Archive for the 'Photo Friday' Category

Aug 13, 2010

Photo Friday: Refuge Rainbow

The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge contains more than 50 offshore islands and four coastal parcels, totaling more than 8,100 acres. The complex spans more than 250 miles of Maine coastline and includes five national wildlife refuges — Petit Manan, Cross Island, Franklin Island, Seal Island, and Pond Island.
Refuge islands provide habitat for common, [...]

Aug 06, 2010

Photo Friday: Piping Plover Chicks

It’s a tough world out there for piping plover chicks. These diminutive and well-camouflaged birds are sometimes trampled by beach goers, eaten by dogs, or found crushed in the wheel tracks of beach vehicles.
The adults create a nest scrape that is a depression in the sand somewhere on the high beach close to the [...]

Jul 30, 2010

Photo Friday: Youth Conservation Corps

Today’s image shows members of the Youth Conservation Corps removing invasive water chestnuts from Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
Water chestnut is an aggressive invasive aquatic plant from Asia. One acre of water chestnut can produce enough seeds to cover 100 acres the following year. Their long spines are sharp enough to [...]

Jul 02, 2010

Photo Friday: Relocating Sea Turtle Eggs

Sea turtle eggs are being removed from nests by responders on Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan calls for collecting about 70,000 turtle eggs in up to 800 nests buried in the sand across Florida’s Panhandle and Alabama beaches. The eggs will be relocated to an area [...]

Jun 04, 2010

Photo Friday: Seabirds Impacted by BP Oil Spill

Eight heartbreaking photos from the Associated Press showing seabirds literally covered in BP oil. The birds were on a beach on Louisiana’s East Grand Terre Island.
Despite Sarah Palin’s greed for more oil industry profits coming her way, oil drilling should never be allowed near the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for this very reason.

Mar 12, 2010

Photo Friday: Refuge System Anniversary

March 14 marks the 107th anniversary of the beginning of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which started with tiny Pelican Island NWR near Sebastian, Florida. And this photo captures the essence of the challenge for so many refuges — protecting habitat in the midst of development.

Feb 12, 2010

Photo Friday: Dogwood in Spring

If you’re like me, you’re very ready for this winter to be long gone. So for our Photo Friday offering, we have a beautiful woodland scene with a blossoming dogwood tree — to remind us that spring is coming to save us from the snow.

Feb 05, 2010

Photo Friday: Poisoned Albatross Chicks on Midway Islands

The Metro Santa Cruz newspaper is reporting that paint chips from an old Navy base on the Midway Islands is causing the deaths of thousands of threatened Laysan albatross chicks, who are dying of lead poisoning. UC–Santa Cruz assistant researcher Myra Finkelstein did a study that provided evidence that paint chips from an abandoned U.S. [...]

Jan 08, 2010

Photo Friday: Eagle Surveys

At this time of year, some wildlife refuges perform mid-winter eagle surveys. They’re a great way to keep track of the local eagle population. Check with your local refuge to see if you can volunteer to join a mid-winter eagle survey.

Jan 01, 2010

Photo Friday: Best Wishes for the New Year

As the sun rises on a new year, here’s hoping that in the new decade, America’s wildlife species receive the protection and consideration they need to face the many challenges that lie ahead.

Dec 24, 2009

Photo Friday: Happy Holidays!

I’m posting “Photo Friday” a day early to say I hope all our readers, as well as the volunteers, supporters and staff in the National Wildlife Refuge System, have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Dec 04, 2009

Photo Friday: Cutting Xmas Trees on NWRs

Several national wildlife refuges offer “cut your own” tree events, including Kenai NWR in Alaska, Rydell NWR in Minnesota, and Moosehorn NWR in Maine. Check with the refuge before visiting to learn of any restrictions and to find out if a permit is required.