Started on September 20th of this year, Refuge Watch is a wonderful blog showcasing the “News and Events From America’s National Wildlife Refuges”.
Why exactly are National Wildlife Refuges important? How about because they are home to:
- over 700 species of birds
- around 220 species of mammals
- approximately 250 reptile and amphibian species
- more than 200 species of fish
- over 250 threatened or endangered plants and animals
- used by millions of birds during spring and fall migrations
Little Blue Heron at Santa Ana NWR
All 50 states have at least one refuge and in total there are 548 National Wildlife Refuges. No matter where you live in the U.S. there is a refuge relatively nearby. The refuge system provides wonderful natural places for not just for birding but for photography, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, and other wildlife viewing. Without our refuges we would lose much more than great places to go birding.
This is why it is vital birders unite as one group to promote the importance of the National Wildlife Refuge system. It is up to us to convey the conservation message and to support proper funding for our wildlife refuges.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I love the NWR’s and I always try to visit them when I travel someplace new. At one point, I had a dream of visiting every NWR in the country. I want to visit every National Park, for sure, but the NWR dream hasn’t officially died yet.
I have that exact same dream!! Both of the NWRs and National Parks! That is way cool. Although I have a LONG way to go on both quests.
Thanks so much for pointing out my RefugeWatch blog.
And I too have had the dream of visiting all the refuges. I’ll have a chance to visit the first refuge — Pelican Island NWR in Florida — next month. Very excited about that.
Lisa: Great Job, I’ll be adding your blog to my reader…
Birdfreak team: Thanks for pointing out Refugewatch.org! I’m a novice birder and have learned so much from your blog, just wanted to thank you for publishing a great blog!
Lisa: Pelican Island NWR is high on my wish list! Have a great time!
Mike Barlow: Thanks for your kind words, and thanks for being a birder!