| | |
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
| |
| |
| |
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 23, 2025 2:00 PM
Riparian Room
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 09, 2025 1:00 PM
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 10, 2025 8:30 AM
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 10, 2025 9:00 AM
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 11, 2025 8:30 AM
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 11, 2025 9:00 AM
19255 SW Pacific Highway
Creatures of the Night Festival and Twilight Walks
October 18, 2025 4:30 PM-&:30 PM
Riparian Room
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 25, 2025 9:00 AM
Riparian Room
19255 SW Pacific Highway
October 25, 2025 10:30 AM
Henricksen Unit- Directions will be
given at the Annual Meeting
| | |
| |
Presidents Perch by Cheryl Hart
Cheryl is off exploring new corners of the world- She will be back next month with her President's Perch- We all wish her a great time on her adventures!
| | | | |
Focus on Friends
by Bonnie Anderson
Executive Director
| |
With fall on its way, we're looking forward to a favorite time of year at the refuge: fall migration! Starting October 1st, our seasonal trails will close as we prepare for thousands of ducks and geese to stop over on their journey south. It's an incredible time of year to witness the wetlands come alive with new sights and sounds.
October Events
October is a busy month for the Friends, and we're excited to announce that we'll once again be participating in El Tigre Fest to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. - El Tigre Fest is Tigard’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, honoring Latino culture, Filipino History Month, music, food, and community. This free, family-friendly festival brings together the heart of Tigard for a full day of connection, celebration, and cultural pride.
Contact me if you would like to volunteer.
| Thank you to the 500 folks that selected the Friends for their native plant pick up! We should be able to make our $5,000 fundraising goal with Sparrowhawk! I am also looking for volunteers to assist with the Sparrowhawk Native Plant Sale set up and Pick up on October 9th, 10th & 11th. Click here to sign up for a shift and we are required to provide 8 wheelbarrows for the Oct. 9th setup- do yo have one you could loan us for the day? Let me know | An Emerald Ash Borer Photo Credit OSU Extension Service | |
You're invited to the Friends' Annual Meeting on October 25th.
We'll begin with a light breakfast at 9:00 a.m., followed by the business meeting at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will include:
- Reports on our accomplishments
- "Volunteer of the Year" announcements
- The election or re-election of our Board of Directors
Board of Directors
We're currently seeking new members for our Board of Directors. If you're interested in serving on the board, please contact me directly, and I will connect you with the appropriate person. We also accept nominations from the floor during the meeting.
Henricksen Unit Tour RSVP HERE
The business meeting will be followed by a tour of the Henricksen Unit, where we will explore the ongoing Ash Progeny Project. Directions and information about carpooling will be provided at the meeting.
This project is a collaboration between multiple partners including the Refuge and the Friends, and it focuses on combating the long-term effects of the Emerald Ash Borer on our refuge complex. The tour is a great opportunity to learn about our efforts to protect the ash trees in our community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
| |
See you on the Refuge!
Bonnie
| | |
| |
Friends of the Refuge Habitat Restoration Specialist
Bethany Llewellyn (she/her)
Habitat Restoration Specialist
Friends of Tualatin River NWRC
Bethany_Llewellyn@fws.gov
(503) 320-5680
| Seasons Changing on the Refuge! | | | | |
September has been a delight on the refuge as temperatures cool and colors change. Our biology team continues to treat invasive plants, focusing on Himalayan blackberry and common hawthorn. We are also gearing up for planting season in the late fall and winter.
The biology team is developing a plan for restoring a section of seasonal wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, and wet prairie on the Atfalat’i (main) unit of the refuge. We are grateful to have received pilot funding for this project from Lam Research. This month, I completed vegetation monitoring on the proposed project area, developing a stronger understanding of current conditions on the site and setting a baseline so we can record change as the restoration project takes place. The team crawled through willows and braved blackberry, thistle, and all kinds of late summer weather to collect a robust set of data.
We are also exploring options to remove invasive Reed canary grass on one portion of the project area without using herbicides. Reed canary grass forms a dense monoculture, excluding native species, so removing it is the first step of many of our restoration projects. We have identified a few non-chemical alternatives, including tarping and mechanically grinding the reed canary grass, and will be testing to see what is successful on the site.
September’s Second Saturday Work Party focused on brushing the year-round trail, making it easier for visitors to enjoy through the fall and winter. In October, instead of a work party, we are looking for volunteers to help with our plant sale with Sparrowhawk Native Plants, which will earn the Friends a substantial donation. You can sign up for a shift here! This will be lots of fun and a good opportunity to learn more about native plants you could plant in your own yard.
| | Anable Adjei, Collin Kelly, and Charisse Walker navigate a willow thicket to collect vegetation survey data. | |
Shopping the Pacific Northwest
Shopping at the Nature's Overlook Nature Store is a great way to find unique, nature-themed gifts while supporting local artists and businesses. Our selection features many items with a Pacific Northwest connection, reflecting our commitment to the regional economy.
When you shop with us, you're not only supporting the vital work the Friends do for the refuge, but you're also directly helping local artists and businesses. Many of our suppliers are based in Oregon and Washington, including some right here in Portland.
Stop by and browse our wide variety of books, cards, jewelry, apparel, puzzles, games, and so much more!
The Nature's Overlook Nature Store is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As a reminder, Friends Members receive a 10% discount on all purchases!
| | Elegant Garden Design from Vancouver, WA | | |
Our new cadet style hat is embroidered at Adams Screen printing in Sherwood, Oregon
Cards from Kristen Edmund Olympia, WA
| | |
Emily Lex Studio Gig Harbor, WA
Cards from Trail Skipper Studio Oregon City, OR
| | |
Elegant Garden Design from Vancouver, WA
Earrings from Wicket Goods, Selah, WA
| | Ecologies Game Created by an Oregon Biology Teacher | | |
Wild Coast Teas Myrtle Point, OR
Sock It To Me Portland, OR
| | Puzzles and Coloring Books Pomegranate Portland, OR | | |
Friends Are In Need Of....
| |
Friends Come together to Celebrate Sharon Miller
On Tuesday, August 26th, past and present volunteers from the Nature's Overlook Store gathered to dedicate a beautifully crafted bench in memory of Sharon Miller, our long-time store manager and a valued Friends member.
| | |
A special thank you to Phyllis Milan, who, as a Friends Board member, found the talented artist who created this special piece. We also want to thank everyone who generously donated to the commission of the bench.
Our Friends' President, Cheryl Hart, dedicated the bench, ensuring that Sharon will always be a part of the store, the Friends, and the Refuge
| | |
The Other Morning
By Rube S. Salmonberry
The other morning, I took a short drive from my home in Tigard to the nearby Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, aiming for a leisurely stroll to enjoy the native flora and fauna that make up our little corner of the Great Pacific Wonderland. Upon arrival, I slipped on my Rover vest, secured my water bottle and binoculars, and made my way toward the trailhead. Just as I arrived, I overheard a brief exchange between two visitors— one returning, the other just heading out. In response to a question about sightings, the departing visitor shrugged and said, “Nah, didn’t see anything. Must be the off season.” I paused, momentarily puzzled. Off season?! Hadn’t heard the Rangers mention anything about that.
| | |
I stood there, letting the idea tumble around in my head. Could it really be there’s nothing to see? But then I reminded myself—even a sandy beach has something worth noticing. As I stood in thought, I caught another comment from the pair. The new visitor said, “Well, I’m not going to head into the forest—we’re going the other way where at least we’ll see some birds.” That settled it for me. My path was clear—I was heading into the woods. The forested trails, oak savanna, and the riparian edges of Rock and Chicken Creeks have always called to me. So does the Tualatin River overlook and platform. I feel a deep connection with the flora—there’s something grounding in spotting a Beaked Hazel, Pacific Yew, or a weathered Madrone. And the fauna? It fills me with delight. To cross paths with a vole or catch a glimpse of a Short-tailed Weasel—that’s my kind of thrill. Starting from the Ribes sanguineum Trailhead, I hadn’t even passed the picnic tables when I encountered my first wonder of the day—a Black Hawthorn, Crataegus douglasii, for you botanists and native plant folks. It was alive with life. Goldfinches swarmed its branches, while just a few steps away, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets danced in the undergrowth. In the nearby vernal pond, a Mallard pair floated contentedly, and overhead, Downy Woodpeckers worked the Black Cottonwoods. So much for the off season I thought thankfully. Yet I wondered what it was they had hoped to see…Place article copy here. Be sure to make the articles short and concise as people tend not to read much more than a couple of paragraphs. Place article copy here.
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
We are Currently at $1263.
| | |
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!
| | | |
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
| |
| | | |
