Events
Kayak Trips ...New dates
September 24th - Guided kayak tour McNary Refuge
A kayak tour with kayaks provided 10am - 2pm. It will be first come, first serve to sign up email jamatola@gmail.com.
September 25th - Guided kayak tour Umatilla
A kayak tour with kayaks provided 10am - 2pm. It will be first come, first serve to sign up email jamatola@gmail.com.
Please do not email on September 11-15 as Jaynee will not be available.
The Friends of Mid-Columbia Wildlife Refuges, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Service, is offering kayak trips on two Refuges in September. If you would like to attend, you must sign up with Jaynee at jamatola@gmail.com. Kayaks will be allocated in the order emails are received. Be specific if you want a tandem kayak (and who is your partner), or a single kayak, and which date/location you prefer.
Space is limited to 4 tandem kayaks and 9 single kayaks per trip You are welcome to bring your own kayak or canoe as long as you are a member of the Friends. Here are the details:
McNary NWR Kayak Trip
Sunday 9/24 Meet at Casey's Pond Boat launch at 10:00 am. (Burbank, WA) https://goo.gl/maps/Gkt7i7d57b6i9DQAA
Umatilla NWR Kayak Trip
Monday 9/25 Meet at Umatilla Refuge Parking Lot F at 10:00 am. (Irrigon, OR) https://goo.gl/maps/h7Wbg86ir9wrhAkt5
Both trips are anticipated to take about 3 hours. Please plan for the weather, whatever it is. Bring hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Water shoes are recommended. Bring binoculars to view birds and maybe other wildlife. Each trip is estimated to be about 5 miles and while we aren't going to be setting any speed records these will require light to moderate fitness capability. The FWS will provide kayaks, life jackets, and other kayak related gear.
September 24th - Guided kayak tour McNary Refuge
A kayak tour with kayaks provided 10am - 2pm. It will be first come, first serve to sign up email jamatola@gmail.com.
September 25th - Guided kayak tour Umatilla
A kayak tour with kayaks provided 10am - 2pm. It will be first come, first serve to sign up email jamatola@gmail.com.
Please do not email on September 11-15 as Jaynee will not be available.
The Friends of Mid-Columbia Wildlife Refuges, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Service, is offering kayak trips on two Refuges in September. If you would like to attend, you must sign up with Jaynee at jamatola@gmail.com. Kayaks will be allocated in the order emails are received. Be specific if you want a tandem kayak (and who is your partner), or a single kayak, and which date/location you prefer.
Space is limited to 4 tandem kayaks and 9 single kayaks per trip You are welcome to bring your own kayak or canoe as long as you are a member of the Friends. Here are the details:
McNary NWR Kayak Trip
Sunday 9/24 Meet at Casey's Pond Boat launch at 10:00 am. (Burbank, WA) https://goo.gl/maps/Gkt7i7d57b6i9DQAA
Umatilla NWR Kayak Trip
Monday 9/25 Meet at Umatilla Refuge Parking Lot F at 10:00 am. (Irrigon, OR) https://goo.gl/maps/h7Wbg86ir9wrhAkt5
Both trips are anticipated to take about 3 hours. Please plan for the weather, whatever it is. Bring hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Water shoes are recommended. Bring binoculars to view birds and maybe other wildlife. Each trip is estimated to be about 5 miles and while we aren't going to be setting any speed records these will require light to moderate fitness capability. The FWS will provide kayaks, life jackets, and other kayak related gear.
Celebrate Invertebrates June 2023
Native Plant Day April 15th
Winter Birds 2023
This was a great learning opportunity for both kids and adults!! This was put on by the Friends and US Fish and Wildlife at McNary working together.
Photo thanks Carl Berkowitz and Shannon Truex
Celebrate Invertebrates June 25th 2022
It was fun with a lot of people young and old asking many questions. One highlight was the presentation by the Bug Guru, Dale Jansons with lots of live invertebrates to see and learn about. Other activies was water invertebrates and also a tiny wasp activity. Some fun for the kids (and some adults) was face painting.
Organized by Friends of the Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges in partnership with USFWS Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex.
Organized by Friends of the Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges in partnership with USFWS Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex.
Native Plant Appreciation Day April 23rd
A fun day with exhibits and tours by experts of the native plant garden in addition to native plants in local area. Time was taken to dedicate the Native Plant Garden and plant a chokecherry tree on the refuge near the slough.
Members Informal Walks
Some pictures from our informal walk at Madame Dorian Park on March 24. Walkers included bird, plant and geology experts and people wanting to learn.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting was held on December 9th through Zoom. We had an introduction by our president and then a great walk through the year by Shannon. Last, we have several on site videos by the staff at both complexes.
Presidents Message Jan James
A Year in Review Shannon Hays-Truex
Videos provided by US Fish and Wildlife staff at the meeting
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Celebrate Invertebrates Month 2021
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Learn about moths from David Droppers - an enthusiastic passionate speaker! David has a University of WA Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management, and a Western Washington University Master's degree in Environmental Education .
Below is the presentation on June 24, 2021 |
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Native Plant Month 2021
Heather Wendt, and Ernie Crediford talk on our local native plants and how to incorporate them into our own landscapes.
Gretchen Graber, an environmental scientist, gave a presentation on her latest project, YEER (see attachment). Gretchen is responsible for thousands of native plants being grown and re-introduced into the landscape.
Lisa Hill wildflower watercolor demonstration Follow along as two wildflower favorites in the Mid-Columbia region come to life as a watercolor painting. The brilliant yellow of Balsamroot and rich violet of Lupine are natural complements that create an eye-catching color combination – whether as art or in the shrub steppe. Lisa will demonstrate the techniques used to paint a pleasing blend of realistic flowers and a soft-focus, abstract background. She is a horticulturist, Master Gardener and avid bird-watcher who has been painting with watercolor since 2007.
This video is in 3 parts below
Gretchen Graber, an environmental scientist, gave a presentation on her latest project, YEER (see attachment). Gretchen is responsible for thousands of native plants being grown and re-introduced into the landscape.
Lisa Hill wildflower watercolor demonstration Follow along as two wildflower favorites in the Mid-Columbia region come to life as a watercolor painting. The brilliant yellow of Balsamroot and rich violet of Lupine are natural complements that create an eye-catching color combination – whether as art or in the shrub steppe. Lisa will demonstrate the techniques used to paint a pleasing blend of realistic flowers and a soft-focus, abstract background. She is a horticulturist, Master Gardener and avid bird-watcher who has been painting with watercolor since 2007.
This video is in 3 parts below
Native Plant Presentations
Heather Wendt, and Ernie Crediford talk on our local native plants and how to incorporate them into our own landscapes. Gretchen Graber, an environmental scientist, gave a presentation on her latest project, YEER starts at 32:30
Heather Wendt, and Ernie Crediford talk on our local native plants and how to incorporate them into our own landscapes. Gretchen Graber, an environmental scientist, gave a presentation on her latest project, YEER starts at 32:30
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Lisa Hill wildflower watercolor demonstration.
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Winter Birds 2021
Winter Birds February 18th presentations
Winter Birds of the McNary NWR, Columbia river and Yakima River Presentation by Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Broad Winged Hawks, Buteos of the Columbia Basin Presentation by Mike Denny
Winter Birds partner presentation February 20th
Water Birds of Washington with a presentation of Wintering Wildlife by WDFW
The link to the recording of this event is at Facebook and at YouTube
Winter Birds February 25th
Blue Mountain Wildlife presentation by Lynn Tompkins
Owling and Photographing Eastern Washington presented by Izzy Edwards
Winter Birds of the McNary NWR, Columbia river and Yakima River Presentation by Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Broad Winged Hawks, Buteos of the Columbia Basin Presentation by Mike Denny
Winter Birds partner presentation February 20th
Water Birds of Washington with a presentation of Wintering Wildlife by WDFW
The link to the recording of this event is at Facebook and at YouTube
Winter Birds February 25th
Blue Mountain Wildlife presentation by Lynn Tompkins
Owling and Photographing Eastern Washington presented by Izzy Edwards
Winter Birds 2021 Presentations
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Winter Birds of the McNary NWR, Columbia river and Yakima River
Presentation by Bill and Nancy LaFramboise Note: Slides were slow in posting in Zoom so delayed at times to the voice. |
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Broad Winged Hawks, Buteos of the Columbia Basin
Presentation by Mike Denny |
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ANNUAL MEETING / FRIENDSRAISER DECEMBER 2020
The 2020 Annual Meeting was held by way of Zoom to fit within COVID-19 guidelines. Below are several of the presentions we recorded during the meeting.
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Presentation of Friends activities during the year by Shannon Hayes-Truex
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Presentation by Trina Staloch from US Fish and Wildlife
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Clicking the double arrow in the video will expand to full page
Annual Meeting 2019
WINTER BIRDS FEBRUARY 2020
Winter Birds 2019
NATIVE PLANT APPRECIATION DAY APRIL 2019
CELEBRATE INVERTEBRATES JUNE 2019
Moth Night July 2019
DUCK CONSERVATION DAY SEPTEMBER 2019 (WITH MEMBER OF DUCKS UNLIMITED)
December 2018 Fundraiser
Pictures by Jan James, Jenny Rieke, Denise Mcinturff, Jaynee Levy, Shannon Hays-Truex, Adam Steele
