Wild Goose Tales

You're Invited

Who was Dave Marshall?

Dave Marshall (1926-2011) was an Oregonian who helped establish numerous federal wildlife refuges, including those of the Willamette Valley Refuge Complex. He also helped develop the Endangered Species Act and was a preeminent expert on Oregon birds. He co-authored Birds of Oregon.

March 1st - 31st (with online activities available throughout the year)!

A bilingual and accessible nature adventure hosted throughout the entire month of March and all across the mid-Willamette Valley! Everything is free with in-person events in your favorite nearby nature spots, including places you won't need a car to get to. Check our schedule and find an event near you.

2024's theme is Worlds Unseen.....think soil, moles, larva, spiders, insects, microbes, dragonflies, animal behavior, bird language and SO much more.

We are looking forward to seeing you this year! 

For information and activities visit Winter Wildlife Field Days

Learn about our Willamette Valley Refuges!

Visit the WVNWRC Friends

 YouTube Channel

The Friends present bilingual videos for viewing

Link to Friends YouTube Channel

In 2021 the O’Brien prize, a $2,500 award offered by the NWRA board, went to the Friends of Willamette Valley NWR Complex for their project ‘Bilingual Trail Videos.’

New Volunteers Jump in

 at Ankeny Hill Nature Center

Five new volunteers attended the February 2024 New Volunteer Orientation and signed up to help with both indoor and outdoor activities at the Nature Center! More than 50 Ankeny Hill Nature Center volunteers come from communities throughout the Willamette Valley including Salem, Corvallis, Monmouth and Albany to join the volunteer community at the Nature Center. Volunteers share ‘nature notes’ in this beautiful space and get behind the scenes looks at upcoming events.

If you missed the last volunteer orientation and would like to sign up for the next, no commitment orientation, please contact Pat (he/him/his) and Bobbie (she/her/hers) Allaire, Volunteer Coordinators at volunteer_manager@ankenyhillnaturecenter.org or call (541) 760-3700.

To learn more about the Nature Center check out https://www.ankenyhillnaturecenter.org/

The Nature Center gets busier each season. As more schools and groups discover that they can reserve the Gehlar Hall classrooms at no cost for nature and environmental education activities, the more volunteers are needed to maintain native plants, prepare materials and greet visitors.

This homeschool group reserved Gehlar Hall Classrooms for a day of exploration and nature journaling!

Notes from the Refuges

Project Updates

Progress on the Dave Marshall Classroom!

With support from the Friends, the Dave Marshall Classroom is almost finished! With rains filling the wetlands at the Refuge it’s neat to see the classroom’s footprint perched over Peregrine Marsh! Just imagine standing on the open grating at the end of the building, literally looking down into the water….It will be an incredible space to watch and be close to wildlife.

It is spring on the refuges!

THE WILD GOOSE STORE IS OPEN!

Photo by Lena Proebsting

In Memory Of

Cabell Lodge

In case you did not hear, we lost a historic structure on December 13, 2023 to fire at the William L. Finley NWR. The Cabell Lodge, built in 1912 by Henry C. Cabell to house his ranch manager, burned to the ground. Built in an eclectic Colonial Revival style with some Craftsman style features, this home also acted as a clubhouse for hunting guests. Purchased by the FWS in 1964, the lodge had served as our office from 1979-2009. Since then it has not been inhabited. Five fire departments arrived to fight the blaze, but when the flames were in the walls and attic, the fire captains told us there was not much more they could do. Staff watched as the building was consumed by fire.

Your Membership Matters!

Contribute Through BottleDrop to Support the Friends and your Refuges

Contribute through Bottle Drop

You can donate funds from your BottleDrop account balance to Friends of the WVNWRC account by logging into your account.

Log into your Bottle Drop account. Click Donate and search for Friends of the WVNWRC. Choose the amount from your balance that you would like to donate and Click on Donate Now!

If you don't yet have an account you can create one: BottleDrop

We are : Friends of the WVNWRC

Seeking Board Members!

We extend our invitation to you as active users of WVNWRC to consider this opportunity.

If you are interested, please contact Ron at secretary.friends@gmail.com

Friends Mission Statement 

Promoting the conservation of the natural resources of the refuge complex. Fostering awareness and appreciation of the complex through educational and recreational opportunities. Participating in activities that help the complex achieve its goals.