📷 Haystack Rock is designated as wilderness for seabirds and marine mammals at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon | Roy W. Lowe/USFWS
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious 2023 O'Brien Prize for Refuge Friends. This annual honor recognizes the outstanding efforts of Refuge Friends Groups, who work tirelessly to protect and enhance the natural wonders of our national wildlife refuges.
This year's winners are the Friends of Haystack Rock, a dedicated community of conservationists committed to preserving and safeguarding the intertidal life and avian residents of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. The Refuge Association proudly supports the Friend's "Midtown Interpretive Kiosk" project with a generous $6,000 grant from the O'Brien Prize.
Offshore rocks along the southern Oregon coast | Peter Pearsall/USFWS
The Midtown Interpretive Kiosk project is an innovative initiative that will serve as a beacon of knowledge and conservation in the community. The kiosk, featuring three educational panels nestled within a three-sided aluminum structure, will be positioned at a bustling beach access point in mid-town Cannon Beach. This location attracts over 75,000 visitors each summer, making it the perfect spot to inspire and educate visitors about the refuge.
The Friends of Haystack Rock are committed to education and outreach, and their work has drawn an astonishing 400,000 visitors worldwide to their beloved refuge each year. They host mesmerizing wildlife viewing events, provide essential literature about the refuge to local businesses and hospitality partners, and support various refuge-related educational programs. Their annual conservation lecture series gathers experts and enthusiasts who delve into pressing topics in the realm of conservation, ensuring that the spirit of preservation reaches all corners of the community.
Tufted puffin | Robin Corcoran/USFWS
The 2023 O'Brien Prize for Refuge Friends is a resounding celebration of the accomplishments of the Friends of Haystack Rock and a tribute to the pivotal role played by Friends Groups in safeguarding our national wildlife refuges. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this extraordinary journey and support the incredible work done by Friends Groups across our country in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Our heartfelt congratulations go out to the Friends of Haystack Rock for their outstanding efforts and unwavering dedication to the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge Association looks forward to seeing the Midtown Interpretive Kiosk project come to fruition and the positive impact it will undoubtedly have on the community.