MISSISSIPPI
SANDHILL CRANE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE RE-OPENS ON MAY 13,
2008 @ 12:00 NOON

The Mississippi Sandhill
Crane National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce that
after a long wait since Hurricane Katrina, it will
officially open up it new Visitor Center to the public beginning
May 13, 2008 at 12:00 noon. We sincerely hope you will be
able to visit their new Visitor Center with its wonderful
exhibits.
To obtain directions and
learn more about the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National
Wildlife Refuge, please visit their website by clicking
here.
To see how you can become
a Friend of the Refuge and support their mission, please click
here.
The Southeastern Wildlife
Conservation Group and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR
truly appreciate your support.
REFUGE
FRIENDS VISIT CAPITAL HILL

Approximately 150 Refuge
Friends representing more than 100 national wildlife refuges
and wetland management districts in 36 states visited
Capitol Hill on April 7. They talked with Congressional
staff and, in some cases, members of the House of
Representatives, providing information about the national
wildlife refuges that are important in their local
communities. Representing the Mississippi Sandhill Crane
National Wildlife Refuge was Southeastern Wildlife
Conservation Group President Mr. Mark Langner and US Fish
and Wildlife Service Park Ranger Ms. Emily Neidigh.
In addition, over the weekend prior to their visit to
Capital Hill, the Refuge Friends had attended the
"Friends for the Future" national conference,
sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
National Wildlife Refuge Association. The conference – the
largest ever held – was a prime time for Refuge Friends to
learn about current issues and exchange ideas for a host of
programs.
This conference and the
trip to Capital Hill was very important for the continued
growth of the relationship between the Southeastern Wildlife
Conservation Group and the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Mississippi Sandhill Crane, Grand Bay and Bon Secour
National Wildlife Refuges. The USFWS’s work is of utmost
importance and continues to be one of the least funded
agencies.
To find out more and how
you can help support these three Gulf Coast Refuge’s,
please visit our website "Projects" link.
Spanish
Fort Elementary Assists in Sand Dune Restoration at Bon
Secour National Wildlife Refuge
The
SWCG coordinated with Project Jubilee teacher, Ms. Nadia
Hamade, to get the Spanish Fort Elementary (Spanish Fort, AL)
Project Jubilee Classes involved in hands on conservation
activities associated with our Cooperative Agreement with the
US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The students, grades 3rd – 5th,
traveled to the Bon Secour NWR on March 12, 2008 to learn
vital conservation education and to actively assist in sand
dune restoration.
USFWS representatives (Refuge Manager, Mr. Jereme
Phillips and Public Outreach Coordinator, Mr. Doug Hunt) and
Refuge Volunteer Ms. Claudia Frosch educated the students on
the sand dune ecosystem, endangered sea turtles and the
endangered Alabama Beach Mouse. The US Fish and Wildlife
Service provided a hands-on experience where students got to
learn about sea turtle nest identification and nest recording
procedures. Students were then given the chance to locate eggs
and protect a “mock” sea turtle nest. In addition to this
exercise, the students physically participated in sand dune
restoration by planting over 750 sea oats and other native
dune plants which were provided by the Friends of Bon Secour.
The Southeastern Wildlife Conservation Group is very pleased
to have been able to help coordinate this much needed
conservation education activity with Spanish Fort Elementary.
Not only were we able to educate the students on conservation
issues, but were also able to get the students to physically
participate in being a part of the solution. Due to the
success of this event, the school is very much interested in
making this experience a repeat activity.
The SWCG needs your help to continue to provide these types of
educational activities. Please become a member today and help
join our cause. |