Ridgefield Refuge missing from BirdFest

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Even though it served as a spark for partisan political comments during the day, the government closure didn’t seem to affect the spirit of the 14th annual BirdFest Nature Festival held Oct. 5-6 in Ridgefield.

Because of the closure of the federal government, the BirdFest celebration was not held at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Instead, Ridgefield bustled on a perfect weather day with a large crowd filtering through more than two dozen vendor and information booths outside at Davis Park in downtown Ridgefield and inside the Ridgefield Community Center.

Many vendors displayed their art created at or inspired by the refuge and the BirdFest itself, including camouflaged bird houses, wood carvings of fowl, refuge-themed metal sculptures and hundreds of professional photographs taken at the refuge.

At the larger Abrams Park, open tents housed the displaced Cathlapotle Plankhouse activities usually found on the refuge, and park trails substituted for the refuge trail system for guided walks, in their limited capacity. A shuttle was provided for transportation between Davis and Abrams parks. The Artwork of the Plankhouse, English Ivy Basketry, Track and Sign 101, Beginners Digital Photography and Bird Language workshops were all relocated to Abrams Park.

Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (FRWR) Treasurer Russ Roseberry estimated there were about 3,000 visitors over the weekend. Roseberry, holding several FRWR positions over the years, has been a key activist and supporter of BirdFest and the refuge.

“The kayakers on River ‘S’ and long canoes still ran, and the Audubon Society’s wild bird show is always a hit,” Roseberry said. “The biggest deal was closing the Sandhill Crane and River ‘S’ Bus tours. And there were other nature walks closed. Well, we don’t have access to the Carty Unit now.”

Storyteller and FRWR board member Nancy McQuillan entertained children with her stories of birds and animals as usual at the BirdFest storytelling tent in Davis Park. Every year, McQuillan offers 20 stories to people of all ages during BirdFest, but not necessarily at the refuge. Her station was scheduled for Davis Park this year. She sorely missed the refuge, however.

“I’ve taken the Sandhill Crane tour and it’s a life-changing event. Adults and their children (cranes) take off all at the same time and it’s amazing,” McQuillan said. “But to have the refuge not available, it’s like an upside-down world.”

McQuillan explained she usually takes the early morning tour before her storytelling begins. The tour participants must be situated behind blinds before dawn to see the spectacle as the cranes take off to feed and then are disbursed all day.

The sold-out Sandhill Crane tours were canceled this year, and all FRWR fundraiser funds returned to purchasers, Roseberry said.

Also closed was the popular River “S” Bus Tour, the River “S” Audubon Guided Bird Walk, the Bird Walk in the Carty Unit, the Cathlapotle Village Overview and Site Walk, Geo-Adventures and Ethnobotany Walk.

Beverly Arnoldy, FRWR board member, said they were following the news for a couple of weeks about the federal government closure, but it was not until Oct. 1 that it was clear the refuge would be closed. Coordination to relocate the events took a couple of days.

“Board members and all the volunteers worked to move all the (Cathlapotle Plankhouse event) stuff to tents Friday and Saturday morning,” Arnoldy said.

Roseberry said volunteers for the effort included family of some of the members, and even three or four (federal) refuge staff members.

Although most activities and speakers found new homes, the location of the Bird Language Workshop with Jon Young was questioned at near 1 p.m. Saturday when his talk was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Board members didn’t know if he would talk in Abrams Park or the Ridgefield Firehouse and were at a loss when visitors started to ask about the show at the information booth.

“If it’s at the firehouse, they don’t even have a key to get in,” Arnoldy said.



Later, Roseberry confirmed Young’s program showed at the firehouse.

FRWR Plankhouse Coordinator Sarah Hill gathered people for the BirdFest Animal Tracking Tour for a shorter tour at Abrams Park.

“We can’t do the same sort of activities here, of course,” she said, “The tour is only about an hour now ... there’s no beaver (on the Abrams Park trail).”

When asked how some of the activities changed because of the closure, Hill said, “Well there it is. The contents of the Plankhouse on a table.”

The Chinook lifestyle maintained its presence after the move to Abrams Park. Two-year president of the Oregon Archeology Society Dennis Torredal is a volunteer archeologist for Chinook sites at the refuge. He has demonstrated Chinook-style flintknapping — obsidian flaking techniques to make tools, arrowheads and knives — at BirdFest for six years.

“The turnout was quite eventful, considering the turn of events, “ he said. “The crowd was better today than when it rains at the plankhouse.”

Forester and Wildland Hydrologist Paul Rae manned the Cathlapotle Family Activities area explaining to visitors in depth about Chinook culture, their tools, beliefs and art.

He began his introduction to fresh visitors with, “I was going to say welcome to the plankhouse, but today it’s welcome to the tent.”

Rae was instrumental in the beginning of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, helping plan from 2003 through its construction and dedication in 2005. He has regularly given walking tours since then, including the one that was canceled this year on the Cathlapotle Village Overview and Site Walk.

Rae did not hide his disappointment in saying, “This doesn’t quite compare ... does not compare at all.”

Even after losing his voice in the afternoon from teaching, he continued voicing displeasure over the closure and government.

“There’s no excuse for it. It’s strictly politics,” he said.

He ended his discussion with visitors saying, “See you at the plankhouse next year.”

When a Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge park ranger was asked to comment on the closure of the park, he said, “My supervisor told me not to talk to anyone about it.” He said he wished to remain anonymous, and that he had been furloughed.

When another federal employee was asked to comment, she said, “I don’t think I can talk to you.”

She also wished to remain anonymous, although she worked with BirdFest sponsors, and FRWR, in a public capacity.