The Link — Spring 2022 Newsletter
The Link is a quarterly newsletter produced in coordination between Friends, the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Coalition of Refuge Friends & Advocates.
Spring is taking its time getting to Central Minnesota this year. For several days in mid-March, warm, sunny days got our hopes up, but those hopes were soon dashed by bone-chilling winds, persistent gray clouds, below-normal temperatures, and s-n-o-w—that we’re still experiencing in mid-April. Despite the weather, though, the distinctive sounds of sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, and red-winged blackbirds in the wetlands have assured us that Mother Nature is still on schedule; and once the ice goes out and we see loons on the lakes, we’ll know for sure that it’s time to start checking ourselves and our pets for ticks. Ah, spring!
The definition of “spring” varies with location, so we’ve asked some Friends from across the country to send us photos of springtime on their refuges and tell us what special activities are in store for people visiting those refuges in the next couple of months. For example, here at Sherburne, there will be the opening of the Wildlife Drive, a couple of bird hikes, a Spring Celebration, and visits from Partner School students as we cautiously proceed to greet visitors in person after the long COVID-19 hiatus.
We at The Link hope that you’ll enjoy this issue with photos of spring and other features geared to the interests of Friends everywhere.
Our Spring Features Include:
- Spring Arrives with Memories of an Unsolved Mystery – Friends of Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys NWRs (FL)
- Marvel at the Beauty of the Nevada Wilderness – Friends of Nevada Wilderness (NV)
- Springs Brings a New Point of View to These Friends and Refuge Visitors – Friends of Blackwater NWR (MD)
- Spring on the Prairie at Neal Smith NWR (IA)
- Spring Wears Many Faces on Alaska National Wildlife Refuges (AK)
- Meet Our Partners Interview: Cynthia Martinez, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System
- Previews of Coming Webinars!
- CORFA Update: What’s Happening in the Friends Community?
Sincerely,
Sue Hix, Editor
Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Credits
The Spring 2022 version of The Link has been a coordinated effort between the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Coalition of Refuge Friends & Advocates.
To receive the next issue of The Link, complete the form at the bottom of this page https://www.refugeassociation.org/friends. And please add refugeassociation.org to the safe list for your email account.
You’re invited to join the CORFA Facebook group, a place to connect with other amazing members of the Friends community to share information, insights, and experiences concerning nonprofit governance, management, and advocacy. Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/coalitionofrefugefriends/ and request to join this private group.
- Sue Hix (Editor) – Friends of Sherburne NWR
- Joan Patterson (Co-editor)—Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates
- Caroline Brouwer—NWRA VP of Government Affairs
- Eden Taylor (designer)— NWRA Communications Associate
- Friends Editorial Staff:
- Cheryl Hart—NWRA Board, Board member of Friends of Tualatin River NWR
- Kathy Woodward—Former NWRA Board Member, Board member of Friends of Great Swamp NWR
- Jim Stone– NWRA Board, Board member of Friends of the Wichitas