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Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge
Reflections Newsletter - April 2025
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Friends President's Message
Text and Photos Courtesy Katasha Cornwell
Belonging
“Community is much more than belonging to something; it is about doing something together that makes belonging matter.” Brian Solis.
Belonging is an essential part of our well-being. We find it in many places—within our families, among our coworkers, in our communities, and in organizations we value. Recently, I’ve been thinking about where I belong and how these groups shape my experiences. Each one brings joy, challenges, inspiration, and opportunities to grow.
My “pack,” made up of my husband and two dogs, is my constant source of comfort and connection. Together, we explore the Refuge, discovering favorite spots and finding peace in nature and each other. My dogs, always curious, teach me patience during our walks as they stop to sniff every few steps. These outings are as meaningful for them as they are for me. Their sharp noses often lead us to patches of milkweed that we like to add to our GIS map collection. My husband encourages me to step out of my comfort zone, often saying his favorite mantra, “It’ll be alright.” Thanks to him, I’ve had experiences that I might have otherwise missed. And the Refuge itself inspires me to learn and grow, from birding to botany and photography.
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Being a Friend of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is about more than joining an organization. It’s about sharing a connection to this incredible place. Some of us call it home; others visit as often as they can. Together, we’re united in our love for the Refuge’s beauty and history.
In this edition, you’ll find stories about people dedicated to the Refuge—both past and present—and ways to get involved in our Friends community. We’re excited to offer more events, like Second Sunday Talks and member-only gatherings, and we hope you will consider inviting your friends to become our Friends. Together, we can strengthen our shared sense of belonging.
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Your Next Big Adventure
Would you like to be more involved with the Refuge? How does the chance to connect with Refuge staff and other volunteers like a real “insider” sound? What about the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Refuge with visitors from across the country and around the world?
If this has you intrigued . . . please read on!
Between now and the end of the year the Nature Store—the Friends primary fundraising project—will enter a new era as our current Store Manager, Rita LeBlanc, transitions to a supportive role. The timing is right. The Nature Store has come back from its COVID shut down and has returned to pre-pandemic levels of sales and profits that directly impact all Refuge operations and programs.
You could play a key role in determining the next version of the Friends Nature Store. You could help decide how the store looks, what products to carry, and how to integrate new ideas into an already successful store.
But don’t worry, you won’t be alone in this project. Rita isn’t going anywhere, she’ll be there to provide training, tech support and whatever else is needed for a smooth transition. You’ll also have the assistance (and friendship) of devoted Nature Store volunteers who are the core of the operation.
A fun part of the job is shopping! Finding unique products that relate to some aspect of the Refuge—shirts depicting wildlife, books that unlock the natural world, or items that showcase our iconic Lighthouse. Other parts of the job involve technology, inventory, and working with people. Speaking of technology, the Nature Store currently runs state-of-the-art point of sale software that is very user friendly and provides all the data you need to keep up with sales and ordering.
So, think about it. Consider playing a part in determining the next version of the Nature Store. The work is very rewarding and you’ll have a ton of support. If this sounds interesting to you—or maybe to you and a friend—then get in touch and let’s talk. This could be the beginning of your next big adventure and the next exciting version of the Friends Nature Store!
To learn more, contact Rita (naturestoremanager@gmail.com).
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You're Invited - Friends Annual Meeting - May 3rd
We’d love for you to join us for the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge Annual Meeting—a special gathering where we celebrate our shared love for the Refuge and all we’ve accomplished together over the past year.
Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
2 PM - 4 PM
Sherlock Springs, 2335 Bloxham Cutoff Rd, Crawfordville - map for directions
You’ll also hear about:
Our growing biological intern program
Environmental education initiatives
St. Marks Lighthouse
Nature Store news
Financial highlights
upcoming events and opportunities to get involved
Plus, we’ll have snacks and door prizes.
Whether you're a longtime supporter or newly joined, your presence makes all the difference. We can’t wait to see you there!
Below - Friends Members Only Hike with Joy Reinman - Panacea Unit
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Second Sunday
Refuge Talk Series
On July 30, 1944, thirteen B-17s were performing a mock-bombing exercise when they encountered a thunderstorm while approaching Tallahassee. One B-17 suffered structural failure and crashed in the St. Marks Refuge.
Of the 10 men on board, only one was able to parachute to safety.
Over time, the location of the crash site was forgotten—until it was rediscovered in 2011 by St. Marks Refuge fire crew member Travis Pollard, whose grandfather served as a B-17 crew member during World War II.
As part of our Second Sunday Talk series, Travis will share the story of his rediscovery on Sunday, May 11th, at 2 PM at the Environmental Education Building.
Attendance is free, but seating is strictly limited to 45 attendees. We strongly encourage you to register online to guarantee a spot.
Click here to Register
And save the Date: June 8 – Thadra Stanton, National Park Service, update on Byrd Hammock archaeological site on the Wakulla Unit. The Friends recently purchased the last two tracts of the Byrd Hammock site to bring into the fold of USFWS protection.
We expect to take a break in July, but we'll be back for the second half of the year with many more exciting topics and engaging speakers. Stay tuned!
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Welcome New Board Member -
Mary Ann Dailey
A recent transplant to Wakulla County drawn by the beauty of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Mary Ann and her husband Dave enjoy weekly hikes in this ever-changing and surprising landscape. With a deep appreciation for the refuge, Mary Ann is eager to contribute her time and skills to its vital work.
She recently retired after two decades in the Financial Services department at Providence College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s in History. Mary Ann brings diverse and valuable skills to the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge team. Her extensive project management experience, background in IT system implementation, and over 20 years of hands-on experience in Finance, Payroll, and Human Resources provide a strong foundation for supporting the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge.
Mary Ann’s commitment to volunteering is long-standing, including 15 years of teaching fitness classes at the college and religious education classes for many years. Currently, she explores her creative passions by leading bonsai tree workshops, teaching tie-dye tapestry classes, and taking online art seminars through MOMA.
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Impoundment History and Construction on the St. Marks Unit of the Refuge
Photos Courtesy Robin WIll and Gail Fishman
Text from the St. Marks NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan:
When I talked with visitors about “impoundments,” I used the analogy “manmade lakes” and when “levees or dikes” were mentioned, I used the analogy of earthen mounds constructed around the manmade lakes.
St. Marks Migratory Bird Refuge was established in 1931 due to its important location for wintering Canada geese on Apalachee Bay and other migratory waterfowl that wintered in the area. Active wetland management on St. Marks NWR began in 1936 with the construction of Pond #1 near Port Leon by the Civilian Conservation Corps with draglines and hand tools. Later, Pond #2 was built along Lighthouse Rd., probably including all the current impoundments except for Lighthouse Pool as it encompassed 6,000 acres. Headquarters, Tower and Picnic Ponds were constructed as part of Pool #2 in the 1930s as well. In 1942, World War II halted all construction on the refuge. In the 1950s, an interior cross dike was constructed in Stoney Bayou Pool to isolate the eastern portion of the impoundment where numerous leaks had developed. The name Stoney Bayou came from the nearby tidal Stoney Bayou Creek. Staff still call that dike, which originates off the Tram Rd along the Stoney Bayou Primitive Walking Trail, the Old Cross Dike (Rd. 114).
In the 1960s, Headquarters, Tower and Picnic Ponds were separated from Mounds Pool using water control structures with risers to manage them individually. The name “Mounds” may come from the Native American midden mounds found on the refuge or from a family named Mounds that lived on the property. The other pool names are based on the features of the old headquarters site, the fire tower, and a picnic area built by the CCC.
In 1978-1981, funds from the Bicentennial Land Heritage Program were used to subdivide Stoney Bayou Pool into two impoundments (Stoney Bayou Pool #1 and #2) and Mounds Pool into three impoundments (Mounds #1, #2, and #3). The new cross dike was completed (Rd. 128). This improved the ability of the staff to manage these pools for specific wildlife objectives.
Read on here: the entire plan is on the refuge’s website – https://www.fws.gov/refuge/st-marks, then click on the Library button.
| | 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
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Bird Reports Assist Visitors
Don Morrow, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge volunteer and expert birder, creates concise bird-sighting reports on a week-to-week basis. Read his 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 Board of Directors, 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
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