Archive of Events
February 2007
- Saturday, February 17: Volunteer workday at the Bayou Pierre Unit.
- Tuesday, February 27: Board meeting
March 2007
- Tuesday, March 27: Board meeting
April 2007
- Tuesday, April 24: Board meeting
May 2007
- Wednesday, May 2: Bossier Earth Day at the Bossier Civic Center
- Thursday, May 3: General membership meeting
Time:
6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
7:00 p.m. - Business Meeting & ProgramPlace:
Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Speakers: Russell and Diane Cappo
Program: The J. Bennett Johnston Visitor Center; the history of the Red River Valley; the mission of the Corps of Engineers here; and environmental education in the Ark-La-Tex area.
- Saturday, May 5: Spring on the Refuge
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Place:
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters Unit
555 Sunflower Road
Bossier City, LARefuge Alliance members and friends (if you're receiving this newsletter, you're a friend) are invited to come out and enjoy a spring day on the refuge. The birds are singing, the butterflies are fluttering, and the wildflowers are blooming. In the pecan orchard, there are roads and the levee to walk. If you'd like a longer hike, you can take the road through the fields to the lake. Maps of the refuge will be available and Alliance members will be on hand to answer questions.
Dennis Forshee, Alliance member and Wild Bird Center owner, will lead a bird walk starting at 8:30 a.m. Meet in front of the office at 8:20 a.m.
Bring the children, your binoculars and your camera. It's Louisiana, so you may need insect repellant. Bring some lawn chairs and a lunch and sit and visit awhile.
Bottled water will be available at $1.00 per bottle or you're welcome to bring your own drinks. T-shirts with the Refuge Alliance logo will be on sale at $10.00 for members and $12.00 for nonmembers. There will be free handouts of posters, refuge brochures, and the like. There is a restroom on site.
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road; the gravel/dirt road through the gate across the cattle gap leads into the refuge.
- Friday-Saturday, May 18-19: Water Resources Festival at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City
August 2007
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Red River Refuge Alliance General Membership Meeting
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2007
Time: 6:30 p.m. Social & Refreshment
6:45 p.m. Business Meeting & ProgramPlace: Bossier Parish Library Historical Center
2206 Beckett Street
Bossier City, LA 71111
(318) 746-7717Please note the change in location for this month's meeting. We will return to the Broadmoor Library for the annual general membership meeting in October.
Speaker: Jeffrey Girard
Regional Archaeologist
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Northwestern State University of LAProgram: The Conly Site--a 7,500-year-old Camp on Loggy Bayou
The Conly site is one of the oldest human habitations investigated in the southeastern United States; and contains the oldest human burials yet discovered in Louisiana. Because it was buried under nearly 12 feet of Red River clay, the remains of animal and plant foods used by the inhabitants are preserved in remarkably good condition. Known since the late 1970s when landowner Bill Conly brought it to the attention of archaeologists, the site, located on the banks of Loggy Bayou in Bienville Parish, had not been extensively studied prior to 1999. Loggy Bayou is the name given to the lower portion of Bayou Dorcheat, a major tributary of Red River.
After the construction of Lock and Dam No. 4 on the Red River near Coushatta, the water levels rose in Loggy Bayou, making the site easily accessible to treasure hunters and subjecting it to accelerated erosion. In 1999, nearby landowner Skipper Dickson, concerned about the preservation of the site, contacted Regional Archeologist Jeff Girard. Facilitated by the efforts of Skipper Dickson and the Regional Archeology Program, funding was secured from the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stabilize the site. The Conly family donated an archeological conservation servitude, and in 2003, a rock retaining wall was placed over the exposed areas by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Both the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw, who consider the site to have cultural and religious significance for their people, were actively involved in plans for the stabilization of the site.
September 2007
Outdoor Festival
Saturday, September 8, Noon to 8:00 p.m.
Belle Park Baptist Church
13061 Hwy 157, Haughton, LA 71037
For directions, call the church at 318-949-2512.The Annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies
Saturday, September 15, 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds
For more information and schedule of events: Celebration of ButterfliesBayou Bodcau 27th Annual Wildlife & Forestry Festival
Saturday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bayou Bodcau Reservoir (From Shreveport, LA, 20 miles east on I-20, then north on LA 157 to Bellevue, 2 miles north on a county road.)
For more information:
US Army Corps of Engineers, 318-949-1804 ext. 101
October 2007
- Thursday, October 4: Annual Meeting
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
3rd Annual National Wildlife Refuge Week Celebration
Saturday, October 20, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.This will be a FREE fun-filled family event... Nature walks, children's activities, live wildlife, exciting demonstrations, door prizes, and more!
Location: 555 Sunflower Rd. in Bossier City (off Hwy. 71, dead end of Sunflower Rd.).
January 2008
-
People's Choice Photo Contest Winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Red River National Wildlife Refuge Celebration People's Choice Photo Contest.
Adult:
- First Place - Jeff Trahan, Shreveport, LA
- Second Place - William Koff, Bossier City, LA
- Third Place - Roy Henderson, Shreveport, LA
Youth:
- First Place - Jessica Koff, Bossier City, LA
- Second Place - Jessica Koff, Bossier City, LA
- Third Place - Greg Simmons, Mansfield, LA
Children:
- First Place - Alex Menasco, Shreveport, LA
- Second Place - Alex Menasco, Shreveport, LA
- Third Place - Alex Menasco, Shreveport, LA
For more information about the photo contest, see the Contest Overview.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
General Membership Meeting
Time: 6:30 p.m.: Social & Refreshment
6:45 p.m.: Business Meeting & ProgramLocation: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Speaker: Steven Gabrey
Associate Professor of Biology
Northwestern State University of LASteven received his PhD from LSU and has been teaching at NSU since 1999. He teaches ornithology, wildlife management and botany/forestry. He has had a federal "master bander" permit since 2000, and has been involved in banding a variety of species from ducks to Herring and Ring-billed Gulls to Seaside Sparrows and other songbirds. Steven is a charter member of the Red River Refuge Alliance and is Secretary of the Board of Directors.
Program: Birds with Bracelets: Bird banding, who does it, how do they do it, and why.
People have been putting small metal bracelets on wild birds' legs since the 16th century. These simple bands have evolved into one of the most important tools for biologists to study nearly every aspect of bird biology from discovering migration routes to learning about life expectancy. Join the Alliance for this introduction to the fascinating world of birdbanding.
We will also have a short wrap-up discussion of the October 20th Refuge Week event.
February 2008
-
Great Backyard Bird Count
at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, February 16, 2008Invitation: You are invited to help count birds at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge during the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Where: Red River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Unit
555 Sunflower Road
Bossier City, LA 71112When: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: The Red River Refuge Alliance, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Wild Bird Center of Shreveport.
Admission: FREE! Donations to the Red River Refuge Alliance to support refuge projects are gratefully accepted.
Who may attend: The public is invited, so bring your friends and family.
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road; the gravel/dirt road through the gate across the cattle gap leads into the refuge. The Headquarters Unit is currently closed to the public except for special events, such as the Great Backyard Bird Count event.
Contact: Nancy Menasco, nmenasco@redriverrefugealliance.org, (318) 868-3255 (Shreveport)
About the Great Backyard Bird Count:
The GBBC is an annual four-day event and is a joint project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This year's count takes place from February 15-18. Join the thousands of people of all ages and levels of birdwatching experience who will be counting birds in their backyards, at a local wildlife refuge, in a local park or wherever birds are to be found throughout the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit the GBBC website at www.birdcount.org
Schedule of Activities:
8:00 a.m. - Breakfast with the Birds. Join us for doughnuts, shade-grown coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate.
8:15 a.m. - Bird Walk. Children welcome accompanied by an adult.
All Day - Feeder watch, walking trails, informal refuge tours. Expert birders will be on hand all day to help with identification.
Loaner binoculars will be available.
March 2008
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Red River Refuge Alliance General Membership Meeting
Date: Monday, March 3, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
6:45 p.m. - Business Meeting & Program
Place: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105
Speaker: Maggie Hodge, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Northwestern State University
Program: "Life on a Silk Thread: The Fascinating World of Spiders." Learn about spider biology, behavior and ecology, common Louisiana spiders, common misconceptions about spiders, and the Louisiana Spider Survey. -
Breakfast with the Birds (Rescheduled)
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, March 15, 2008, 8:00 a.m-2:00 p.m.
Sponsors: Red River Refuge Alliance, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Wild Bird Center of ShreveportContact - Nancy Menasco, 868-3255 (H/W), nmenasco@redriverrefugealliance.org
This event was rained out in February and has been rescheduled. Come visit the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Bossier City. Walk the trails in the pecan grove or try out the new trail along the river. The event will be canceled in case of rain.Schedule of Activities:
8:00 a.m. until - Breakfast with the Birds. Doughnuts, shade-grown coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate.8:15 a.m. - Bird Walk with Dennis Forshee. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
All Day - Feeder watch, walking trails, informal refuge tours.
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road; the gravel/dirt road through the gate across the cattle guard leads into the refuge. You'll see the Red River National Wildlife Refuge entrance sign as you enter. The Headquarters Unit is currently closed to the public except for special events, such as Breakfast with the Birds.