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Spring
Into Nature 2010
In a few short months
it will be spring again and that means Spring
Into Nature 2010. The event will be on Saturday, April
24 from 9 am – 4 pm.
If
you were involved last year you know how much time and effort
goes into this event to make it a success. Our planning committee
met for the first time in December to decide on activities to
offer and exhibitors to invite. Continuing with our goal to keep
things fresh there will be some familiar faces and activities
from last year, as well as some new and hopefully exciting things
planned this year. The committee will include: Dorothy Gerhart,
Sarah Lang, Tom Poczciwinski, Jan Kramer, and Diane Krenning.
Dawn Washington will also sit in on the committee
meetings.
We
rely heavily on volunteers for this event so expect to
get a call from a committee member asking how you want to contribute.
If you are not on our volunteer list and would like to help out
please let us know. There will be opportunities to help staff
an activity table, help with set up, staff the Flyway
Nature Store, parking control, or staff the visitor contact
station to greet people.
These are just a few possibilities.
Once
again, are our official sponsors will be the Friends of
Iroquois NWR, in partnership with the Buffalo
Audubon Society, the Iroquois Job Corps Center
and the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
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Each Wednesday starting May 5th,
through early July, a volunteer at the Refuge will lead a group
of adults and children on a tour of Purple Martin colonies to
conduct nest checks. This will be weather permitting and based
upon volunteer availability. The program will start
at 10AM at the Refuge Headquarters on Casey Road. Call
the Refuge Headquarters in the morning before coming to the
site for any of the nest checks. (585-948-5445 Ext.
200).
We will be checking the Martin house at the
Refuge Headquarters and also other houses located about 5 miles
away. Each person is responsible for their own transportation
to these sites. We will try to complete the day’s activities
by noon but the program could run longer during the peak of
the nesting season.
This activity is open to the public and there
is no charge. Please pre-register
at the Refuge as we are limited to 15 participants.
For more information call the Refuge during
the day
or Carl Zenger at 716-434-7568 after 5PM.
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Take
A Kid Along Project (TAKA)
Take a hand, Open a mind, Touch a
heart.
(Material used by permission of Bluebirds
Across Nebraska.)
The
initial meeting will be held at the Refuge
Headquarters on Thursday, May 13th at 10AM.
Please attend or send in your application
before this date as we are limited to four (4) children.
If more than four applications are received the lottery system
will be used to select the participants. Program runs through
early July.
Download
the Details
and Application 
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Help
"Project FeederWatch" Track Backyard Birds
Bird
watchers needed to help scientists discover changes in bird populations
Project
Feeder Watch begins on November 14 and runs
through early April. Taking part is easy. Anyone
can count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders and
enter their information on the Feeder Watch website.
Participants
submitted nearly 117,000 checklists last season. Since 1987, more
than 40,000 people from the United States and Canada have taken
part in the project.
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The Friends of Iroquois
National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. (FINWR) is a not-for-profit
organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the Iroquois
National Wildlife Refuge and to helping the community understand
its mission and goals.
FINWR has secured funding
from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation Centennial Legacy Fund,
the Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways
to Nature Program, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, the Iroquois
Job Corp, as well as help from our members. More funding
is needed. FINWR is able to raise funds to be allocated
for specific, much-needed projects on the refuge. |
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Reasons
for supporting Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc
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Iroquois
National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) is the ONLY
National Wildlife Refuge in Western New York
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INWR
is visited by an estimated 40,000 people
each year. These visitors include hikers, photographers, bird
watchers, hunters, fishermen, and students of conservation
and wildlife.
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Donations
to FINWR may qualify for matching funds.
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Donations
are tax deductable. FINWR is a registered 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit organization. Check with your tax advisor.
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FINWR has also provided
financial support to INWR for other projects, which include:
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Provided
camera equipment for live views of the eagle and kestrel nests
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Swallow
Hollow Nature Trail was completed and dedicated.
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Benches
for trails (sit and observe the wildlife!)
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Water
control structure was purchased and installed
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And
More!!!
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Get
Some Nature Into Your Kids
National Wildlife Refuge
Public Service Announcement Video

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Download a copy of the
Iroquois Observations Schedule
here |
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Buy
a Stamp - Save a Wetland
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(updated on Jan 12,
2010)
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FINWR
can use your help in many interesting ways.
Opportunities for donating your time are available (select
the "Help Wanted" sign above) for those that like to reach
out and meet other people as well as for those that like to work
behind the scenes. Please contact the refuge at (585)-948-5445 or
click on join now. |
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