2012 Annual Membership Meeting

Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will hold its annual membership meeting February 4^th. At Noon there will be a presentation and at 1:00PM the actual business meeting will start.

Matt Poole will provide an overview of Parker River NWR’s first ever Digital Nature Photography Day Camp. Ten local teens spent five days last July learning and practicing the basics of both photography and image editing. By weeks end each camp participant had produced a portfolio of their favorite images. It was from these portfolios that the framed photographic prints were selected for the photo camp exhibit in the refuge visitor center. Matt will also discuss the value of digital cameras, computers, and other technologies in connecting people with nature -- an important focus area for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programming.

The annual meeting includes the election of the board members. Please contact our president Douglas Brink.

Master Naturalist Program at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

In February, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will launch 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.

The first Master Naturalist training program is scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 18^th from 10:00AM to 3:00PM at the refuge visitor center in Newburyport. Anyone interested in participating in the inaugural Master Naturalist training program is asked to contact Matt Poole, visitor services manager, at (978) 465-5753, ext. 210 or send Matt e-mail 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 Summer 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 January

The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge public programs for January 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: .

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.

(Please click image to read the full current NWRA Flyer)

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