Announcements and Special Events
Join Us March 30th for the Spring Refuge Beach Clean-Up!
Dive into a day of conservation and community at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge this spring! The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge invites you to be part of our traditional beach clean-up event. A day where volunteers of all ages come together to remove litter from our beautiful refuge beaches and salt marsh edges, making a real difference for our local wildlife and habitat.
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Parking Lot #1, Plum Island, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Trash bags and a safety orientation will be provided. We're also calling on volunteers interested in trail maintenance to bring along loppers and clippers. Let's make our refuge a cleaner, safer place for everyone to enjoy. Your efforts matter—a heartfelt thank you in advance from the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge!
📸 Discover the Wild: Dive into our March Artist of the Month exhibit 📸
This month we're lucky enough to showcase stunning wildlife photography by three local talents - Dan Oh, Kristine Patti and Sue Poublon. Experience the beauty and intricacy of our natural wildlife and landscapes through their lenses. A visual journey awaits! Learn more.
The Refuge is Hiring!
Great Marsh Restoration Coordinator Position Now Open
Join the biology team as the Great Marsh Restoration Coordinator leading ecological projects including invasive species management, ditch remediation, data collection, public education and outreach, and supervising summer field techs.
This is a great job for someone with strong data management skills and coastal ecology knowledge who loves working with people and being outdoors! This position is offered in partnership with Mass Audubon and is benefits eligible. This is a 9 month position with the possibility of extension up to 3 years based on performance and funding. Learn more and apply online.
Even More Hiring!
Join the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge visitor services team in a part-time administrative assistant position supporting visitor center operations. This position will provide support answering public calls, e-mails, and drop-in questions, as well as helping with pass sales and office management tasks. A perfect job for those who love talking to and meeting new people!
Pay for this position is $22/hr and requires on-site work Tuesdays plus one additional day each week from 8am - 4:30pm. This position is offered through the Experienced Services Program. Click here learn more and apply.
Did you know?
You can help support the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends by supporting the and the future of wildlife conservation through the Doug Chickering Internship Program.
Learn more and make a difference today with your donation at Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
Please enjoy issue #7 of Plants of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. If you have missed any pervious issues you can find them under the 'Archived Articles' tab on the home page.
In case you missed it! Check out the wonderful write up about the work that was done on the refuge this week! Link to The Daily News article here
Artist of the Month Guidelines
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
In an effort to provide Refuge visitors with a broader array of interpretive exhibit offerings in the Refuge visitor center, the “Artist of the Month” program gives local artists an opportunity to display their wildlife and nature-related artwork, for one month at a time, in the visitor center auditorium.
Our nature-themed monthly exhibitions of paintings and photographs are held in the Parker River visitor center and bring great enjoyment to those visiting the center for programs or information. The Friends coordinates these exhibits and encourages those considering showing their work to read the guidelines provided below and if interested to submit a signed copy as directed.
You may also contact us at friends@parkerriver.org for further information.
Contribute to the Friends Internship Fund!
Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting the US Fish & Wildlife Service Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Our Friends organization is entirely dependent upon volunteer support and funding from membership dues, donations, grants and fund raising events.
The Refuge is located on Plum Island, a barrier island and nearby Great Salt Marsh area in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, along the major bird migration route known as the Atlantic Flyway. It is comprised of more than 4,700 acres of pristine coastal habitat for more than 300 species of resident and migratory birds, as well as a large variety of mammals, insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians. In addition to wildlife conservation, the Refuge provides unique opportunities to experience an undeveloped, coastal environment near major metropolitan areas. See http://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker_river/.
Our Friends Organization:
Supports the primary purposes for which the Refuge was established.
Promotes the preservation of the natural and historical resources of the Refuge.
Fosters the wildlife-dependent use of the Refuge and the enjoyment of it by the public, consistent with its protection and preservation.
Engages in such educational, scientific and civic activities to assist the Refuge to carry out its mandates.
The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all our corporate sponsors and friends
Corporate Sponsors:
We appreciate all of your help and support. Please visit their websites for more information about each organization/business.
Tom’s Plum Island Birding Page
Essex County Ornithological Club
Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center