Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
E-Mail Blast11-2-10
E-Mail Blast

Welcome to the new format for the e-mail blast.  I have been having problems getting Comcast to send out my mass e-mailing, so I'm trying Constant Contact again.  I hope this gets to everyone.

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Just in Time for the Holidays!:

          The Gator Hole, the Friends Group Book and Nature Store at the Savannah NWR, will hold its first sale on December 3rd and 4th, just in time for all your holiday shopping.  With 20% off on all items, you can't afford to miss it!  We will also be offering gift certificates, gift memberships, and rain-checks at sale prices if we run out of the item you want.  The Gator Hole features nature-related shirts, hats, jewelry, posters and books as well as educational items for the kids on your list

gator hole signgator hole

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Todd Ballantine Presentation:

          At 7:00 PM on Wednesday November 17th, Todd Ballantine will give an educational presentation at Sun City titled "Critters that make their homes in Sun City".  The program is open to the public with an $8 admission charge.  Todd is a long-time friend of the refuges and a well-known local author and environmental advocate.  He provided considerable help with the new Visitor Center exhibits and is the author of a long-standing local best-seller Tideland Treasure.  For tickets or more info call Twila Gray at 843-705-5215 or e-mail [email protected]         


ballantineTT

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Focus on "Friends"

          Focus on "Friends" is a quarterly newsletter put out by Stacy Armitage at the F&WS Southeast Region.  The newsletter contains articles about and of interest to Friends group members, and a listing of Friends group events.   Check out the latest issue HERE.

 

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Photography Contest Winners Announced:

        The National Wildlife Refuge Association has announced the winners of the 2010 Refuge Photo Contest.  Chec k out the announcement and browse the winning photos HERE, and you photographers out there, watch out for the announcement for next year's contest.


photo winner

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Decorating your yard for the holidays
      The F&WS and your Friends group is planning our very first First Saturday on the Refuge eduactional activity for the Savannah NWR.  On Saturday, December 4th we will offer hands-on activities for kids on the theme of decorating your yard for wildlife for the holidays.  Mark the date, details to follow.
yard decoration

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Friends member reports:

          Tracy Toogood, a dedicated Friends group member and Visitor Center volunteer, sent in the following report.  Please follow her example and share your volunteer activities with us...


Friends group and Audubon members gathered early Monday morning, September 27 to witness Ranger Peter Range do what he does best... bird banding. At 7 am about a dozen of us gathered in the parking lot of the Savannah NWR Visitor's Center where we were given a brief summary about the process and shown some of the tools and accessories for banding birds.


We followed Peter into the woods where the capture nets were hung. There were no birds in the nets the first time we checked, but on the second inspection we found two birds, one common yellowthroat and one white-eyed vireo. The former, a young adult male, was banded first. We witnessed the process of measuring and calculating and theorizing that goes along with the detailed record made which are added to an ongoing database.


The older vireo put up a bit of a struggle but after it was released it hung out on a nearby tree for a short time. Several of us used this opportunity to get some good shots.

banding1
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Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
Rick Shields
President
www.coastalrefuges.org