and see us! You can also shop online anytime and have items shipped or pick up in store. Proceeds from the store directly support the conservation mission of the refuge.
|
Thank you for making a difference for birds and wildlife.
|
Trumpeter Club
Barbara Ford | Bill and Caryn Long | Bill and Dorthy Baker | Dale Arnold | Dave and Jackie Kwiatkowski | David and Susan Jarzen | Greg and Stephanie Sanderson | Joanne Darr | Kimberly Harder Danes | Laura McCartney | Letha Ferguson | Linda Patterson | Patrick & Michele O'Christie | Rob & Peg Bobel | Sharon Pesci | Suzan and Jim George | Aimee and Greg Arent | Daniel Lea | Harvey and Scott Galloway | James Hullinger | Jerry Cooke | Jim and Becky Huebler | Marie Brosi | Martha Dreier | Ronald Overmyer | Susi Brown
|
Snowy Owl Club
Carol Fingerhut
Lisa Gilgenbach
Janet Goss
|
Eagle Club
Ruth Ann & Daniel Fraser
|
Osprey Club
Valerie Fuller
|
|
