One of four "Refuge Week" display cases highlighting Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System installed in local libraries by the Friends of Great Swamp NWR. Photo by Friends of Great Swamp NWR 10/2008.

Group gathers to identify birds as part of Great Swamp NWR's "Big Sit!", an annual Refuge Week event. Sixty-three species of birds were observed in 2008, up from 59 the previous year. Photo by Friends of Great Swamp NWR 10/2008.

Large group gathers to observe waterfowl returning to Refuge impoundment at sunset during Refuge Week "Sunset Walk". Photo by Friends of Great Swamp NWR 10/2008.

Group of volunteers led by Refuge Biologist Craig Bitler spent several hours removing old fence from reclaimed homesite during one of the Refuge's frequent "Homestead Cleanup" events. Photo by Friends of Great Swamp NWR 10/2008.

The Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge celebrated the 2008 National Wildlife Refuge Week with a variety of events and programs. To highlight National Wildlife Refuge Week, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the Friends filled display cases in four area libraries with a variety of photos, brochures, posters, decoys, and other materials. Then, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on October 12, the Friends hosted The Big Sit! to kick off the week’s activities. This year, the Friends decided to make this a fund-raising event seeking pledges for the number of species recorded during the 24-hour period. More than $1,200 was raised and a total of 63 species of birds were recorded, up from last year’s total of 59 species. That same Sunday afternoon, the Friends’ hosted their regular Second Sunday program for 34 visitors with a slide show presentation on non-flowering plants¾ferns, lichens, fungi¾followed by a guided walk to identify these various plant species in the field. Sunday evening was the first in a week-long series of Sunset Walks, guided walks into the Management Area of the Refuge to witness the hundreds of migrating ducks who flock into the impoundment areas to spend the night. The weather was beautiful every night with a full moon rising on October 14 as the ducks settled into the marsh. In addition to seven different species of ducks, sightings were also recorded for snipe, herons, egrets, hawks and owls. A total of 131 visitors joined the Friends for the Sunset Walks with 14 volunteers donating 50 hours to the week-long program of walks. On Saturday, October 18, a Homestead Cleanup was scheduled. Sixteen volunteers spent the morning pulling fence from an old sheep farm that has recently become part of the Refuge. The morning’s work was followed by hot dogs on the grill for all volunteers. All in all, it was a very successful and rewarding National Wildlife Refuge Week.