The Endangered Species Act is Turning Forty!

The Endangered Species Act is turning 40! Join us in celebrating 4 decades of endangered and threatened species conservation! Over the next year we’ll be highlighting some amazing success stories, under the Endangered Species Act, from around the country. Look for a new story here each week and get to know your species! For us at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, think the Piping Plover. Piping Plover and Least Terns , endangered and threatened bird species, nest on the beaches of Plum Island.

Live Viewing of Raptors

Established in 1988, the non-profit Raptor Resource Project specializes in the preservation of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. We establish and strengthen breeding populations of these raptors by creating, improving, and maintaining nests and nest sites. In addition to directly managing over 40 falcon, eagle, and owl nest sites, we provide training in nest site creation and management across the United States, reach more than 85,000 people each year through lectures, education programs, and our website, and develop innovations in nest site management and viewing that bring people closer to the world around them. Their mission is to preserve and strengthen raptor populations, to expand participation in raptor preservation, and to help foster the next generation of preservationists. There work deepens the connection between people and the natural world, bringing benefits to both.

Click here to check out the links to cams of many of the raptor nests that RRP manages.

Second Annual Photography Contest Best of Show

The Best of Show for the 2012 Photography contest is . The photographer’s name is Emils Zarin. All of the winning entries from from the 2012 photo contest are now on exhibit in the visitor center auditorium.

Final 2012 Piping Plover - Jean Adams

Refuge : 27 pair/32 fledge

Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 2012 Scholarship

Molly Picillo (left) with Barbara Cray, receives the first annual DOUGLAS CRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. Who was Douglas Cray? Mr. Cray was a writer for the New York Times and the husband of our longtime member of Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Barbara Cray. Doug and Barbara have spent many hours supporting the Parker River Wildlife Refuge through the friends. Molly Picillo is a member of Newburyport High School class of 2012. Molly was a member of the Newburyport High School team that placed 2^nd in the US D.O.E. Real World Design Challenge. Team members include Thayer Adsit, Philip Arets, Belle Douglass, Irene Jacqz, Molly Picillo, Travis Souther, Tom Svirsky, and coach Sarah Leadbeater. Molly’s planned major is Zoology/Wildlife Ecology. She plans on attending the University of Maine.

Second Annual Nature and Wildlife Photography Contest

Those wishing to participate in this year’s contest may submit matted prints from Tuesday, July 2^nd thru Friday, September 28^th. The two theamed categories are wildlife and landscapes/seascapes. Further categorization includes images taken with a “point and shoot” camera versus those captured with a camera with interchangeable lenses (e.g., digital single lens reflex or DSLR). Finally, entries will be judged within two age categories – adult and youth (under age 18).

Contest judging will occur in two phases. In round one, members of the Photographic Society of Parker River NWR will vote for their favorite images. In the final round, a panel of judges will determine the winners from this pool of images. Contest winners will be announced during the refuge’s annual Nature and Wildlife Photography Weekend (October 12^th – 14^th). A number of prizes will be awarded to this year’s winners. Winning entries will be put on display in the refuge visitor center for one year.

Contest participants are allowed to submit a total of two prints. A $5 application fee will cover one or two entries. Maximum allowable print size is 8" x 10". All prints must be presented in a white matte. All images must have been taken on Plum Island and/or within the boundary of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on or after January 1, 2011. A complete list of contest rules is available through the refuge web site.

The contest is sponsored by Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the Photographic Society of Parker River NWR.

Parker River NWR Gives Incentives to Landowners to Help the Great Marsh

The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce the “Slow the Flow” campaign and grant program. This program offers landowners $500 – $1000 each to make lawns and landscaping more environmentally friendly. Landowners must contribute at least 50% of the project costs. Projects in the Plum Island Estuary watershed will be given priority consideration. Five to 10 grants will be awarded, including one Low Impact Development project for up to $2,500. The deadline for application is April 20, 2012 and awards will be announced May 4. Examples of eligible projects include those that will reduce impervious surfaces, create rain gardens and native landscaping buffers, or convert lawn care from conventional to organic methods. The 2012 grants have been announced, click here. Please visit: www.PIESlowTheFlow.com.

Master Naturalist Program at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

In February, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge launched a new initiative to develop a corps of “master naturalists” – a group of specially trained volunteer docents who will grow the refuge’s capacity for providing environmental education and interpretive programs for refuge visitors, schools, and the local community in general. Over the course of a year, Master Naturalist program participants will receive specialized classroom and field-based training in such topical areas as resident wildlife, bird migration, animal tracking, beach ecology, Plum Island history, and interpretive techniques. Training sessions will be held on one Saturday of every month. Following successful completion of the free, year-long training program, the refuge’s newly minted Master Naturalists will work with refuge staff to develop and deliver environmental and interpretive programs. You can see pictures from one of the classes by clicking here.

First Annual Photography Contest Winners

To view the online gallery featuring the winning entries from the 2011 Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Nature & Wildlife Photography contest, click here.

Prints of the student’s photos of the 2011 Parker River Nature Photography Camp are exhibited at the Headquarter's Visitor Center along with photo prints from the First Annual Nature Photography Contest.

Oceanography Magazine: Ripple Marks The Story Behind the Story

The Oceanography, Volume 24, Number 3, Magazine has an article titled: “Oceanography Magazine: Ripple Marks The Story Behind the Story” by Cheryl Lyn Dybas that has a section “Low Tide on a Great March”on Plum Island. The article can be sean by clicking here.

The Wrack Line

The Winter issue of The Wrack Line, the Newsletter of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge can be viewed by clicking here.

What is a wrack line? Click here for an NPR broadcast on the wrack line. Why are maintenance personnel not cleaning this mess up? Click here for the answer.

Friends Forward

Once per quarter the National Wildlife Refuge System publishes a newsletter for Friends groups. A link to current issue of the newsletter as well as links to past newsletters can be found by clicking here. The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the beach wheelchair is mentioned in this summer's issue.

Refuge Update

Every two months the National Wildlife Refuge System publishes a newsletter for Refuge system. A link to current issue of “Refuge Update” as well as links to past issues can be found by clicking here.

Plum Island Bird Sightings

To see Tom’s Birding Page about the birds of Plum Island including recent sightings, click here.

Refuge’s Public Programs for May

The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge public programs for May can be viewed by clicking here.

The Plover Warden Diaries

Janet Egan , Jean Adam’s most veteran warden, has been volunteering since 1991! She is the creator of the popular blog “Plover Warden Diaries” and has logged more years on the beach than any other warden. The Refuge is fortunate to have her extensive knowledge about the plovers and the beach. It is safe to say that she has seen more plovers and plover chicks than any other volunteer or Refuge biologist. Click here to read her musings.

Facebook

The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is now on Facebook, click .

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now on Facebook, click .

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has there own Facebook page: .

Twitter

Parker River Wildlife Refuge one could say is for the birds. So here are some tweets you might want to follow:

Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is now on Twitter, please follow us by clicking .

Follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Service Director Dan Nash, click .

Follow USFWS Refuge System, click .

Follow USFWS Refuge System, Northeast, click .

Janet Egan tweets: .

Renewal Time

Dear Friends,

The month of May is membership renewal time at the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.  Once again we hope to welcome you as a continuing supporter of one of the few unspoiled natural barrier-beach habitats still existing in the Northeast. 

Your financial support sustain our outreach, education, advocacy and fundraising programs - all focused to support our mission to promote the conservation and public appreciation of this invaluable natural resource. Your tax-deductible membership will keep your name on the growing list of citizens who have made a commitment of stewardship for the refuge

Once again, thank you for your support in helping us preserve one of our great national treasures, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

To renew your membership, simply print the form and mail it along with your payment to:

Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950

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Amazing video by a 12 year old young lady on global warming and our children's viewpoint! Watch it here! ECO on global warming!

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Investing in wildlife refuges pays off for local communities; studies show that for every $1 allocated to the National Wildlife Refuge System, there is at least a $4 return in economic activity.
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

 

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Residential and industrial development, resource extraction and harmful public uses are at the doorstep of our most prized wildlife lands and waters. Unless we take immediate action to counter these threats, the future of America’s wildlife heritage is at risk. While refuges encompass an abundance of the most biologically rich habitats in America, a vast majority of the 548 refuges are small in size and depend heavily on adjacent private, state and federal lands for wildlife foraging and corridors, and to ensuring adequate quantities of clean water.

In response, the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) in 2005 launched Beyond the Boundaries, a project designed to utilize State Wildlife Action Plans, refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCP) and other comprehensive wildlife habitat assessments in protecting conservation landscapes surrounding and linking refuges and other vital habitats. State Wildlife Action Plans, completed in every state and territory, recognize the problem of growth and development and make it abundantly clear that our country’s wildlife has never faced greater challenges than it does today. Simply put, America’s wildlife is in trouble, and Beyond the Boundaries is an important initiative to reverse this alarming trend.

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