U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Inside RefugeUpdate November/December 2008 Vol 5, No 6 Do-It-Yourself Project Makes Sparks, page 3 The Departments of the Interior and Energy spotlight San Andres Refuge’s GAO Report: Refuge System innovative (and largely homemade) renewable energy program. Funding Did Not Keep Pace In Oregon, a Refuge Teaches Teachers, page 5 Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge’s ambitious environmental education program acquires a solid reputation. Focus on . . . International Conservation, pages 6-11 National resource managers around the world look to the Refuge System for on-the-scene advice and training. Taking Pride, page 16 A former refuge complex project leader in Texas and a super-volunteer in Georgia win 2008 Take Pride in America Awards.

The Government Accountability Office has found that the level of inflation-adjusted funding for refuge Refuges Part of operations, maintenance and fire management varied considerably from fiscal years 2002 through 2007. WWII Monument (USFWS) Three Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska he Government Accountability gained staff since 2004, more than three Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and a war-time detention camp complex TOffice (GAO), in a report issued times that number lost permanent located in part within the boundaries in September, found that the level of employees. inflation-adjusted funding for refuge of California’s Tule Lake Refuge According to the GAO report, from are among the nine sites included in operations, maintenance and fire FY 2002 to FY 2007, 96 of the Refuge the World War II Valor in the Pacific management varied considerably from National Monument created by fiscal years 2002 through 2007, but System’s complexes and stand-alone President Bush on December 5. Of that the changes hit individual refuges refuges lost funding, while funding the designated islands, Attu and Kiska harder than the overall trend indicated. remained stable at 34 refuges; 92 were occupied by Japanese forces Citing just one example, GAO noted that complexes and stand-alone refuges saw during World War II; Attu was the site Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in increased funding. of the only land battle fought in North Idaho lost 66 percent of its core funding America. Atka Island is a B-24 bomber “In light of continuing federal fiscal crash site. The Tule Lake Detention during the span of years. constraints and an ever-expanding list of Center housed Japanese-Americans Staffing levels showed the impact of challenges facing refuges, maintaining relocated from the west coast of the funding that did not keep pace with the Refuge System as envisioned in law United States. The other five sites in inflation. By FY 2007, the Refuge – where the biological integrity, diversity the new National Monument are in and environmental health of the Refuge Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. For additional System had lost 275 employees as compared to FY 2003, the Refuge System are maintained; priority visitor information, go to https://pwrcms.nps. services are provided; and the strategic gov/customcf/apps/ww2ip/ System’s peak financial year and also the year of its Centennial. While 38 refuge growth of the system is continued – may complexes and stand-alone refuges be difficult,” the report concluded. continued on pg 18 changing climate. We have to prioritize Title our activities with the effects of climate Sub Title From the Director change in mind. We must integrate our Facing Up to Climate Change efforts with those of our partners. As I prepare to been working steadily on a strategic plan We must reduce our own carbon retire from the that focuses on adaptation, mitigation footprint. We are already doing that in federal workforce and education. Although the plan is not the way that national wildlife refuges build their visitor centers and replace H. Dale Hall after 34 years yet ready for primetime – that is, public of shoulder-to­ discussion – we have started to define their vehicles and equipment. As the shoulder effort with terrific professionals, our role within the larger conservation Nation’s conservation agency, we are in a I take pride in the strides we’ve made community and identify some essential unique position to lead by example. in endangered species protection, first steps that build on our commitment Most importantly, we have to act boldly. the concepts of Strategic Habitat to landscape conservation. The Service can be a leader in moving Conservation that are taking hold and the conservation community forward the new emphasis on getting kids to do We can’t afford to go about business as on this critical issue. We as individuals the “belly botany” that will make them usual. Instead, the Service must be ready and as natural resource professionals lifelong conservationists. As I leave to view everything we do, every decision must face this challenge with a sense public service, I see climate change as the we make, every dollar we spend through of determination and integrity, with greatest challenge the Fish and Wildlife the climate change prism. Because the creativity and vision. The solutions Service has ever faced in conserving fish, pace and scale of climate change is like won’t be easy. wildlife and their habitats. nothing we’ve ever seen before, the Service must embrace the broad-scale The future of our resources depends on Solving the causes and problems of concepts of landscape conservation and what we do today. My final challenge to climate change won’t be easy; but doing work collaboratively across the entire you as Director of the Fish and Wildlife nothing is not an option. Accordingly, the conservation community. Service is to face climate change with Service is not standing still. We have to develop cutting-edge science the optimism and can-do spirit that have The seven-member Directorate Working and information that will help refuge been the hallmarks of our agency since its Group on Climate Change – along with managers and others make solid decisions inception. I have great confidence in you, the 20-person, Service-wide Climate regarding our nation’s fish and wildlife and know you will rise to the challenge. Change Strategic Plan Team – have resources as they are impacted by our Grab Some Binoculars RefugeUpdate ver squint to see whether a duck The binocular loaner program will be a is a pintail or a mallard? Ever great way for visitors to maximize their E Dirk Kempthorne Address editorial notice a bird way up in the sky and wish enjoyment on national wildlife refuges,” Secretary inquiries to: you could focus on how it hovers or soars says Joe Hamilton, national sales Department of the Refuge Update with little or no effort? Now, you can. manager of Vortex Optics. Interior USFWS-NWRS 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Eighty national wildlife refuges will be Almost a third of the nation’s Important H. Dale Hall Room 634C able to offer visitors a pair of loaner Bird Areas of global significance are Director – U.S. Fish and Arlington, VA Wildlife Service binoculars to focus on wildlife with new on national wildlife refuges. National 22203-1610 Phone: 703-358-1858 Martha Nudel clarity. These refuges, spread across wildlife refuges are home to more than Fax: 703-358-2517 Editor in Chief the country, received the binoculars and 700 bird species. The optics loaner E-mail: accompanying field guides, thanks to program is part of the Refuge System’s Michael Wright [email protected] donations from Vortex Optics, Houghton Birding Initiative, created to help Managing Editor This newsletter is Mifflin Harcourt publishers and the birders understand the importance of published on recycled National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. national wildlife refuges to their sport, paper using soy-based and to attract new enthusiasts to an ink. “We were honored and excited to work adventure that already enthralls more with the National Wildlife Refuge than 46 million Americans. ◆ System in providing Vortex binoculars C to various refuges around the country.

Pg 2 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 Making Energy Efficiency Pay Off n separate awards, the Department Iof the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Energy have cited San Andres National Wildlife Refuge’s innovative renewable energy program as a model for other federal agencies. In a do-it-yourself effort that began in 2005, refuge staff members have installed a 6,000-watt hybrid solar cell and wind energy system that meets most of the station’s power needs. In mid-November, San Andres refuge received a 2008 DOI Environmental Achievement Award for “for exceptional achievements.” (For a report on other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recipients, see story on page 3.) In October, the Department of Energy designated San Andres Refuge the winner of a Federal Energy and Water San Andres National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico installed an award-winning solar cell and wind Management Award. The department energy system that meet most of the station’s power needs. (USFWS) noted that the refuge’s “project team overcame numerous obstacles, obtaining funding from cost savings on other more power than it consumes. After that, Ohio, spotlighting the innovative design maintenance projects and technical Cobble says, it was easy. Cobble, another of the station’s new visitor center. advice from the local utility.” staff member and a volunteer installed the panels. A professional electrician Ottawa Refuge’s 13,000-square­ San Andres Refuge has a small applied the finishing touches. foot visitor center, which earned the headquarters about 15 miles from the Department’s 2008 award for Sustainable refuge that sits in a sunny, windy spot The solar/wind system provides about Design of a High Performance Building, alongside a busy highway in south central 80 percent of the facility’s power. Some continues national wildlife refuges’ legacy New Mexico. The refuge itself is enclosed months, when it supplies 100 percent, of “green building” awards. The visitor within the sprawling White Sands the refuge’s utility bill is no more than center, which opened to the public last Missile Range and, because of security the mandatory customer service charge year, replaced an outmoded headquarters restrictions, is closed to the public. of $12.43. built in the 1940s. Getting Advice from the Source “We get calls from other refuges that The new center’s sustainable design has San Andres Refuge was looking for ways are interested in installing their own cut energy use in half. It incorporates a to free up money for various projects systems,” says Cobble. “The wind variety of energy-efficiency techniques. when refuge manager Kevin Cobble generator attracts a lot of local visitors. These include high-efficiency lighting got the idea to save on energy costs, It’s 30 feet tall, so it’s hard to miss. controlled by motion and daylight which were running about $3,000 a year. Several people a week stop by because sensors; radiant floor heating on the “My dad was a mechanical engineering they want to know how it works, how to main level; point-of-use hot water professor at New Mexico State, and get one for themselves. It’s been a very heaters; high-efficiency tinted windows; he used to do a lot of research on solar useful public relations tool.” The refuge is improved “super” insulation; a reflective power,” he says. “I guess that kind of planning an interpretative display about metal roof; natural linoleum flooring; rubbed off me.” its renewable energy. carpeting with a high content of recycled material; and rainwater gardens and Cobble and his team got advice on how Ottawa Refuge Earns Energy Award holding ponds. ◆ to proceed from El Paso Electric, which The Department of Energy also also agreed to install a meter that runs presented an energy management award backwards when the refuge produces to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in

November/December 2008 | Pg 3 Refuge Update Watts Up? Lots of Energy-Saving Innovations

heir jobs and duty stations stands as unmarketable. So Tare vastly different, but Dan Kemm persisted in working with Thorington, of Alaska Maritime National loggers to create a partnership: Wildlife Refuge, and Joel Kemm, St. loggers chipped the wood for Croix Wetland Management District, use at local co-generation plants share a knack for devising common-sense and other facilities to create solutions to environmental challenges bio-energy production. He saved – and for rigorous follow-through. For the Service tens of thousands of their efforts, which have produced dollars in tree removal expenses substantial savings and served as models and accelerated the restoration of for other stations, they are among the native habitat. winners of 2008 Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Kimm, eager for converts, Awards. presented his idea at a private lands coordination meeting The new Nulhegan Basin Administration that included more than 50 and Visitor Contact Center at Silvio O. representatives from other Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, agencies and organizations. St. already designated the Service’s first Croix WMD is also meeting with Energy Star building, also was cited. San neighboring stations, including Andres National Wildlife Refuge in New Minnesota Valley Refuge and Mexico, singled out by DOI for its on-site WMD, to combine projects to renewable energy generation project, has further restoration on a landscape received a 2008 Department of Energy scale. Federal Energy and Water Management Award. (See related story, page 3.) Nulhegan Basin Sustainable Dan Thorington has captured a 2008 Environmental Administration Building Achievement Award for starting an ambitious – and Dan Thorington, custodian and rigorous – recycling program at Alaska Maritime National and Visitor Contact Center recycling coordinator for Alaska Wildlife Refuge’s visitor center. (USFWS) demonstrates the feasibility of Maritime Refuge’s visitor center, has sustainable building design for developed a highly successful recycling waste, including 11,000 pounds of mixed small visitor facilities. The structure program. He is also urging other paper, 5,500 pounds of cardboard, 1,800 has, among other features, energy- government agencies and private pounds of plastics, 1,500 pounds of efficient lighting and occupancy sensors, businesses to adopt similar programs. electronic waste and more than 5,000 together with operable windows and a pounds of compost materials. Savings high-efficiency furnace. The annual bill Soon after Thorington began working to the refuge have been measured for energy is $11,811 as compared to an in the building, he produced a creative in thousands of dollars. Many staff industry average of $16,053 for similar “recycling guide” that emphasizes members have started recycling at home. buildings. reducing the consumption of materials, reusing items until their usefulness Thorington works with a local waste The refuge intends to erect a display to has been exhausted and recycling collection agency and several local showcase the benefits of sustainability everything possible. The guide has businesses to co-sponsor an electronics and energy efficiency. Subsequent to been distributed to refuge staff and recycling event each April. Community this project’s success, several other thousands of refuge visitors. groups regularly contact him for advice wildlife refuges are contemplating similar on starting their own recycling programs. designs. The Service plans to use a site- Thorington developed a collection, adapted version of the Nulhegan building recovery, consolidation and recycling Joel Kemm, a fire specialist at St. Croix Wetland Management District (WMD) in design at Ohio River Islands Refuge in process. Multiple collection bins are West Virginia. ◆ located at all workstations, printers and Minnesota, works to help restore prairie public use areas. He keeps meticulous and oak savanna habitat for nesting recycling records; since, 2004, he has waterfowl and other grassland birds. recycled more than 37,000 pounds of One step is removing woody brush and scrub trees. Loggers viewed such timber

Pg 4 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 By Teachers, For Teachers

by Kim Strassburg experience. Fourteen school districts Wild; the rest were developed from lie within the refuge’s service area, and scratch. Within months, the team had ommunity involvement has been many had said that they wanted to bring compiled and created 18 pre-field trip Can avenue to success for Tualatin students. lessons, more than two dozen on-site River National Wildlife Refuge in activities and eight post-field trip lessons Oregon. The community’s desire to So in May 2004, refuge staff invited for students in grades K-8. preserve green space where future teachers to an “Educator Information generations could enjoy nature led to the Night” – giving a sneak peek at the refuge Field Tested and Rated refuge’s 1992 establishment. and a meaningful way to get involved. A The first test came in spring 2005. The dozen teachers came. They brainstormed Teacher Team brought their students, That same community dedication what they hoped to see in a refuge as did some who hadn’t been involved culminated in an all-volunteer Teacher education program. They talked about the in writing the curricula. Each teacher Team and an environmental education challenges local schools face. evaluated student experiences, logistics program that was ready to reach and lesson plans and suggested students when the refuge opened That gathering gave rise to the seven- improvements. In total, 11 classes and to the public in 2006. member Teacher Team, composed 275 participants took part. By the start of private and public school teachers To date, the refuge has trained more than of the 2005 school year, the curriculum for kindergarten through grade 8; a layout and design were complete. 300 educators and hosted nearly 5,000 retired science director from a local students. The program has gained a solid school district; a student teacher; and The team discovered that details matter. reputation among educators, partially the refuge’s visitor service manager. For example, students had richer because the Teacher Team train other Armed with a large pile of time-tested experiences when the refuge provided educators. Here’s how we did it. environmental education curricula, the loaner field guides, binoculars, hand Educator Information Night team modeled its program after Don lenses, water quality test kits and other As early as 2004, just after the refuge’s Edwards San Francisco Bay (California) equipment. Although the curricula models first visitor services professional was Refuge’s Salt Marsh Manual, Nisqually relied on teachers to lead students on the hired, refuge staff knew that the local (Washington) Refuge’s Where the River refuge, each group was welcomed by a school districts and parents wanted Meets the Sound and the Mountain- volunteer, who provided an introduction a quality environmental education Prairie Region’s Rhythms of the Refuge to wildlife observation techniques and educator guides. helped students practice walking like a fox, listening like a deer and watching like With funding an owl. from the refuge Friends The Teacher Team is still intact – group, each except for the student teacher who member of the has graduated. With funding from the Teacher Team National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, committed the team is developing new lessons for themselves the Discovery Classroom in the refuge’s to developing Wildlife Center. The praise makes it all grade-specific worthwhile. lesson plans that met “I wish we had more time to spend at the state learning Refuge,” wrote one teacher. “Thanks benchmarks. for providing this incredible educational ◆ Many activities experience.” were adapted Kim Stassburg is the visitor services from such manager at Tualatin River National national Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. For more curricula information, go to on www.fws.gov/ Since it opened to the public in 2006, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge’s as Project tualatinriver. environmental education program has acquired a solid reputation. The Oregon Learning Tree refuge has trained more than 300 educators and hosted nearly 5,000 students. and Project (USFWS)

November/December 2008 | Pg 5 Refuge Update . . .Science in The Refuge System

. . .International Conservation

Have Expertise, Will Travel by Steven Kohl The annual cycles of migratory species, whether birds or marine mammals, t’s not much of stretch to say that take them to countries such as Mexico, Ithe sun never sets on Refuge System Canada and Russia. Refuges biologists specialists whose expertise is recognized travel to those countries or host foreign – and increasingly in demand – around colleagues for joint field work. Across­ the world. the-border communications and in- Most countries maintain nature reserves person consultations are common. and other protected areas whose goals Refuge staff members serve as are strikingly similar to those of the instructors. For example, under the National Wildlife Refuge System – Service’s Russia program, refuge managing national natural resources personnel have led workshops on for the benefit of present and future designing visitor center displays for generations. effective conservation outreach and on At the same time, the U.S. Fish recruiting and retaining volunteers. and Wildlife Service recognizes Refuge staff members sit on panels the importance of establishing and that review applications submitted by maintaining global ties for the purposes foreign nature reserves and parks for of sharing information, providing Service grants. Some of those grants training opportunities and exchanging are for conserving endangered species staff. People from all levels of the a reserve is charged with protecting; Refuge System, from Washington others are for the acquisition of Office administrators to junior refuge technology or equipment needed to biologists, travel abroad on Service function more effectively. business. Relationships between the Refuge System and counterparts in other Many Refuge System employees are countries develop in various ways: delegates to international conferences or

Invasive Animals: A Growing Global Problem

Alaska Maritime by Poppy Benson National Wildlife Refuge has become fter making their way up 1,300 an international Amiles of Alaskan coast, flying their crossroads for helicopter over and around storms, two scientists who are New Zealand pilots zero in on a 7,000­ front-line combatants in the global war on acre island and blanket it with . . . rat invasive animals, poison. among them foxes and rats. (USFWS) An everyday occurrence? No. But Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge has become an international crossroads for scientists who are front­ line combatants in the global war on invasive animal species, especially those that invade islands and proceed to wipe out entire populations of nesting birds,

Pg 6 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 . . .Science in The Refuge System

. . .International ConservationConservation

area specialists formally and informally seek out the manager of San Francisco Refuge Complex because they want to see firsthand how an urban refuge is administered. Refuges and the Service’s Division of International Conservation work together to match foreign requests for specialized help with available Refuge System experts. In recent months, there have been calls for wetland biologists; coordinators of successful volunteer programs; moose ecologists; designers of visitor center interior spaces; law The expertise of the National Wildlife Refuge System is recognized – and increasingly in demand – enforcement personnel who can address around the world. As a result, people from all levels of the Refuge System, from Washington Office visitor security questions; and specialists administrators to junior refuge biologists, travel abroad – even to such points as a panda preserve in in designing management plans and the China – on Service business. (NPS) budgets that go with them. congresses, where they have opportunities as an adviser to its parks and reserves. to meet and network with counterparts Chinese officials have invited Refuge In the foreseeable future, we expect the ◆ from many countries. Foreign countries System staff members to assess the list will continue to grow. request assistance from Department impacts of growing numbers of visitors Steven Kohl is head of the Russia-East of the Interior bureaus in evaluating on what had been secluded reserves. Asia branch of the Service’s Division of resource management needs and International Conservation. recommending action strategies. Some stations host foreign nature reserve staff members traveling to the One Refuge System manager has U.S. under Service exchange programs. traveled twice to the country of Georgia Each year, several foreign protected

some of them threatened or endangered, The refuge is best known for a fox helped craft a plan to rid Isla Isabela, and other native species. removal program that began slowly the largest of the Galapagos Islands, after WW II and picked up steam in the of the feral goats that were destroying From Scotland to the Galapagos, from 1990s. There is still clean-up work to be the habitat of endemic species. Byrd New Zealand to the Falkland Islands done, but more than one million acres of subsequently was off to Russia to help and Russia, the refuge seeks expert habitat have been reclaimed. At least a our sister refuge, the Commander advice for its own peculiar challenges quarter million birds have repopulated Islands Nature Reserve, develop an and provides others with “here’s how” the islands that are fox-free, and one invasive species management plan. information based on its successes. species, the Aleutian cackling goose, has been saved from extinction. Earlier this year, scientists based on the From Alaska to Galapagos Falkland Islands invited Ebbert to spend Several of Alaska Maritime’s 2,500 That accomplishment caught the two weeks visiting their fox- and rat- islands provide examples of the rapid, attention of the Charles Darwin infested islands and conduct a workshop savage advances that non-native animals Research Station, based in the Galapagos for habitat restoration staff. can make. Over time, refuge islands Islands, and in short order the refuge’s have been invaded by a Noah’s ark of supervisory biologist Vernon Byrd Taking on the Rats invasives, among them rats, foxes, cattle, and invasive species biologist Steve Alaska Maritime biologists asked a New sheep, horses, ground squirrels, hares, Ebbert received invitations to a 1997 Zealand specialist to tour a rat-infested caribou, reindeer and even buffalo. international workshop there. They refuge island, and then invited two other Many of the invasives have dealt with participated in a peer review of the New Zealand experts to a workshop to effectively; some not. Galapagos’ invasive species problem and help devise a rat eradication drive. As continued on pg 12

November/December 2008 | Pg 7 Refuge Update . . .Science in The Refuge System

. . .International Conservation

Finding a Passion for Volunteerism in Russia by Kristen Gilbert For nearly 35 years, even during the Cold War, American and Russian wildlife ne morning in January 2008, as specialists have participated in many, Oa bull moose nibbled at a willow many exchange programs, I was to learn. behind my office at National Elk Refuge, In fact, about 100 Russian and American my phone rang. “Hi, Kristen,” I heard. scientists a year now participate in joint “This is Kevin Kilcullen from the Branch conservation programs, many focused on of Visitor Services in the Washington safeguarding rare or endangered wildlife office. Would you like to go to Russia?” in Alaska, Siberia and the Russian Far I paused, a little confused. “Yes,” I East. Recent projects have ranged from responded tentatively. Hours later, workshops on brown bear conservation Steven Kohl, with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and designing refuge visitor center Service’s Division of International displays to surveying sea birds and shore Conservation, contacted me. Steven, birds in the Bering Sea region. who is charge of the division’s wide- Why was I chosen for the volunteerism ranging Russia-East Asia projects, was workshop? I have a background in For nearly 35 years, even during the Cold War, coordinating the first volunteerism­ biology and environmental education, American and Russian wildlife specialists have themed exchange to Russia. participated in exchange programs. Earlier and have been working closely with this year, Service representatives participated volunteers for 11 years. Volunteers at in a workshop for Russian botanical garden volunteers in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Big Birds Connect the Americas

he international reach of Southern fire planning and suppression training. TCalifornia’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex – Meanwhile, because of the refuge’s role Mexico’s and of Marc Weitzel, project leader since as manager of the ambitious, multi- 1991 – grows long and longer. agency effort to protect and reintroduce the endangered California condor, the condor recovery Weitzel, a collateral duty senior advisor leaders of similar recovery programs in with the Department of the Interior’s several South American nations and in program is International Technical Assistance Mexico have turned to Hopper Mountain Program (ITAP), has been dispatched Refuge for training and logistical aid. over the years on assessment and Refuge staff starting releasing California closely tied training projects to, among other condors into the wild in January 1992. distant points, Ecuador, the Republic The captive and wild populations of to Hopper of Georgia, Mozambique, Vietnam and California condors now exceed 300, a Tajikistan. He also helps select U.S. significant increase the low in 1982 of Mountain’s. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and only 22 birds. other department specialists for short- term overseas details with ITAP. This Refuge staff has provided technical year, he secured a donation of binoculars assistance to counterpart recovery for an ITAP project in Jordan, and in activities in Colombia, Ecuador, November he helped assemble two Venezuela and Argentina by designing multi-agency teams that will assist the release sites and assisting with post- Republic of Georgia with on-site wildland release management The refuge has also

Pg 8 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 . . .Science in The Refuge System

. . .International ConservationConservation

National Elk Refuge contribute nearly I covered all aspects of volunteer American volunteers have for national 11,000 hours every year. programs – recruitment, supervision, wildlife refuges. recognition, retention. The first of my So in April there I was in St. Petersburg three presentations was titled, “Leading After the first day of the symposium, we as one of three Service representatives Volunteers: Tools and Lessons to Fulfill all sat down for a banquet. The Russians participating in a four-day seminar with your Mission.” I closed with the idea had a host of folk songs; we all sang 30 Russians, most of them affiliated with that volunteers are more than unpaid heartily. The American contingent broke botanical gardens. A few people spoke employees and need to be paid through into the theme song to “The Beverly a little English. We met at the Komarov motivation and pride. Hillbillies,” “This Land is Your Land” Botanical Institute, established in 1714 and “Jingle Bells.” by Peter the Great. New Concept As the symposium progressed, I We had wide-ranging after-hours Others in the American delegation were learned that Russian volunteerism is a conversations with several young Maggie O’Connell, formerly with the relatively new concept. Many of their professionals in the group and our Washington Office’s Branch of Visitor presentations focused on getting school translators, confirming that passion Services, Kohl and Peter Olin, director groups to perform volunteer services. for the natural world – whether you of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The Russians often became animated as are a volunteer or paid staff – crosses ◆ We also had two language specialists who they described their successes. We met international boundaries. interpreted the proceedings and helped the Komorov Botanical Institute’s only Kristen Gilbert is visitor center manager us get around the city. Kohl, fluent in volunteer, a quiet, unimposing business Russian, helped with translations, too. and volunteer coordinator at National woman who worked with plants to relieve Elk Refuge in Wyoming. After a first-day botanical garden work-related stress. She had a growing tour, we settled into a workshop with passion for the garden, just like many alternating English and Russian presentations. Maggie, Peter and

hosted representatives from Venezuela’s, the refuge, in concert with the Colombia’s and Argentina’s recovery San Diego Zoo, transferred programs. two grown condors to the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico Disappeared in 1937 City as seed stock for future Mexico’s condor recovery program breeding. With these birds is closely tied to Hopper Mountain’s. on display, the Chapultepec California condors disappeared from Zoo has become only the third Mexico in 1937. Mexico began releasing institution in the world to condors in northern Baja California in have live condors on exhibit. 2002. Along with a U.S. Condor Program The Zoo is now actively partner, the San Diego Zoological involved in Condor Program Society, refuge staff has provided on-site outreach. Hopper Mountain assistance in all aspects of pre- and post- Refuge provided the zoo with, condor release management and hosted among other support, written Mexican specialists at the refuge. outreach material and replicas A global leader of efforts to protect and Given the big birds’ flight capabilities, of condor skulls and eggs for display reintroduce condors and other bird species, the hope is that the reintroduced areas. Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex has supported related programs in condors will ultimately range from the Hopper Mountain Refuge’s condor several Latin American nations as well as in Pacific Coast to the Gulf of California, program has led to other international Japan and India. (USFWS) as well as northward across the U.S. partnerships. For example, the refuge border, providing an important link to hosted project managers and provided into historic habitat. More recently, the reintroduced populations in California. technical input for Japan’s white-crested refuge formed an alliance with a vulture recovery project in India. The alliance or In 2007, Mexico’s recovery program ibis reintroduction program; that effort took an exponential leap forward when is now reintroducing the endangered ibis continued on pg 17

November/December 2008 | Pg 9 Refuge Update . . .Science in The Refuge System

. . .International Conservation

Close Cooperation Along Canadian Border by Chuck Traxler (essentially the Canadian Fish and Wildlife Service) – to collectively combine etroit River Canadian and U.S. resources to meet DInternational international conservation goals. Wildlife Refuge includes islands, Waves of canvasback, scaup and other wetlands, shoals migratory birds are clear signs of the and riverfront area’s international importance to habitat along 48 migrating wildlife. And, just below miles of the lower the water’s surface, some 10 million Detroit River and walleye migrate through the Detroit western Lake Erie, River each year, making it one of the in both Canada best walleye fisheries in both countries. and the United “The birds and fish don’t notice the States. Although boundary between our nations,” says currently there Hartig, “so for us to effectively manage is no property these resources, we need to cross those Staff members at Detroit River International in Canada officially part of the refuge, boundaries ourselves.” Wildlife Refuge – which stretches along 48 miles the enabling legislation allows for that of the lower Detroit River and western Lake possibility. Consequently, a large part Hartig acknowledges that working Erie, in both Canada and the United States – of refuge manager John Hartig’s job across a border has its challenges. are collaborating on a number of conservation involves working closely with several Getting clearance to enter Canada for projects with their Canadian counterparts. meetings, finding funding sources to (USFWS) international organizations, Canadian agencies – such as Environment Canada conduct restoration projects in another

International Birds and Artists Flock to a Subarctic Refuge

by Brian McCaffery spent several weeks on the tundra at the refuge’s historic Old Chevak field ach year, avian visitors from station, the former site of a native village Earound the world converge on in the heart of some the world’s richest Alaska’s Yukon Delta National Wildlife waterbird habitat. Refuge, a subarctic oasis of wetlands that supports migrants from six different Woodley, whose hand-painted murals flyways. Wheatears from Africa, godwits adorn the visitor center at Miranda, is from Australia and Chile, curlews and both an educator and an international plovers from Oceania and songbirds from shorebird aficionado, having joined the Orinoco and Amazon River basins expeditions to China and South Korea arrive to mate and raise their young. to study, capture and mark migrant This year, the refuge’s international shorebirds. Van de Kam’s photographs visitors also included a writer/artist from form the visual core of recently published New Zealand and a photographer from books such as Shorebirds: An Illustrated the Netherlands. Behavioural Ecology and Life along Land’s Edge: Wildlife on the Shores of Keith Woodley, manager of the Miranda Roebuck Bay, Broome. His images also Shorebird Centre, and Jan van de Kam, grace the Web site of the Global Flyway professional wildlife photographer,

Pg 10 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 . . .Science in The Refuge System

. . .International ConservationConservation

nation and even needing to communicate significant bird habitat and recreational restoration project in the Great Lakes with some staff and public audiences opportunities on both sides of the border. to receive funding from both the U.S. in a language other than English are and Canada. Biologists from the two all issues that must be addressed. Over the past few decades, both nations countries engineered and built a lake “However,” says Hartig, “the benefits to have been working to clean up the air, sturgeon spawning reef in the Detroit the wildlife and people of both nations water and soil that had been degraded River, located in Canadian waters just have greatly outweighed any challenges in this heavily industrial area. Thanks off Fighting Island. The project was we’ve had to face.” to these efforts, fish are once again completed in October 2008. spawning in the lower Detroit River. In 2007, refuge staff worked closely with Refuge staff work closely with co-located “This is the next big step in raising the Parks Canada, Michigan Sea Grant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ecological international nature of this refuge,” says Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. and many services and nearby fisheries staff, as Hartig. “It was funded, constructed and other public and private organizations well as U.S. Geological Survey and will be monitored by both nations. And, to dedicate a new observation deck on Environment Canada staff to monitor if the sturgeon and the river perform the refuge and prepare a map showing water conditions and fish populations in as we hope, both nations will be able to birding destinations on both sides of U.S. and Canadian waters. share in its success.” the Detroit River. While the deck was constructed on U.S. soil, the map Improving Water Quality You can follow the progress of the highlights internationally significant Thanks to improvements in water quality, Fighting Island spawning reef and other birding destinations on the refuge, as the river also appears to once again international projects on the refuge’s well as at city, county and state parks in support lake sturgeon populations, but Web site: http://midwest.fws.gov/ ◆ the U.S. and at provincial and national the lack of spawning habitat limited their detroitriver parks in Canada that are just a short numbers. So, refuge staff alongside other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chuck Traxler is an outreach drive from the refuge. The joint project coordinator with the Midwest Region. sought to raise public awareness of staff and Canadian professionals launched the first-ever fish habitat

Separate but related tundra from a silent and snowy landscape projects brought to a vibrant mosaic of wetlands throbbing Woodley and van with bird and insect life. During his six- de Kam to Yukon week stay, he documented re-nesting in a Delta Refuge. pair of bar-tailed godwits, a phenomenon Woodley is currently not previously confirmed on the Yukon- writing a book Kuskokwim Delta. With his wealth of about bar-tailed new tundra experiences, he returned to godwits, which New Zealand to continue writing to meet annually migrate his publisher’s manuscript submission between Alaska and deadline. New Zealand. His experiences with Van de Kam journeyed to Old godwits in New Chevak in mid-May to get the final Zealand, Australia, images for a book on shorebird and China and South wetland conservation in the East Korea illuminate Asia/Australasian Flyway. He was In Alaska, Yukon Delta National Wildlife particularly interested in photographing Refuge’s rich waterbird habitat attracts his perspective, but he felt that his effort would be incomplete without a trip to birds found around the Yellow Sea, international migrants (among them, bar-tailed including Alaska’s breeding bar- godwits) from six different flyways – and a their remote northern breeding grounds. growing number of writers and artists. (USFWS) tailed godwits. During three weeks Vibrant Mosaic at Old Chevak, he captured images of Network, as well as numerous graduate Arriving at Old Chevak in late April, godwits displaying, courting, fighting theses and other scientific publications. when wintry conditions still prevailed, and incubating. Those images were he witnessed the transformation of the continued on pg 12

November/December 2008 | Pg 11 Refuge Update Invasive Animals: A Growing Global Problem – continued from pg 7

the final plan was taking shape, Steve the rodenticide because they had vast Zealanders, Australians and Barbadians Ebbert was dispatched to New Zealand experience dispersing bait from buckets are keen to design similar outreach to witness an eradication campaign. along lines laid out by GPS. Monitoring programs. Ebbert, along with former refuge in 2009 and 2010 will determine if every biologist Peter Dunlevy, also took part in last rat is gone from Rat Island and if the Byrd and Ebbert are now involved in a campaign to eradicate rats on Canna ecosystem is beginning to restore itself an ambitious effort, coordinated by the Island, off the western coast of Scotland, after 200-plus years of rat domination. University of Alaska Fairbanks with help as guests of the nonprofit organization from the National Science Foundation, Wildlife Management International. Meanwhile, refuge biologist Art Sowls to enlist invasive-animal scientists and a created a multifaceted rat prevention host of universities around the globe in a Alaska Maritime’s rat eradication program to protect refuge birds on the research-sharing network. The project program on Rat Island got underway Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. His aims to produce guidelines for island earlier this year. Meticulous planning, project grew into a large, partnered restoration. ◆ trial runs and great partners – The statewide effort with a Web site, www. Nature Conservancy and Island stoprats.org, and free rat kits for ships Poppy Benson is public programs Conservation – paid off big time. The and help lead to tough state laws that supervisor at Alaska Maritime National logistics were incredibly complex. New make it illegal to harbor rats on boats Wildlife Refuge. Zealand pilots were enlisted to drop in Alaskan waters. Russians, New

International Birds and Artists Flock to a Subarctic Refuge – continued from pg 11 incorporated into his book, which was Along with released in October in Changwon, sound science, South Korea at the 10th Meeting of the evocative art Conference of Contracting Parties to the can go a long Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. way toward promoting and In recent years, Old Chevak, has sustaining the attracted other writers and artists. In mission of the 2002, photographer and writer Michael National Wildlife Forsberg stayed there while collecting Refuge System. photographic images and experiences for ◆ his seminal work, On Ancient Wings: The Sandhill Cranes of North America. Two Brian McCaffery years later, author and Pulitzer Prize is an education finalist Scott Weidensaul spent a week specialist at at the station as he retraced Roger Tory Yukon Delta Peterson’s continent-spanning journey National a half-century earlier. Weidensaul’s Wildlife Refuge reflections on Yukon Delta Refuge were in Alaska. recounted in his 2005 book, Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent’s Natural Soul. Jan van de Kam, a professional wildlife photographer from the Netherlands, In 2004, British artist James McCallum spent several weeks on the tundra at Alaska’s Yukon Delta National Wildlife worked with me as a volunteer at Old Refuge for a book on shorebird and wetland conservation. He captured images Chevak on a study of bar-tailed godwits. of godwits displaying, courting and fighting. The book was released at the 10th Meeting of the Conference of Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention McCallum’s watercolor images were on Wetlands. published in his 2007 book, Arctic Flight: Adventures Amongst Northern Birds.

Pg 12 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 Wilderness Policy Updated and Revised

or the first time since 1986, the The updated FU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policies are has updated and revised its Wilderness designed to ensure Stewardship Policy. The changes are consistency with designed to improve the National several new Wildlife Refuge System’s management of management designated wilderness lands – more than policies established 20 million acres on 63 refuges – under the in recent years Wilderness Act of 1964. as well as the Wilderness Act The revised policy for the first time of 1964 and the provides Service managers with National Wildlife guidelines for determining if Refuge Refuge System System lands should be recommended Administration Act for wilderness designation. It also of 1966, which was clarifies that refuge visitors may use amended by the only non-motorized and non-mechanized National Wildlife equipment in designated wilderness Refuge System areas while hunting, fishing or enjoying Improvement Act. other appropriate wildlife-dependent It also reflects recreational opportunities. other developments “Our Wilderness Stewardship Policy in the policy and reconfirms the Service’s commitment to science of managing protecting and preserving the wilderness the Refuge System resource while accomplishing the mission and wilderness. of the Refuge System,” said Fish and For the first time since 1986, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has updated About 90 per cent and revised its Wilderness Stewardship Policy. The changes are designed to Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall. – or 18.6 million “This policy will preserve the wild and improve the National Wildlife Refuge System’s management of designated acres – of Refuge wilderness lands – more than 20 million acres on 63 refuges – under the natural character of wilderness within System wilderness Wilderness Act of 1964. (USFWS) the Refuge System while providing is in Alaska. The a threatened or endangered species, opportunities for the public to enjoy the remaining 2.5 million wilderness acres are constitutes the minimum requirement for solitude of these special areas.” in the lower 48 states. managing a refuge as wilderness. The new Wilderness Policy is on the Some specifics about Service’s revised It describes the process that the Refuge Web: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/whm/ policy: wilderness.html. System follows in conducting wilderness It affirms that the Refuge System reviews in accordance with the refuge The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the generally will not modify ecosystems, planning process as outlined in the National Wilderness Preservation System such as creating new impoundments, planning policy. and a process for federal land management species population levels or natural It addresses special provisions of agencies – including the Service – to processes, in refuge wilderness unless the Alaska National Interest Lands recommend wilderness areas to Congress. doing so maintains or restores biological Conservation Act for wilderness Only Congress has the authority to integrity, diversity or environmental stewardship in Alaska. ◆ designate lands and water as wilderness. health that has been degraded or The Service published a proposed is necessary to protect or recover Wilderness Stewardship Policy in January threatened or endangered species. 2001. That version elicited more than It guides the determination of whether 4,100 comments. The Service also sought a proposed refuge management input from state fish and wildlife agencies. activity, such as protecting habitat for

November/December 2008 | Pg 13 Refuge Update Around the Refuge System

She was cited for, among other accomplishments, “a long career of significant and extraordinary accomplishments in the Service’s visitor services profession which recently include the successful completion of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.” During the past seven years, she coordinated the design, procurement and installation of interpretive exhibits at more than 30 national wildlife A $2 mllion expansion of the Prairie math, when they’re learning fractions refuges. Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls and percentages, we can ask them, added classroom space for local grade-school ‘What percentage of the grass in this New York students. (USFWS) plot is big blue stem?’” The Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex organized a Minnesota Tennessee fundraising tree sale – a buy one, get Work has been completed on a $2 Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, a one free affair – to assist Montezuma million expansion of the Prairie major stopover and wintering ground National Wildlife Refuge with Wetlands Learning Center, which for migratory waterfowl and bald reforestation projects. For every tree focuses on the ecology of North eagles, is offering three-hour eagle- an individual purchased by October 1 America’s prairie pothole region. The spotting tours. As many as 200 eagles from a local native plant nursery, the center added four new classrooms, spend the majority of their winter on business allowed the refuge to buy two teacher offices, gathering areas and and around Reelfoot Lake. Tours will trees. The refuge will plant trees along a conference room. The Learning be offered daily through mid-February. the Cayuga-Seneca Barge Canal to Center is a unit of Fergus Falls Wetland benefit cerulean warblers, bald eagles, The tours take visitors on both units wood ducks and other wildlife. Management District. The expansion of Reelfoot Refuge, Grassy Island and was underwritten by a state grant Long Point, which have observation “Our restoration is a long process obtained by the town of Fergus Falls. towers. Grassy Island, outfitted with dictated by the growth rate of the About 240 fourth and fifth grade a boardwalk, provides photogenic trees,” says Montezuma Refuge students are attending Learning views of Reelfoot Lake while Long visitor services manager Andrea Center classes, thanks to a partnership Point provides excellent viewing VanBeusichem, “so the benefits to with the Fergus Falls school district. opportunities for eagles, deer, turkey, the birds will come in about 20 years. Much of the time is spent in the mink, bobcat and abundant waterfowl. However, the outreach potential and center’s 30 acres of native and restored volunteer involvement when we plant Sense of Wonder the trees is a more immediate benefit.” prairie, 28 acres of wetlands and four Donna Stanek, former chief of visitor miles of trails. “A portion of every services and outreach in the Midwest California day, no matter how hot or cold, is Region, has won the U.S. Fish and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge spent outside,” says Learning Center Wildlife Service’s 2008 Sense of Complex is included in the National director Ken Garrahan. “We use the Wonder Award. The award is the Park Foundation’s latest “Top Ten prairie wetlands as the context for agency’s highest honor for achievement Parks and Public Lands Photo Tips,” their learning. They use what they see in environmental education and a guide that highlights the best places outside for writing assignments. With interpretation. to go this fall and winter to see – and

Pg 14 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 photograph – America’s public lands For information on grants, contact the a Wal-Mart marketing specialist, at their seasonal best. The San Luis Service’s alternative transportation first noticed the trash when he went Complex is specifically recommended coordinator, Nathan Caldwell, at 703­ hunting on the refuge. The store, for its “spectacular birding.” The 358-2205 or [email protected]. which has launched an environmental list was developed by the foundation initiative, provided a dumpster and Olympus, which manufacturers Missouri (eventually loaded with eight tons of cameras. Wal-Mart employees from several trash) and a truck that held a half-ton stores in the Kansas City area have of material to be recycled. Friends of Composed of San Luis Refuge, Merced been pitching in to help make a unit of Big Muddy provided t-shirts and work Refuge, San Joaquin River Refuge and Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife gloves. a Grasslands Wildlife Management Refuge a greener and cleaner place. Area, the complex includes nearly Signs have been posted along the 45,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands In late October, some 60 Wal-Mart refuge unit boundary designating areas and riparian habitats, as well as more associates planted 1,900 prairie that have been adopted by Wal-Mart. than 90,000 acres of conservation cordgrass plants and 100 oak and easements on private lands. The pecan trees on the refuge’s 1,626-acre northern San Joaquin Valley complex Baltimore Bottoms Unit. The Wal- is in an area whose concentrations Mart associates, who went to work at of wetlands have been designated as about 9 in the morning, completed the a Ramsar Wetland of International planting by noon. Wal-Mart provided Importance, an Audubon Important pastries, juice and coffee and, once Bird Area and a Western Hemisphere the work was done, ingredients for a Shorebird Reserve Network site. hamburger and hot-dog cook-out. Alternative Transportation Projects The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a go-ahead for transit projects worth $3.25 million in the latest Paul Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program awards. Among the Service projects, $2 million was awarded to complete a multi-use pathway that will connect Jackson Hole with National Elk Refuge in Wyoming and completing a pathway linking the town to Grand Teton National Park. Other projects include: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore of Virginia gets $1 million to reduce congestion at the refuge’s fee booths during peak visitor months. One project will connect the refuge’s and Town of Chincoteague’s bike trails. Bosque del Apache Refuge in New Mexico will receive $126,000 to replace an aging school bus used for tours and environmental education with an Earlier in the year, about 75 store Wal-Mart employees in the Kansas City area alternatively fueled bus. pitched in to plant cordgrass and oak and employees turned out to pick up and pecan trees and, on a later trip to a unit of Big San Diego Bay National Wildlife haul out trash washed up on the banks Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Refuge in California was allotted of the Missouri River. Among the pick up river-side trash. (Tim Haller/USFWS) $45,000 for an alternative mix of rubbish: 2,123 plastic bottles transportation study. and two refrigerators. Steve Dowler,

November/December 2008 | Pg 15 Refuge Update Take Pride in America. Refuges Do.

harles Holbrook, a former project Holbrook needed a job to cover his Cleader at Aransas/Matagorda Island tuition and living expenses, so he signed National Wildlife Refuge Complex in up with the Columbus police department. Texas, and refuge super-volunteer John “I was cop for almost three and a half “Jack” Webb have won 2008 Take Pride years. I worked the 3 to 11 night shift in America national awards. They so I could go to classes,” he says. “One were recognized by the Department weekend, I took a long weekend to visit of the Interior for their outstanding my dad at Ottawa. While I was there, I contributions to local, state and federal asked the refuge manager if he had any public lands. jobs. He had an opening, and, after I finished college, I took it.” Holbrook, who retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June, served For four years, he ran bulldozers, at Aransas Refuge for more than eight maintained wetlands and participated years. He now lives in his hometown, Port in an education program or two before Charles Holbrook, a former project leader at Clinton, OH, on the shore of Lake Erie, taking up new duties at Arthur R. Aransas/Matagorda Island National Wildlife not too far from Ottawa Refuge, where Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Texas (and a one-time Navy Holbrook began his 29 years with the Refuge in Florida. Then followed diver, big-city cop and refuge bulldozer operator) won a 2008 Take Pride in America award Service – and where, for nearly 15 years, assignments at several other refuges (USFWS). his father was an equipment operator. (where his kids grew up) and duty in Washington Office’s natural resources Jack Webb Holbrook took a round-about path to division. the Service. After high school came a The same might be said of volunteer four-year-hitch in the Navy; he was a At Aransas Refuge, he is remembered Jack Webb, who has been a stalwart at member of the nuclear submarine USS especially for his non-stop efforts to Okefenokee Refuge in Georgia since he Sam Rayburn’s crew and, along the way, engage the public. “He wanted to get and his wife made a vacation stop there qualified as a Navy diver. Next came kids out to the refuge, and he did,” nearly 20 years ago. Altogether, he has college. He took a degree from Ohio says Susana Perez, Aransas Refuge’s donated more than 10,000 hours. Take State University’s school of natural administrative officer. And they brought Pride in America pegged the value of resources. their parents. Charlie was one of a kind.” Webb’s volunteer efforts at more than $500,000. The Webbs spend their summers at West Rockhill, PA. During the cold weather, they live near Okefenokee. Initially, the refuge provided them with a trailer home; they soon bought a house not far from the station. Webb, who ran a landscaping company before retiring, can do a lot of almost anything. He has designed and built a mobile educational exhibit. He’s also pumped out toilets. When Okefenokee Refuge was hard hit by wildfires in 2007, he designed souvenir T-shirts for firefighters and their families that brought in nearly $25,000 for the refuge. ◆

Super-volunteer Jack Webb (left) on the job at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Webb, another 2008 Take Pride in America award winner, has been a stalwart there ever since a vacation stop at the refuge nearly 20 years ago. (USFWS)

Pg 16 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 Using Wildlife to Teach English

by Lori Iverson “It was wonderful n earlier-than-expected snowfall to see the Aadded to the excitement for a group students so of Jackson Hole High School English excited about Language Learners (ELL) making being outdoors the first of several trips to Wyoming’s and taking National Elk Refuge as part of this year’s pictures,” school curriculum. A new environmental said teacher education program, funded in part by the Ellen Kappus. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, “We had just builds on experiences at the refuge and learned the surrounding federal lands to raise the names of some students’ proficiency in English and of the animals, awareness of the natural treasures all and there they around them. were taking The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film pictures of Festival and National Elk Refuge staffs them.” Carrie partnered to create a unique bilingual Noel, education program that targets first-generation coordinator for Hispanics, whose population has risen the Jackson exponentially in Teton County in the Hole Wildlife National Elk Refuge is involved in a ground-breaking language and past 10 years. Under the program, Film Festival, environmental education program aimed at Hispanic high school students. students first learn the names and was struck by (USFWS) the students’ concepts of wildlife and public land cameras and English language entries keen interest in emailing their photos to stewardship in the classroom, and then in their journals. The program will be friends and family in Mexico. “They’re come to National Elk Refuge – with field expanded into a family excursion the genuinely interested in sharing their new guides and digital cameras in hand – to following weekend when students can experiences.” see firsthand what they’ve previously return with their families to share the learned only from books. Back in class, the students drew a experience. Eventually, the students In late October, the students, along with basic map of the area, noted important will work with refuge staff to prepare their teacher, a bilingual translator and place names and viewed their route on Spanish versions of interpretive staff members from the refuge and the Google Earth. materials in the Jackson Hole & Greater Wildlife Film Festival, embarked on a Yellowstone Visitor Center to share Additional excursions will expose with Spanish-speaking visitors. Their photography excursion that also let them the students to migration routes and observe wildlife in the wild. “It was photographs will be displayed at the wintering wildlife. In January, they will visitor center in spring 2009. ◆ great because we had never seen wild explore National Elk Refuge during animals in the United States,” exclaimed a sleigh ride onto wintering grounds, Lori Iverson, a former teacher, is an students Erick and Israel. “We saw elk, when they can closely observe elk and outdoor recreation planner at National moose, bison and antelope!” document their experiences with digital Elk Refuge in Wyoming.

Big Birds Connect the Americas – continued from pg 9 partnership is designed to promote a enriching, big picture experience,” says these assignments, but you grow a lot in free flow of technical information and Weitzel. “You take your career to a new the process -- a very satisfying scenario. ideas, and hopefully at some point, even level, you work outside your traditional You can actively be part of the solution to personnel exchanges. comfort zone and adapt and apply some of the most pressing conservation your extensive technical expertise to a issues facing the international “For Service employees, involvement different political, cultural, and economic community.” ◆ with international projects is a career landscape. You give a lot of yourself on

November/December 2008 | Pg 17 Refuge Update Refuge System Funding Did Not Keep Pace, GAO Reports – continued from pg 1

“Already, the Fish and Wildlife Service problems at nearly half the nation’s In its report, has had to make trade-offs among refuges wildlife refuges. The report found that the Government Accountability with regard to which habitat will be invasive plants and habitat fragmentation Office stated that monitored and maintained, which visitor were the Refuge System’s leading development services will be offered, and which refuges problems, and both were increasing on near refuges, will receive adequate law enforcement more than half the wildlife refuges – even including the coverage,” the report stated. as managers reported more time spent conversion of land to on habitat management. Management Systems International, an agricultural independent consultant, came to much Ninety-three percent of refuge managers and industrial uses, threatened the same conclusion in its July report, pointed to increases in administrative habitat at half which found that the Refuge System workload that took staff time away of the nation’s experienced an 11 percent decline in real habitat management work. Many refuge national purchasing power between FY 2003 and managers were concerned about their wildlife refuges. the FY 2008 requested budget. long-term ability to maintain high- (USFWS) quality habitat in the face of decreasing RONS Backlog permanent staff levels. better quality” levels in FY GAO investigators found that the total 2007, but environmental education and value of RONS (Refuge Operating Among other GAO findings: interpretation were considered “poor” Needs System) projects – often called at about a third of refuges. the “backlog” and includes needs for Between seven percent and 20 percent of staff, equipment and planned projects habitats on national wildlife refuges were Methodology – totaled more than $1 billion by the in “poor” quality in 2007. GAO met with Refuge System staff at end of FY 2007. At that time, Tier 1, Managers said that staff was working the Washington Office and four of the or mission-critical projects that were longer hours without extra pay to get U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regions, considered “behind schedule,” covered work done, and they were concerned and conducted phone interviews with the about 2,300 unfunded projects totaling about their ability to sustain habitat remaining four regions. Additionally, about $300 million. conditions. GAO met with officials from 19 refuges, used a questionnaire to survey all 585 GAO specifically pointed to the impact of The quality of visitor services generally units within the Refuge System, and development, including the conversion scored high. GAO found that four of selected some refuges for site visits. ◆ to agricultural or industrial use of lands the six wildlife-dependent recreational near refuges, as contributing to habitat uses were provided at “moderate or

Rekindled Memories he tribute to Wheeler National The Fisherman “Sunday Morning.” It was the perfect Wildlife Refuge manager Tom marriage of subject to prose by these T With fancy rod and shiny reel, Atkeson in the September-October two venerable poets, from an era in Refuge Update rekindled a lot of Boat, motor, trailer, automobile, that long-running show’s history when memories of this unique personality. And all the gadgets in the book, refuges and wildlife formed a deliciously large portion of its weekly content. Few but a handful of local Alabamians From scented lures to gilded hooks, may recall that in addition to being one We had the good sense to preserve this He doesn’t spare time or expense, of the system’s most astute and intuitive touching piece on videotape; ask to see leaders, Atkeson was also the refuge To catch a fish worth fifteen cents. it the next time you are at NCTC or system’s most accomplished self-taught – Thomas Z. Atkeson Wheeler Refuge. poet. When Fish and Wildlife News David Klinger celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1978, In 1984, Atkeson was the subject Senior Writer-Editor Atkeson contributed this little ditty, of a television homage by veteran National Conservation Training Center among others, to our special edition … newscaster Charles Kuralt on CBS’

Pg 18 Refuge Update | November/December 2008 A Day in the Life of a Refuge Manager by Karen Leggett by private conservation organizations watching for acquisition opportunities and private citizens. and nurturing partnerships. om Jasikoff’s e-mails are prompt Tand brief. After spending a day Migration Route for Waterfowl We pass the Montezuma Winery along following in his footsteps and tire tracks, More than a million waterfowl pass the edge of the refuge and he excitedly it’s easy to see why. He spends little through the complex along with a variety describes the partnership that is behind time at his desk, like a bee alighting on of shorebirds and songbirds. More than the refuge’s annual Wildflowers and Wine one flower before hastening on Festival. For 2008, the winery unveiled to dozens more. For the past 11 a new wine called the Monarch, with a years, Jasikoff has been refuge portion of the proceeds destined for the manager at Montezuma National Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Wildlife Refuge, just off the New Complex. York Thruway between Buffalo and Rochester. Jasikoff is working with a coalition of community groups and refuge Friends The Thruway is important. Jasikoff to provide a network of tourism is constantly balancing the need to destinations in the Montezuma make the refuge a welcoming place Complex, including the refuge and for both wildlife and humans. He the new Environmental Education has obtained $2.7 million from the Center build by Seneca Meadows. SAFETEA-LU Transportation Bill Ultimately, all the stops would be and the New York State Thruway accessible from an environmentally- Authority to create a scenic friendly mode of transportation, such overlook along the Thruway where as a solar or electricity-powered tram. he plans to have a kiosk explaining In fact, the Environmental Education what the refuge is all about. Jasikoff Center already includes a few parking expects to begin construction in spaces specifically designated for “low 2010. emitting fuel efficient cars only.” On this day when I am shadowing Back on the refuge, we stop at the him through a typical day, Jasikoff visitor center to view the Wildflowers takes pride in the native wildflowers Like many of his counterparts, Tom Jasikoff, of Montezuma in Art Form show, in manager of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, that have been planted on median strips is nearly always in motion, balancing the needs which local artists sell their work and and other grassy areas and points to the to make the refuge a welcoming place for both donate a portion of the proceeds to water that is being released into a large wildlife and humans. (USFWS) the Friends and another partner – the flat basin. There’s a small observation Ludovico Sculpture Trail in nearby platform and telescope overlooking the Seneca Falls, NY. Jasikoff chats with the basin. Jasikoff is determined to make it 250 species of fish and wildlife breed in Friends couple who are running the book a scene worth looking at. “We’ll have a the area. This wetland complex is one of store and then with the heavy equipment watchable wildlife project instead of a the most active waterfowl staging and operator, a resident volunteer living in his weedy meadow,” says Jasikoff. migration areas in the Atlantic Flyway and RV on the refuge. Jasikoff is eager to expand and protect the Jasikoff is eager to get moving. We most attractive habitat. Then it’s back at the computer, where walk along a path to the shores of the plans for this visit began weeks ago with, New York State Barge Canal, which Jasikoff stops to show me an earthen “I’m flexible, but usually in the office by traverses the refuge, and then climb into berm being built to contain the water 8 a.m. If you get there before I do, just a truck to view more of the sprawling that will be released to create another relax and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.” refuge. The refuge is part of the wetland area. “This land wants to be Montezuma Wetlands Complex, a 50,000­ a swamp,” says Jasikoff, recalling the Karen Leggett is a writer-editor acre conservation and management land’s origins before it was cleared at Refuge System headquarters in ◆ project that also includes the state- and drained for farmland. Jasikoff is Arlington, VA. owned Northern Montezuma Wildlife managing the gradual restoration of Management Area as well as land owned lands on the refuge, but he is also busy

November/December 2008 | Pg 19 Refuge Update A Look Back . . . Rudolf Dieffenbach

to organize the acquisition of land for Nature in Caracas, Venezuela, where he the newly authorized Upper Mississippi presented a paper on the effects of dams River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. on fish and wildlife resources. After Congress enacted the Migratory Rudolph Dieffenbach was honored Bird Conservation Act in 1929, with the Department of the Interior’s Dieffenbach took over the new Branch of Distinguished Service Award and an Lands, where he oversaw the appraisal impoundment at the Blackwater National and acquisition of land for 272 national Wildlife Refuge in Maryland bears his wildlife refuges. He also became the name. The Refuge System’s Division first Secretary of the Migratory Bird of Realty presents an annual Rudolph Commission, which one of his associates Dieffenbach Award to honor employees called “an exacting job at no pay which he who make outstanding contributions handled ably for 18 years.” to the Refuge System’s land protection mission. When “Dief” died in 1968, he An extraordinarily energetic and left his wife Anne, five children and efficient public servant, Dieffenbach was 15 grandchildren, and colleagues who selected in 1945 to head the new Office said he was “kindly and gentle, fond of of River Basin Studies, created when it people and possessed of a keen wit.” ◆ became evident that protecting fish and Rudolph Dieffenbach (USFWS) wildlife resources required coordination with the Corps of Engineers and the udolph Dieffenbach acquired Bureau of Reclamation on flood control, Rmore land for American wildlife hydroelectric and irrigation projects. than any other figure before or after his Shortly before his retirement in 1952, era. Born in 1884 in Westminster, MD, Dieffenbach was a delegate to the Dieffenbach spent 44 years working International Union for the Protection of for the federal government, 27 of them for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Dief,” as associates called him, began Send Us Your Comments his career as a junior forester with the Letters to the Editor or suggestions about Refuge Update can be e-mailed to Forest Service. In 1925, he was asked [email protected] or mailed to Refuge Update, USFWS-NWRS, 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Room 634C, Arlington, VA 22203-1610.

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