This year was a whirlwind of activity as Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge staff, friends, volunteers and neighbors celebrated the National Wildlife Refuge System centennial and Missisquoi's 60th anniversary. Starting with two staff and a Friends board member participating in the centennial celebration at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and continuing through the year, the staff did a super job of spreading the word. Recognition of the refuge, the system, and the Service has grown monumentally as a result. Events included a centennial ceremony, International Migratory Bird Day, special recognition by the U.S. Postal Service at a special cancellation event, a very well attended kids fishing derby, a Junior Federal Duck Stamp contest, Junior Waterfowl Hunter training and a groundbreaking ceremony for a new refuge headquarters and visitor facility.

The groundbreaking was a popular event and featured both of Vermont's senators, Sens. Jim Jeffords and Patrick Leahy. Construction is now underway for completion in October 2004. The local newspaper covered the celebrations throughout the year including a four page insert in September. Waterfowl hunting and training programs at the refuge were featured in two Vermont Outdoors television episodes, which aired repeatedly throughout the year.

Not surprisingly, visits to the refuge for environmental education, nature walks, hunting, fishing and paddling continue to increase. The refuge was proud to be the featured field trip for the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society in September and was honored to host the Promises Implementation Team and Leadership Development Council at a Friends of the Missisquoi-sponsored field trip and cookout in October 2002 (the first month of the federal 2003 fiscal year).

Refuge habitats once again supported one of the largest great blue heron rookeries in the region, protected the entire Vermont black tern nesting population and played a highly significant role in the recovery of ospreys, which are state-listed as threatened in Vermont. Tens of thousands of waterfowl visited the refuge during the annual migrations and feasted on one of the most prolific crops of wild rice produced in years. Refuge staff continue to be engaged with environmental and civic organizations in efforts to improve water quality, wetland protection, community development and environmental education.

Archaeological survey work continued in conjunction with Route 78 improvement plans and further clarified the understanding and significance of Native American history on the refuge and its surrounds. Over 50,000 artifacts, some dating back as much as 7,000 years, have been unearthed.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast