Making Tracks

The Newsletter of the Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Joyfully Connecting our Community with the Wonder of the Refuge

Photo image: 2024 Robinhood Festival Parade

Photo image: 2024 Brews for the Birds

UPCOMING EVENTS

2025 Robinhood Festival Parade

July 19, 2025 9:30 AM

Langer's Entertainment Parking Lot

July 2025 Board of Directors Meeting

July 22, 2025 2:00 PM

Riparian Room 19255 SW Pacific HWY

Brews for the Birds

August 1, 2025 3:30-9 PM

Langer's Entertainment Center

Brews for the Birds

August 2, 2025 noon- 9:00 PM

Langer's Entertainment Center

August Work Party

August 9, 2025 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM

Tualatin River NWR

August 2025 Board of Directors Meeting

August 26, 2025 2:00 PM

Riparian Room 19255 SW Pacific HWY

Sept. 2025 Board of Directors Meeting

September 22, 2025 2:00 PM

Riparian Room 19255 SW Pacific HWY

2025 Friends' Annual Membership Meeting - SAVE THE DATE 2

October 25, 2025 9:00 AM

Riparian Room 19255 SW Pacific HWY

Presidents Perch

by Cheryl Hart

Friends President

I usually count on a little quieter time between Memorial Day and our Brews for the Birds Festival, but this year, that hasn’t happened. The President’s budget bill contained a plan to sell millions of acres of Public Lands. And while Refuges and Parks were excluded, we all knew that this sale of Public Lands was precedent setting. Just “the camel’s nose under the edge of the tent.” Once the sale of Public Lands began, it would most certainly eventually include National Wildlife Refuges. The National Wildlife Refuge Association, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates, and many other partner groups worked tirelessly to insist that Public Lands were not

for sale. Thanks to advocates like you, Congress listened and that proposal was taken out of the bill before it passed and was signed into law. I can’t emphasize too strongly how important your actions and the actions of our Congressmen and Senators were in this effort. Thank you to everyone who stood up for the Refuges we all love.

Now we need your help again. In the next few days or weeks, you will begin to see signs around all National Wildlife Refuges with a QR Code (you know, one of those little squares with squiggles in it that you point your phone at, and it takes you to a webpage?) This is an effort by Department of Interior to gather information from the public about Public Lands like Refuges. The Website https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/0ebf478b/submit offers you an

opportunity to comment on a specific Refuge. You do not need to be physically at that refuge to comment. The survey is easy to take, and we need you to take it!

For as many refuges as you can and as often as you can. Ask your friends and neighbors who love refuges to do the same. If you notice things that could be improved, please recognize that the Refuge System has been consistently understaffed and underfunded for over ten years. During that time, our amazing FWS Employees have continued to do more and more with less and less until they have finally reached a tipping point. If you comment on Services that Need Improvement, please indicate

that you are aware that the reason things aren’t quite up to snuff is likely because of this

underfunding and understaffing.

We suggest that you select the “Something Else” option and then use your 10,000 characters to tell DOI why you love this refuge. Why it is important to you, your family, and your community. Why it is critical that staffing and funding for National Wildlife Refuges be increased so that we do not lose this amazing unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System that protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.

Not quite sure what to say? Here are some AI generated Key Phrases to get you started:

✅

Beauty, grandeur, and abundance of natural features

✅

Scenic wonders

✅

Inspiring conservation stories

✅

National treasure and shared natural heritage

✅

Pride, connection, and stewardship

Think of this as something you can do each morning as you drink that first cup of coffee or in the evening as you wind down after a busy day. We must make our voices heard and you know how to do that. You’ve proven it!

Thank you for your love and respect for our refuge,

Cheryl

Focus on Friends

by Bonnie Anderson

Executive Director

We are participating in the July 19^th Robinhood Festival Parade- see information in the newsletter- we would love to have you join us- just grab your favorite Friends or Brews for the Birds swag (T-Shirt/ hat) and meet us at Langer’s by 9:30 AM. We encourage you to bringing candy to share with the crowd too!!

Robinhood Festival Parade Map

Get Ready for Brews for the Birds!

Join us on August 1st and 2nd at Langer's Family Entertainment in Sherwood, Oregon, for our annual "Brews for the Birds" event! It's a fantastic weekend of music, local art, delicious food, and refreshing brews, all while supporting a great cause.

We're thrilled to welcome back The Lloyd Jones Struggle and Ja Ska Mon, and we're excited to feature new acts this year: Broken String, Mariachi Luz De Oro, and Knuckle Grease Station! Browse unique offerings from our local art vendors, and enjoy all your food and drink favorites provided by Langer's Family Entertainment.

Want to volunteer? We need your help to make this event soar! Current Friends members can sign up for a shift here Click on this link to sign up for a shift. T-shirts will be provided.

Don't miss our incredible raffle! Tickets are $5 each for a chance to win donations from our artisan vendors, Tualatin River Keepers, Langer's, and more. Plus, we have a special drawing for a Yakima Cargo Box (a $750 value!) – only a limited number of tickets will be sold at $10 each. Learn more about the Yakima SkyBox NX LG here: https://yakima.com/products/skybox-nx-lg?srsltid=AfmBOop1Loh2O9_4NO6Y0eJKVZu7sGvVIAqcn6-Co1lYkCveDtXDhV5

This is a family and dog-friendly event, with a special "Doggie Lounge" sponsored by Camp Bow Wow of Sherwood!

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors: the City of Sherwood, Clean Water Services, Langer's, and the Miter Foundation.

See you on the Refuge!

Bonnie

Friends of the Refuge New Habitat Restoration Specialist

Bethany Llewellyn (she/her)

Habitat Restoration Specialist

Friends of Tualatin River NWRC

Bethany_Llewellyn@fws.gov

(503) 320-5680

On a sunny Saturday, July 12^th I had the opportunity to run my first volunteer work party at the Refuge. Our target was the bioswale, the green area in the center of the main unit parking lot. This feature welcomes visitors into the natural environment of the refuge, but it does so much more than that! Bioswales are designed to capture and filter stormwater, with the plants naturally filtering out pollutants and slowing stormwater runoff. Our bioswale is planted with native plants, and it also provides food and shelter to pollinators and birds. Unfortunately, the bioswale also provides a good environment for several non-native invasive plant species, including Armenian blackberry and creeping thistle. These species can out-compete native plants, and sometimes inhibit the filtering function of the bioswale as well.

Enter an intrepid crew of around 20 volunteers, who joined me at the Refuge on Saturday morning and donned leather gloves to tackle this task! In some areas, we control blackberries with faster methods such as disking and herbicide application, but when they are mixed in with sensitive native plants it comes down to good old manual removal. Some Volunteers used loppers to trim back the plants, while others dug or hoed blackberry root masses out of the soil. Volunteers also picked up trash and trimmed back vegetation that is encroaching on parking

spots and walkways. I was grateful and impressed by the volunteer community, who turned up for hard work on a hot day and gave it their all! This refuge has amazing supporters, and we couldn’t do it without you.

A special thank you to a large group from the Oregon Chinese Coalition and representatives of the Sherwood Rotary Club. Volunteer work parties will be running regularly on the second Saturday of each month, with the next one on Saturday, August 9^th. You can find details in advance of each event and register on the Friends website and reach me with any questions at bethany_llewellyn@fws.gov. I hope to

see you out there!

Image 1: Bethany with Sherwood Rotary volunteers Jane and Karen

Image 2: Volunteer HongCheng from the OCC pile removed blackberry on a tarp – we removed more tarps of blackberry than I could count!

Donations for Sharon Miller Memorial Bench

The Friends are commissioning a bench to replace the bench in front of the viewing window in the store. It is appropriate that the bench, when completed, will take its place in the store where she donated so much of her time. If you would like to contribute to this

project in Sharon’s memory, please follow our to dedicate your donation to Sharon’s memorial. Thank you!

Donation Link

Apply to be a Vendor!

The Stoat Who Stole My Step A trail- side tale from Rube S. Salmonberry, Trail Rover and Stoat Enthusiast

I was walking off my duties as a Trail Rover for the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge — boots a bit muddy, mind loose and roaming — when something snagged my senses. Not a sound, not a smell, but a flicker. A sharp little motion at the edge of vision that stops a man mid - step.

It was a Stoat, clear as creek - water , an Oregon Short- tailed Weasel, sleek and trim.

She didn’t slink or slither — she commanded the edge of the sedge like she owned it. And maybe she did.

Now, I’ve seen one of these cunning guests take down a rat nearly her size — quick strike, firm bite, and then trot off with the spoils gripped tight in her blood- wet jaws like she’d just earned her crown. And in truth, she had.

Say what you will about their size, but a Short- tail is all grit, teeth, and tactics. They don’t just hunt — they solve their prey. Vicious little gnashers, sure, but also clean and honest predators, keeping the rodent nation in check better than any trap ever made. For that alone, I offer thanks. I do — I surely do.

But don’t mistake gratitude for naiveté. These pint - sized shadows carry enough contempt in their spine to hold a bull at bay. And they will, if allowed. There’s no fear in them. None. Just purpose.

She watched me then — briefly — eyes like polished obsidian, cold and curious. I held my breath like I’d stumbled into a private ceremony. Then, quick as she came, she vanished — slipping through the grass like a word unsaid.

And just like that, I was walking again. But not the same. The Stoat had stolen something from me — my step, my stillness — and left behind a flickering thrill I carried the rest of the way.

There are days when nature shouts. But some days, like this one, she whispers sharp.

And if you're lucky, a weasel will be the one doing the whispering.

A special Thank You to Ran ( or Rube) for sharing your delightful nature stories. We look forward to more adventures.

So many ways to support the Friends!

1. Grab a Blue Bag from the Visitor Center

2. Fill it up with bottles & cans

3. Drop it off at your nearest donation center

Help us reach our 2025 goal of $2,500.00

Our new Amazon Wishlist will take you right to a list of high-need items. Your purchase will support the Friends office, special events, public programs, and volunteer work parties. All items are shipped directly to the Friends office at the Refuge.

Thank you for your support!

Find your nearest donation center

View our Amazon Wishlist

News From Our Conservation Partner at Clakamas Community College

We are excited to host a brand-new "Wildlife Wonders" live speaker series at the Environmental Learning Center this summer! The presentations will explore current and historical human-wildlife interactions provided by professionals

and experts in their fields.

Who: Anyone interested in the subject material!

When: Thursdays, July 17 - August 28

Time: Noon - 1 p.m. (PST)

Where: Environmental Learning Center Wetland

19600 Mollala Ave. Oregon City, OR

Cost: $10.00 suggested donation to cover costs

(Pre-registration is not required, but helpful for planning purposes.)

Each session is stand-alone, so sign up for the presentations that interest you! Just one or two - or all seven!

July 17
Five Insects and their Impacts on Human History
Speaker: Rob Wiedenmann, Retired Entomologist and Author
~History has been influenced many times and in many ways by insects. Rob tells some of the tales from the book, "The Silken Thread," that he wrote with co-author Ray Fisher. This isn't just an insect talk. It's about the history you never learned in school.
July 24
Restoring Oregon's Coastal Balance:
Bringing Sea Otters Back
Speaker: Chanel Hason, Director of Outreach and Community Relations, Elakha Alliance
~Join Chanel for an engaging presentation about the organization’s efforts to restore sea otters to the Oregon coast. Discover how these charismatic marine mammals are vital to the health of our coastal ecosystems, the history behind their disappearance, and the collaborative work being done to bring them back. Learn how you can support this critical conservation mission and help make a lasting impact on Oregon’s marine environment.
July 31
New Carissa Oil Spill Response and Natural Resource Protection & Restoration
Speaker: Preston Sleeger, Former Regional Environmental Officer, U.S. Dept. of the Interior (Pacific NW Region)
~Learn about the response to the grounding of the New Carissa and subsequent oil spill on the coast near Coos Bay, Oregon in February, 1999. We’ll hear about the efforts made to protect natural resources and their eventual restoration.
August 7
Portland Urban Coyote Project
Speaker: Marie Martin, Research Scientist, Oregon State University Institute for Natural Resources, and Collaborator, Portland Urban Coyote Project
~Marie will discuss urban ecology, coyote facts and fiction, the history and findings of the Portland Urban Coyote Project, and opportunities for stewardship and learning about the elusive species that live among us.
August 14
Wild Mushrooms: Forage, Identify and Prepare
Speaker: Tim Glassman, Forager, Oregon Mycological Society
~In this presentation, we will review the basics of mushroom identification as well as foraging and cooking safety. Tim has lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost 30 years and has foraged for wild fruits, nuts, vegetables, clams and crabs since childhood. He has led numerous treks into the wild and enjoys sharing his love of nature and its abundance.
August 21
The Wonders of Bird Migration
Speaker: Candace Larson, Biologist, Bird Alliance of Oregon
~It's August, and many birds have already launched on an incredible journey from their breeding grounds here in Oregon to wintering grounds further south. Join Candace as we explore the what, why, when and how of bird migration and what you can do to help our feathered neighbors on their migratory travels.
August 28
Beneath the Waves: Petrographic and Geochemical Insights into Oregon's Underwater Volcanoes
Speaker: AK Kotash, Geology Instructor, Clackamas Community College
~Discover the hidden world of mid-ocean ridge volcanism off the coast of Oregon through detailed petrographic and geochemical analyses of Axial Volcano. This underwater volcano, located about a mile below the ocean surface and 300 miles from the coast of Astoria Oregon, is expected to erupt sometime this year for the first time in 11 years. This talk explores how the mineralogy and chemical composition of volcanic rocks reveal the dynamic processes shaping the seafloor in the Pacific Northwest.

If you have questions about this series, please e-mail: michelle.scholz@clackamas.edu

Calling All Photographers

By Phyllis Millan

Let’s share the beauty of TRNWRC and other wild places through your pictures. Submit via email to:

FriendsPhoto@FriendsOfTualatinRefuge.org

Include your name, where the picture was taken, and any pertinent information.

Photo credit: Roger Williams

Friends of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex

19255 SW Pacific Hwy Sherwood, Oregon 97140

503.625.5944 x 15227

www.FriendsofTualatinRefuge.org