Virginia rail at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, MN | Mike Budd/USFWS.
Dear George,
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As April and Earth Month come to a close, we are feeling deeply grateful—and honestly, a little overwhelmed—in the best way possible. This year’s Spring Campaign has been one of our most successful yet. We’ve raised $89,000 toward our $100,000 goal, and we’re so close to crossing the finish line!
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And the response hasn’t stopped. Even as the campaign officially wrapped up, your support kept coming—through additional donations, new Wildlife GEMs, and messages from so many of you asking how else you can help. In a time when conservation often feels like an uphill battle, your energy and commitment remind us why this work matters and that we are not alone.
If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, there’s still time. Every donation—no matter the size—helps fuel our mission to protect, promote, and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System. You can make a gift or have a greater impact by becoming a Wildlife GEM helping us secure sustained funding for the road ahead, and helping us close the $11,000 gap.
This Earth Month also brought moments of celebration and connection. On Earth Day, we hosted a vibrant screening of Garden of the Glades: A Week at Conservation Ranger Camp in Palm Beach, Florida, for our Wild About Wildlife supporters. We followed that with a screening at the Sunscreen Film Festival in St. Petersburg and a regional PBS airing. If you caught the film, we hope it inspired you as much as the young conservationists it features.
Our Urban Wildlife Refuge Program in South Florida continues to grow in exciting ways. The first of our floating wetlands—installed at South Tech Academy—is thriving, and already students are using it across subjects and clubs to connect with nature. Our Pocket Refuges are also flourishing. With several new plantings scheduled this spring, we’re bringing pollinator-friendly native plants to schools and neighborhoods across the country. If you’re in South Florida, we’d love to see you at our next Pocket Refuge planting this Saturday, May 3. Reach out if you’d like to join us!
We also recently spent a powerful day on a pre-ranger camp field trip with students from Belle Glade, some of whom may soon attend this year’s 2025 Conservation Ranger Camp at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Their curiosity and energy are constant reminders of why we do this work.
And there’s more: the 2025 O’Brien Prize is now open for applications! Refuge Friends groups can submit proposals for grants of up to $6,000 by Friday, May 30. It’s a great opportunity to support on-the-ground projects that strengthen refuges and their communities.
Refuge Strong! We’re excited to share that our Refuge Strong merchandise is now officially available. Show your unity with the National Wildlife Refuge System—and your support for refuges nationwide—by wearing Refuge Strong and Hatchery Strong gear. From hats to t-shirts to sweatshirts, every purchase helps fund the work of the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates. Plus you’ll look super cool!
Share your Refuge Strong photos with us using #RefugeStrong!
As we wrap up Earth Month, I’m writing to you from Washington, D.C., where we’re in the thick of a very busy week on Capitol Hill. Budget reconciliation is in full swing, and we are actively fighting to secure critical funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Your voices and support continue to power our advocacy.
Thank you—for giving, for showing up, and for standing strong for wildlife and the places they call home. Together, we are building a stronger future for national wildlife refuges.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is thrilled to welcome Natalie Balaguer as our new South Florida Regional Partnership Specialist! Based in her home region, Natalie is already making waves across South Florida by reinvigorating partnerships and stewarding exciting conservation initiatives through the Urban Wildlife Refuge Program.
Something exciting has touched down in Roswell— and this time, it’s not from another planet. The National Wildlife Refuge Association is thrilled to welcome Marianne Kelso as our new biologist at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), where she’s bringing her skills, smarts, and species-saving know-how to southeastern New Mexico’s Pecos River watershed.
Across the United States, the National Wildlife Refuge System protects more than 850 million acres of lands and waters where wildlife comes first. These refuges are places where endangered species find sanctuary, birds migrate safely, and families connect with nature. But today, that system is in crisis.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is seeking a passionate and community-focused Urban Community Engagement Specialist to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program in the Northeast through our Urban Wildlife Refuge Program.
Garden of the Glades: A Week at Conservation Ranger Camp is a 30-minute documentary film following summer camp students at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Refuge Supporters are invited to watch the film for the first time.
The April edition of the Birding Community E-bulletin has arrived! You will find your favorite columns, including Rarity Focus, Access Matters, and Tip of the Month.
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Refuge Friends Corner
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for not one, but two incredible Refuge Friends webinars this April! We’re so grateful to our presenters and attendees for helping make these sessions engaging, informative, and inspiring. If you missed them, be sure to check CORFA’s website for recordings and resources. We’ll be sharing details about May’s webinar very soon—stay tuned!
A reminder that the 2025 O’Brien Prize is now open for proposals! This annual grant opportunity awards up to $6,000 to Refuge Friends groups for impactful, community-driven projects. Applications are due by Friday, May 30, and we can’t wait to see your ideas.
And don’t forget—our Refuge Strong merchandise is live! Whether you’re looking to represent your refuge pride or support fellow Friends groups, our new merchandise line featuring Refuge Strong and Hatchery Strong designs is a great way to do both. Proceeds benefit the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates.
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Are you a part of a Refuge Friends group and are not yet enrolled in our Refuge Friends email list? Please subscribe here.Â
Tucked along the tidal coast of southern Connecticut, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge spans over 950 acres across ten distinct units. From salt marshes and barrier beaches to maritime forests and offshore islands, this refuge protects a critical mosaic of coastal habitats in one of the nation’s most densely populated regions. Named for the late Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, who championed conservation during his time in office, the refuge plays an outsized role in safeguarding wildlife and providing access to nature in New England.
Positioned along the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge is a seasonal haven for thousands of migratory birds. Endangered roseate terns nest on offshore islands while American black ducks, snowy egrets, and great blue herons frequent the tidal wetlands and mudflats. In spring and fall, the air buzzes with songbirds moving between trees and thickets, resting on their journeys to and from distant breeding grounds. Birders and biologists alike flock to these units to observe rare species and long-established rhythms of movement.
Each of the refuge’s ten units tells a unique story—of land conserved, restored, and sustained. The Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook houses the refuge headquarters and features interpretive trails winding through restored salt marshes and upland fields. Outer island units, including Falkner Island and Sheffield Island, are protected for nesting seabirds and require special permits or partnerships to visit, but their conservation importance is immense. Together, these scattered parcels form a network of protected places along the Connecticut coast.
The refuge is not only a sanctuary for birds but also for native plants and pollinators. Spring brings an eruption of wildflowers and blooming shrubs that support butterflies and native bees, while marsh grasses and coastal vegetation play an essential role in filtering water and buffering against storm surges. As climate change increasingly threatens coastal communities, the refuge also serves as a natural line of defense—demonstrating how conservation and resilience can go hand in hand.
Stewart B. McKinney NWR also serves as a place of education and connection. Environmental education programs invite local students into the marshes to learn about food webs, water quality, and the importance of habitat conservation. Community science efforts—from bird banding to coastal cleanups—encourage residents to become stewards of their environment, many of whom return season after season to see the difference their actions make.
Supporting these efforts is the Friends of Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, a passionate volunteer group committed to connecting the public to the refuge’s mission. Through community outreach, event coordination, habitat restoration, and educational programming, the Friends play a vital role in enhancing the refuge experience and ensuring its protection for generations to come. Thanks to their stewardship, the refuge remains not just a haven for wildlife, but a treasured part of Connecticut’s coastal community.
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National Wildlife Refuge Association 1701 K Street NW, Suite 550 Washington, DC 20006 United States
 Virginia rail at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, MN | Mike Budd/USFWS.
