Friends President's Message

Text and Photo Courtesy Katasha Cornwell

As you will see throughout this issue of the newsletter, our Friends know how special national wildlife refuges are. I recently had the opportunity to visit Desert National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Nevada, just north of Las Vegas, for the first time. Going to a new NWR is always exciting, and I know I am going to learn something new and get to see something unexpected.

Desert is the largest national wildlife refuge outside of Alaska. It is a landscape hosting a variety of habitat types including Joshua trees, pinyon pines, and ponderosa pines as you go up in elevation. Lots of cacti, sage brush, and creosote bush too. This refuge was established to help protect big horn sheep populations. And while we were not lucky enough to spy any of these impressive creatures this trip, we did encounter a wider variety of bird species than we expected, including several life birds. Back to that in a moment.

During our time out west, we also visited two national parks, two national monuments, and a national forest. All of which had beautiful and interesting landscapes of their own, along with a noticeably higher volume of visitors. And while each of these other national recreational areas are important, beloved, and very much worth a visit, it was a good reminder of just how much of a “best kept secret” our NWRs really can be.

During our short time at Desert, we hiked, birded, and drove quite a few miles of gravel roads barely seeing another visitor or car for a day and a half. The solitude and required self-reliance was a welcome change of pace. Over an 11 mile hike up to a historic cabin we didn’t see another person until back at the parking lot midafternoon. How wonderful to have that whole trail all to ourselves to spot dusky and ash-throated fly catchers, broad-tailed humming birds, Woodhouse’s scrub jays, green-tailed towhees, western tanagers, and violet green swallows.

And even along the short trails by the very modern visitor center we saw more birds than people, including Lazuli buntings, blue grosbeaks, and the crazy looking, red-eyed and crested, Phainopepla.

It was a wonderful trip, but it was also a good reminder of what an amazing resource we and all of our local Friends have right in our backyards. Birds and gators galore, so many types of recreational opportunities, and the great folks who make our Refuge what it is. We have amazing and friendly Nature Store staff, a dedicated Lighthouse Keeper and volunteers, committed refuge staff, and a diligent board of directors and auxiliary team members. All who make our gem of a Refuge a place that does draw its fair share of visitors, supporters, and volunteers alike. And where we can still have unexpected surprises, quite solitude, exciting adventures, and build friendships.

As always, remember to invite your friends to become our Friends. 

Refuge Report - Meet the Summer Biology Interns

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the Friends supported biology intern program at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Through very generous donations this program has had 73 alumni over that period. And with the addition of Jay and Austin, whom you'll meet below, the program reaches another milestone for a total of 75 interns. An average of over 7 interns per year since inception. At a time when more species need help for recovery, the internship program offers recent graduates hands-on experiences they can use to grow as environmental professionals and take with them to their next phase in life, whether that be a graduate program, another internship, or a permanent position. Every single one of these young people I have had the privilege of meeting are intelligent and hard working folks ready to do amazing things for our natural world. To see some of the previous interns, check out our webpage here https://www.stmarksrefuge.org/meet-our-interns

Hello everyone! My name is Jaylen Besse, but I usually go by Jay. I am very grateful to have been offered a position as a Biological Intern working in St. Marks for Summer and Fall of 2024. I am a Florida native, where I grew up exploring the diverse swamps, beaches, springs, and sandhills. I’ve always been drawn to nature, so I chose to pursue a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. I proudly graduated in May 2024 with big hopes for protecting this great state’s ecosystems and biodiversity. My dream is to restore and protect Everglades National Park, but that’s quite a ways down the road.

I spent my time in Gainesville studying how our natural world works, with a particular interest in herpetofauna. Any time I hit the trails I’m on the hunt for snakes and salamanders, eager to find something slithering and dithering about. Some of my most valuable experiences to date occurred through UF, where I took field courses based at the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station. At the OSBS I practiced field techniques such as bird banding, mist-netting, dip-netting, radio-telemetry and so much more. I also spent time volunteering with the Alachua Conservation Trust, where I helped remove invasive plant species from local trails to open up space for native plants to grow. 

I am excited to gain experience at St. Marks working with red-cockaded woodpeckers and frosted flatwoods salamanders, two species in need of protection. This internship gives me the opportunity to put my energy into something I am passionate about, and I look forward to the people I will meet and the experiences I will gain. Thank you for the opportunity to further develop my career as a wildlife biologist! 

Hey everyone, my name is Austin Stewart. I am one of the 2024 summer interns at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Currently, I'm a junior in the Wildlife Ecology and Management program at Auburn University. I was born and raised in North Alabama. With a lifelong passion for the outdoors and wildlife, I'm excited to be a part of St. Mark's intern program where I can enjoy doing what I love in such a beautiful place.

A little bit about me: I grew up in a rural area of North Alabama surrounded by woods and creeks. I enjoyed exploring and admiring the natural world, and a huge reason for that was my father. He would teach my brother and me about nature and educated us at an early age. Because of my childhood, I decided I wanted to pursue a career working with wildlife. After attending Snead State Community College, I enrolled at Auburn University in 2023. When I got to Auburn, I started applying for various positions and volunteering to work with graduate students on their research. I have done a wide variety of tasks, from deploying camera traps to conducting vegetation surveys in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Additionally, I am a member of the Society of Natural Resources and The Wildlife Society here at Auburn University. Between my classes and the work I have done at Auburn University, I have been able to learn so much information that will help me with my future career.

In the future, after I graduate, I would like to work in positions that will allow me to stay in the Southeast while working with threatened and endangered species. I have a passion for herpetofauna; however, I would not mind working with any taxa as long as I feel the work I am doing is important and impactful. After gaining some work experience, I would like to apply for graduate school and hopefully achieve a Ph.D. I could see myself working in academia or pursuing more federal or state positions.

I am very thankful to be selected for the St. Mark’s internship program. This internship will provide real-world working experience in multiple areas, including hands-on experience with endangered species such as the flatwood salamander and red-cockaded woodpecker. I believe this experience will benefit me greatly in future positions. I am so excited to be working in a coastal environment that has so much beauty and biodiversity. I am not sure where my future will take me but, I am sure that the skills and knowledge I have learned with the St. Mark's internship will aid me wherever life takes me.

Frances Musser –

Extraordinary Volunteer and Friend of the Refuge

December 18, 1925 – April 19, 2023

Text and Photos Courtesy Robin Will

Frances and her husband Charley joined the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge volunteer program in the late 1980s. They cleared trails, participated in coastal cleanups and Monarch Festivals, painted signs, planted longleaf pines and were a part of the refuge family. 

After Charley’s passing in 1994, Frances continued to volunteer as a front desk receptionist in the Visitor Center and greeted thousands of visitors with her cheerful voice and warm personality. She thoughtfully brought staff and volunteers many cakes and cookies over the years and helped organize volunteer recognition luncheons and other gatherings. 

She was recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Volunteer Coordinator in 2000 to represent the Service in a radio interview on National Public Radio’s “Prime Time USA” show about volunteering for the U.S. government. Frances also served as a Board Member, Treasurer, and Nature Store manager for the Friends. She donated a beautiful Wilson’s Viburnum in the garden outside Nature’s Classroom in Charley’s memory and the tin roof over the bench at the Mounds Pool #1 pull off along Lighthouse Road. 

A Lifetime Member of the Friends, she continued to donate to her beloved St. Marks Lighthouse and other refuge programs after she moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2005. Her estate bequeathed a legacy gift to support the Friends’ and the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge’s programs. At her request, her ashes will be spread at the Wakulla River near her home.

My husband Eric always called Frances the “consummate gracious Southern Lady” and my three daughters called her “St. Frances” – that pretty much sums up this extraordinary person.

Tour Driver Needed!

CDL Required

In the last issue of Reflections, you may have read that with Matt and Cyndi Johnstone moving back to Michigan, we’re losing not only great tour leaders, but our tour driver as well. In order to continue these popular wildlife tours, the search is on for a new driver. If you have a CDL and would be interested in helping the Refuge in this way, contact Rita LeBlanc at naturestoremanager@gmail.com

Renewal

Text Courtesy Craig Musgrove

St Marks Wildlife Refuge is a unique refuge. It is a special place. A place where renewal of our body, mind and spirit can begin. When stress, anxiety and the cares of this world overwhelm us, we need to stop. Take a deep breath and take a “time out” to care for ourselves. It is a choice that is so important for our own personal well-being. And that is where our precious refuge enters the picture. Let me use myself as an example - When I arrive at the entrance gate, I make a choice to toss out all the junk I have been toting around in my mind on the byway. I slow down and begin to renew that thankful spirit for all the blessings in my life. And I begin to see all the beauty around me. I begin to realize there is so much within our precious refuge I can take advantage of for my healing. From hiking or biking down beautiful, well maintained trails. To meeting new friends or reuniting with an old friend. Driving down refuge roads anticipating what will be seen around the next bend. Scrambling for binoculars to identify the wildlife we saw moving in the tall grass ahead. Watching and hearing all the beautiful birds and butterflies that frequent our refuge. Or just sitting and closing my eyes to hear the beautiful sound of nature all around me. And I realize there has been a change in how I perceive life. A change in how I think. And most important, a positive change in how I interact with others. St Marks refuge is a unique place. A special place. A place where renewal can begin.

Friends of St Mark's Wildlife Refuge Supporter Portal

Manage Your Account Here

https://stmarksrefuge.app.neoncrm.com/login

Become a member of the Longleaf Society today by clicking this graphic. Your monthly giving provides a tremendous boost to the Friends of St Marks Wildlife Refuge to keep providing the programs and services you have come to expect from this award winning organization.

We Encourage our Friends to SHARE!

As almost all of you know, the Friends give 100% of their support to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. An important way for you increase that support is to share our message. Therefore, when you get this newsletter, we encourage you to send it on to a friend. You can share it via email or through various other social media. Here's the link to the Friends Newsletter page. Scroll to the "current" entry and copy the link.

Text Courtesy Phillip Pollock

Bird Reports Assist Visitors

Don Morrow and Matt Johnstone, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge volunteers and expert birders, create concise bird-sighting reports on a week-to-week basis. Read their current and past reports here.

Photo Courtesy Katasha Cornwell

Have you considered including the Refuge in your will? The Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge can provide information and guide you through the process. Just call the Refuge at 850-925-6121, and ask to be contacted by the Friends' Development Committee, or email us.

Reflections newsletter is a benefit of membership for Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge.

It also serves as an important supplement to

the Friends' website.

Both the newsletter and the web site provide members and the public information about volunteer activities and events at the Refuge.

Reflections editor: Katasha Cornwell