Join us as a "Friend of Pool 9"
Friends of Pool 9 Offer Unique Experiences for Volunteers
Part of the mission of the Friends of Pool 9, Upper Mississippi Refuge, Inc. is to provide unique, fun, and educational experiences for it’s members (membership is free.) The experiences come through volunteer efforts and occur in a variety of ways. To volunteer for any of these activities, contact Tim Loose , a member of the Friends of Pool 9 and the Wildlife Refuge Specialist, at the McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Tim’s phone number is 563-873-3423, Ext. 11 or he can be e-mailed at Tim_Loose@fws.gov.
Pool Wide Cleanup Day – Saturday, April 21, 2007
This year’s Pool Wide Cleanup Day has been set for Saturday, April 21st and volunteers are invited to make plans for a very busy, beneficial and enjoyable day on the 31 mile stretch of Mississippi River between Lock & Dam 9 and Lock & Dam 8. Volunteers should sign up in advance by contacting their site coordinators. Genoa, Mark Clements (608)689-2800, Black Hawk Park, Tom Novak (608)648-3314, Ferryville & Lynxville, Mark Schneden (608) 874-4478, New Albin, Al Wuennecke (563)544-4929, Lansing, Ric Zarwell (563) 538-4991, Heytmans, LaDonna & Dave Noelting (563)586-2873 or contact Friends President John Verdon , at 563-538-4836 or e-mail at PJVriverhouse@msn.com
Annual Membership Picnic and Business Meeting
Saturday, July 14th 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Gus Kerndt VFW Hall on the Waterfront.
Eagle Nest Activity and Productivity Surveys
March 28 - April 6 and May 19 – June 3
Assist Refuge personnel with a systematic pool wide search for active bald eagle nests (March 28 – April 6). This survey takes approximately 5 days to complete. Volunteers typically go along for one day. Then in late-May approximately half of the nest originally located during the Activity Survey are revisited to determine the number of eaglets that successfully made it to the fledging stage(ready to attempt first flight). This survey takes about 3 days to complete. Contact Tim Loose for further information.
Frog and Toad Survey
April - July
Have you ever wondered what all those sounds in the night were? Then you might want to consider tagging along with a pair of experienced volunteers on this year’s Frog and Toad Survey. Each Survey last 3-4 hours and is completed 3 times between April and July. For more information about the survey contact Tim Loose. The US Fish and Wildlife Service coordinates the surveys on the Refuge and then provides the information to the States.
Mourning Dove Survey
One Morning Between May 20 and May 31
This survey is best suited for an early morning person who is willing to drive to Chaseburg, Wisconsin, and be there by the start time of 5:00 a.m. The survey takes about 2 hours to complete, plus drive time. Volunteers will drive a 20-mile route stopping every mile and listening for 3 minutes. Every mourning dove that you hear will be counted as well as all the doves seen along the route. The survey needs to be completed with the temperature above 50 degrees on a day when it is not raining and the wind velocity is below 12 miles per hour - hence the range of dates above.
You do not have to have any birding skills to ride along on this survey. The Refuge Specialist will have a wealth of information to share about the wildlife seen along the way.
Bittern and Rail Survey
Month of June
This survey is expected to be a combination of driving and walking or possibly even boating, depending upon how the survey routes are set up. The survey starts about sunrise and takes 2 to 3 hours. Vocal recordings of rail and bittern species are played and then the participant listens for a reply. Complete training will be provided. Everyone is invited but preference would be for participants who would be interested in conducting these surveys for several years. Very little is known about the current population status of these species on the refuge.
Heron Rookery Productivity Count
May 19- June 3
Volunteers will assist Refuge staff in estimating the number of young produced in the two active Heron Rookeries in Pool 9. It takes about one half day per rookery to complete. Approximately 20% of the nests need to be located and counted to complete the estimate. The largest rookery is located near Blackhawk Park and contains about 700-800 nests. A smaller rookery is located in the Reno Bottoms and contains about 150 nests.
This can be a little more work than some of the other surveys. Depending on river water levels, volunteers might need chest waders. Bug spray, hats, and safety glasses are recommended (depending upon your size, some chest waders and glasses are available.) It is a rare occasion, according to the refuge specialist, but every once in a while the birds in the nests can send an airmail package as a nervous response to your presence. It is always wise to be prepared!
Aquatic Vegetation, Snail and Invertebrate Surveys
Conducted intermittently late July through mid September all day
The Refuge needs volunteers to help record data. In the process you can learn about the various species being sampled. These surveys can sometimes be repetitious and somewhat tedious, but are a very educational experience for the right person, who knows how to relax and just enjoy the day. Dates depend somewhat on the phenology of the organisms.
6TH Annual Rivers and Bluffs Fall Birding Festival
November 9-11, 2007 - Planning begins in late June, early July
Creators of this festival, Ric and Betty Zarwell, need volunteers from the Friends of Pool 9 to help with many aspects of this Festival. This is an important event that has grown each year. In 2005 281 people from 9 states attended the festival. Here is a quick profile of the visitors that the festival draws: 56% came from at least 120 miles away; 72% from over 60 miles. Sixty-four percent had either 2 or 3 overnight stays in the community; 50% indicated that they spent over $150 in the community during the weekend. A significant number, 11%, spent more than $300 here during the weekend. Festival participants have returned at other times of the year. This Festival is now well-known nationally.
All proceeds from the silent and live auctions are donated to the Friends of Pool 9 to help with resource conservation projects on or adjacent to Pool 9 in the Upper Mississippi River.
Volunteers can help with brochures, arranging for auctioneers and music, coordinating the tours, booking speakers for the presentations, staffing registration tables at the event, etc. For more information on the tasks involved, call Ric or Betty at 563-538-4991 or e-mail at Ric.Zarwell@mchsi.com or B.Zar@mchsi.com.
Work Crews for Hiking and Canoe Trails, Observation Decks, Landings, Photo Blinds, etc.
During the next few years the Refuge will be considering the creation of several of the above structures or facilities. If you or a service group (Scouts, School, Church, 4-H, etc.) are interested in helping to layout and/or construct these facilities, contact Tim Loose (see first paragraph above.) The Refuge would like to begin now to create a database of available and interested individuals or groups.
Newsletter Writers
Quarterly
The Otter’s Tale is the official newsletter of the Friends of Pool 9. Volunteers are needed to help write and edit articles. Potential columns could be a Kid’s Corner, volunteer highlights, creature feature, historic perspective (articles or interviews with people who grew up on the river and who can share their insight on the changes that have occurred), resource issues, calendar of events, recognition, etc. If interested in writing an article for the newsletter contact Tim Loose or John Verdon.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the activities of the Friends of Pool 9, Upper Miss Refuge, Inc., the nonprofit organization formed to encourage public participation in restoration and preservation work at the Refuge, and to foster public use and enjoyment of the Refuge and the Upper Mississippi River, contact President John Verdon, at 563-538-4836 or e-mail at PJVriverhouse@msn.com or write us at the Friends of Pool 9, PO Box 455, Lansing, IA 52151