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Congratulations, Scholarship Winners!

Congratulations to our Blue Goose Scholarship winners, Kaylie Simpson (Port Clinton High School) and Megan Walters-Aughney (St. Ursula Academy)! Our scholarship awardees were honored at a celebration on Saturday, May 11 at the Refuge Visitor Center.

Thanks to Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Innovation Fund donors, two $2,500 scholarships were awarded. Both students had exceptional essays demonstrating their dedication to conservation as well as outstanding academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and a proven commitment to environmental activism.

The Blue Goose Scholarship Program is named for the mascot of the national wildlife refuge system, the blue goose. The blue goose was designed by cartoonist and conservationist Ding Darling. Concerned with pollution and the extinction of wildlife, “Ding” Darling worked the themes into his cartoons. He believed that people can benefit from nature without damaging it.

Both seniors plan to pursue degrees in Environmental Science. We can't wait to see where their journeys lead!

Above (l-r): Friends board members Sara Sherick, Vice President Tajinder Singh, and Secretary Kendra Foust; Blue Goose Scholarship Winner Kaylie Simpson, Puddles the Blue Goose, Blue Goose Scholarship Winner Megan Walters-Aughney, Friends Executive Director Aimee Arent, and Refuge Manager Jason Lewis. Below (l-r): Kaylie Simpson, Puddles the Blue Goose, and Megan Walters-Aughney. Thank you to Tony Everhardt for the photos!

Remembering Michael House

We were devastated to lose Friends Board Member Michael House on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Mike was an integral part of our refuge community, serving on the Board of Directors for the past four years as a Board Member and past Treasurer and also as our Front Desk volunteer every Friday. He put his brilliant mind and biometry degree to use assisting the refuge biology team with statistical analysis. Additionally, he volunteered with the Friends of the 500th at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia where adored the mountains and wetlands. Mike was always eager to share incredible pictures from his travels between the two refuges he loved. Being in nature was a true refuge for him.

His commitment and passion for the National Wildlife Refuge System continues to inspire us all. We hope that you will take the time to read more about Mike's incredible life, and if you interacted with him over the years please consider leaving his family a few words on his Tribute Wall.

Photo: Mike House hiking the meadow at Canaan Valley NWR

All-terrain Wheelchair Arrives at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

The Board of Trustees of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation approved a grant from the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation Fund in the amount of $10,000 to the Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. These funds will be used to expand access to the refuge by purchasing equipment to make the refuge's trails more accessible. Grants from this fund are made to help meet charitable needs and grant opportunities of nonprofit organizations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The grant to the Friends of Ottawa NWR was used to purchase an all-terrain wheelchair known as the Action Trackchair.

The Action Trackchair is designed to provide freedom and independence to as many people as possible. An all-terrain wheelchair is a vital tool for individuals with physical disabilities. This wheelchair provides individuals with the ability to navigate rough terrain, allowing them to participate in outdoor activities that were previously inaccessible. In addition, an all-terrain wheelchair can greatly improve an individual's mental and emotional wellbeing. This all-terrain wheelchair will be available for refuge visitors to borrow - for free - and use to connect with the great outdoors. This wheelchair will provide new opportunities for anyone who needs special accommodations to enjoy nature. Interested in trying it out? Reply to this email!

Greater Toledo Community Foundation is a public charitable organization created by citizens of our community to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families in our area. In existence since 1973, the Foundation has more than 970 individual current funds with assets of approximately $382 million. The Foundation provides philanthropic services for individuals, families, businesses and corporations to meet their charitable giving needs. For more information on the Foundation, visit the organization’s website at www.toledocf.org or follow them on Facebook or LinkedIn. Photo: Refuge Bio Tech Jessica Duez learns how to operate the Action Trackchair | USFWS

Thank you for your support during spring migration!

Mother's Day Raffle

The Friends Board of Directors put together a great Mother's Day basket to raffle with $650 worth of goodies including an amethyst hummingbird necklace, dinner gift cards, and everything you need to pamper the moms in your life. Thanks to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket, we raised over $1,000 for our conservation efforts! Our winner was Andrew Cole of Perrysburg, Ohio (shown above). Congratulations, Andrew, and thank you for all you do to support Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

White Pelicans on West Sister Island

We had the BEST time on the West Sister Island Sunset Cruise on May 4, 2024. The highlight of the trip was the unexpected presence of American white pelicans on the island that gave us the show of a lifetime.

This fundraiser around the largest great blue heron, great egret, and black-crowned night heron rookery in the US Great Lakes helped to raise over $16,000 to support the protection of the refuge. Thank you to all who attended!

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Wetland and Invasive Species Coordinator Trevor Zook spent 24 hours, from 12:00am to 11:59pm on Sunday, May 12, 2024 counting how many bird species he could find across the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex for his first Big Day.

Trevor's goal to raise awareness of the refuge complex and the importance of its habitats and species diversity was met with 126 bird species spotted in one day. He also had a goal to raise $2,500 towards habitat and wildlife conservation and actually raised over $3,000 for the Friends! Thank you to all who supported Trevor and followed along on his journey.

To see his impressive bird list which included 19 warbler species and black terns, click here.

Barn Owl Nest Camera Update

Our ambitious pair of barn owls laid 8 eggs this year, all of which have now hatched. With 8 little owlets, the box is now active most of the day and night. Tune in to watch along with us 24/7!

Special thanks to our 2023 Innovation Fund donors, Amplex Internet, volunteer Greg Sanderson for his hours of work coordinating the install; Tucker Electrical Service for donating their labor to the project; and Pixelcaster for helping to make this camera happen!

Mama barn owl looking at the camera with 7 owlets and one egg in the nest

Love what we are doing? You can help make it happen!

If you'd like to ensure that the refuge has the funds to continue priority projects and programs, please consider making a gift today. Setting up a monthly gift that fits into your budget is a great place to start!

Volunteer Spotlight: Bob Mockenstrum

Bob Mockenstrum, a retired truck driver, has been generously giving his time and energy to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for the last year. His passion for connecting with visitors shines through as he shares stories about Ottawa Refuge during his guided tours on the electric shuttle. His warm demeanor and genuine interest in people creates a great atmosphere for everyone who visits the refuge. Bob also enjoys traveling, photography and riding his motorcycle.

Volunteers like Bob are the lifeblood of our organization. Their dedication and passion make a significant impact on the communities they serve. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our goals or create meaningful experiences for visitors. So, the next time you encounter a volunteer—whether it’s Bob or someone else—take a moment to express your gratitude. Their contributions are invaluable, and they play an essential role in making our refuge a better place for all. Thank you, Bob, and thank you to all our incredible volunteers!

Volunteer Position Openings

Nature Store Volunteers
Assist customers in the store, operate the cash register, inventory items purchased, stock shelves with new inventory, maintain items in an orderly and attractive matter. Potential to occasionally attend community events to perform outreach and sell merchandise, and other duties as agreed upon by Nature Store Manager and volunteer. A minimum of one four-hour block of time per week is preferred.
Front Desk Operations
Front desk volunteers are incredibly valuable to the daily operations of the Visitor Center. These amazing people are the face of the refuge, greeting visitors, answering their questions, helping them to find their way and have the best visit they possibly can. Duties include: greeting visitors, answering the questions based on general refuge knowledge, answering the phone, taking program reservations, opening and closing the Visitor Center, preparing activities, checking out binoculars and materials to visitors, logging lost and found, stocking brochures, and a variety of other duties. Days that are most needed are every other Friday and some Saturdays and we also need some intermittent volunteers at the Front Desk.
Hines Art Gallery Coordinator
Our small third floor gallery can be used for educational information or to share amazing art work. We are looking for someone to recruit and organize rotating exhibits on the gallery on the third floor. Duties would include: recruit exhibitors, screen applicants with refuge staff, schedule accepted exhibitors, and coordinate installation.
Gardeners
We have a number of pollinator/native plant gardens around the Visitor Center that require some maintenance. Duties would include: pulling weeds, identification of undesirable plants, or plants that need thinned, planting of new plants. Some control of woody vegetation could also be included.
Recycling Fish Bin Guardian
We are installing an art installation at West Harbor Landing, visitors can drop their recyclable containers in the metal fish sculpture and we need it to be emptied periodically. Duties would include: emptying items from the sculpture, sorting recyclables from non-recyclables and coordinating with refuge staff to dispose of trash and recyclables at refuge facilities.
Adopt a Satellite
The refuge has satellite properties around Ottawa County, if you have a fondness for one of those properties, or would like to develop one, and would like to help us keep these areas in the best shape possible we would love to have you help. Duties would include: filling brochures, picking up litter, and reporting maintenance issues to refuge staff, there could be other duties included at come satellite properties.
Friends Committee and Board Members

As a committee or board member, you will collaborate with other passionate individuals to help fulfill the mission of the Friends group. Whether you have experience in finance, fundraising, marketing, event planning, strategic planning, or simply a strong commitment to our cause, we welcome your application to become more involved.

Please fill out our volunteer application to express interest in any of these positions. Feel free to share information with anyone who might be interested! Reach out to Nicole Crofts, Volunteer Coordinator with any questions: volunteeronwr@gmail.com

Shop The Rookery Nature Store

Check out our new stock of one of a kind formed metal flowers and critters that last forever! Handmade in Champaign, Illinois by Lance Merry of The Merry Prairie.

Click each image for more details and shop online or in store Weds-Sun, 10am-4pm.

Love shopping online and want to support the refuge? Consider donating an item or two from our Amazon Charity Wishlist.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, June 8: Crane Creek Beach East Clean Up: 10:30am-12:00pm. Call to register: 419-313-3236
June 15-16: Free Fishing Weekend No fishing license needed! Fishing poles and bait are provided for catch and release fishing.
Sunday, June 16: Detroit River Youth Fishing Team (DRYFT) Join park rangers for an introduction to fishing during this interactive program. Participants will learn how to rig a fishing pole, navigate a tackle box, fish safely, and generally get comfortable recreating outside. Times are 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. Call to register: 419-898-0014
Saturday, July 6: BARK Ranger Bring your dog and take a hike with a ranger to learn about proper "petiquette" when visiting public lands. Participants will receive a certificate and bandana. Group Sessions: 10am-11am, 1pm-2pm; Individual Sessions: 11am-1pm. Registration required. Call 419-898-0014.
Sunday, July 7: Monthly Bird Survey. Meet at the trailhead parking lot at 8am.
Saturday, July 13: Crane Creek Beach West Clean Up: 10:30am-1:00pm. Call to register: 419-313-3236
Shuttle Tours: Friday - Sunday, 11am & 1pm. Tours are dependent on weather and volunteer availability. Call to register: 419-898-0014

Wildlife Drive Dates: June - August, every Saturday & Sunday
Visitor Center Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm

Virtual Programs

Shorebird ID 101 with Joe Kwasniewski

Thu Jul 18th 7:00pm - 8:00pm (EDT) online via Zoom

An overview of shorebird species commonly encountered in the Great Lakes region especially the birds of the genus Calidris and Tringa. Joe Kwasniewski is a lifelong student of the natural world who works professionally as an art director, graphic designer and visual artist with a passion for bird photography. He has over 15 years experience in photography and photo retouching, with an extensive background in post-processing methods and has spent over a decade fine-tuning field techniques for capturing the essence and beauty of wild birds. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI and has lead field trips around the Midwest in search of elusive bird species. This program is free and sponsored by Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Registration is required: Sign Up

Ottawa NWR Monthly Census: June 2, 2024

ROUTES: East Side, West Side, Western Prairies, Henry Marsh in the morning; Auto Tour Area in the afternoon (except where closed due to eagle nesting). OBS. EAST: Jim Koppin, Jim Reyda, Al & Betty Schlecht. OBS. WEST: Susan Brauning, Jennifer Kuehn, Donna Kuhn, George Novosel, Chris Pierce. OBS. WEST PRAIRIES, HENRY MARSH, SOUTHERN EDGE OF NORTH WOODS & SOUTH WOODS: Douglas W. Vogus. OBS. AFTERNOON: Bob Bartolotta, Claire Johnson, Jim Koppin, Jim Reyda, Douglas W. Vogus.

TIME: 7:30am - 12:15pm; 1:15pm - 4:15pm TIME AFIELD: 7:45 TEMP.: 62F ~ 75F

COND.: Steady rain ending at 7:30am, but light mist falling until 8:40am; overcast throughout the entire morning; clouds moving out by mid-afternoon and turning warmer with a clouds/sun mix.

HIGHLIGHTS: 80 bird species were seen with a total of 3,293 birds. Lots of babies were seen including 24 cygnets, wood ducklings, sandhill crane colts, blue jay chicks, bald eaglets, and barn owls via webcam. Northern bobwhite quail were seen along Krause Rd, the first June record on the census and a new record high of 4 birds (previous was 2 on 5/1974, 9/1978, and 5/2024.)The following species of mammals were seen: Virginia opossum (1), eastern cottontail (66), woodchuck (11), eastern fox squirrel (12), common muskrat (4), common raccoon (2), and white tailed deer (6). The count also included 6 species of reptiles: common snapping turtle (4), map turtle (4), midland painted turtle (43), Blanding's turtle (1, laying eggs!), eastern spiny softshell (1), and eastern garter snake (2). Amphibians included bullfrog (24), and green frog (15). Fishes included common carp (7), and black bullhead (1, the second June record on the census). Butterflies and moths seen include: eastern tiger swallowtail (1), cabbage butterfly (86), clouded sulphur (1), bronze copper (1), summer azure (6), question mark (2), Appalachian brown (1), monarch (1), least skipper (2), Zabulon skipper (1), rush veneer (1, first ever sighting on the census), three-spotted fillip (1, first ever sighting on the census). Dragonflies and damselflies seen included: cornet darner (1, first ever sighting on the census), Halloween pennant, eastern pondhawk, widow skimmer, blue dasher, ruby meadowhawk (1), black saddlebags, slender spreadwing (2), vesper bluet (3, first ever sightings on the census), orange bluet, fragile forktail, and eastern forktail.

Thank you as always to Douglas W. Vogus of Akron, Ohio for compiling this list!

View Census Data

Friends of Ottawa NWR Photo Club

On May 10, 2024, the northern lights were visible from NW Ohio and many other areas in the United States. We are grateful to have been able to witness this incredible display. Enjoy this photo of the Visitor Center in the distance with the lights reflecting in the fishing pond by Tony Everhardt.

Enjoy many more photos of the refuge and share your own in our Friends of Ottawa NWR Photo Club Facebook group. We hope that you will consider joining us, learning from seasoned photographers, and sharing your favorite shots of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for all to enjoy!