The Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. (FINWR) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and to helping the community understand its mission and goals.
Check out our bald eagle nest camera!
A bald eagle nest camera funded by Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge offers a captivating window into the lives of these majestic raptors. Streaming live footage of a nest above the refuge’s Cayuga Marsh, this camera provides bird enthusiasts and nature lovers a rare opportunity to observe bald eagles up close. With this cutting-edge technology, viewers can follow the eagles’ journey from any device with streaming capabilities.
FINWR Blog
35 pick up litter on Iroquois refuge
In a cleanup sponsored by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, 35 volunteers braved the elements Saturday morning to pick up litter at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The Spring Sweep was part of the annual Great Lakes CleanUP, in which thousands across the Great Lakes...
WNY Tonight features Friends group
Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge officers Dick Moss and Emma DeLeon were Bob Confer’s guests Wednesday, April 16, for an episode of WNY Tonight, a public access TV show out of Lockport. Their discussion topics included migrating and nesting birds, eagle...
Iroquois refuge manager Tom Roster retires
By Patti Singer High on Tom Roster’s to-do list when he arrived at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in November 2004 was getting Swallow Hollow Trail in shape and repairing the handicap-accessible boardwalk. “That was a very big and impressive project that had a lot...
Become a Volunteer
FINWR and the refuge are always in need of volunteers in a variety of areas, including the Flyway Nature Store, staffing at various events, information technology, trail maintenance and improvement, eagle nest camera moderators, nesting/banding programs, gardening and weeding, sponsorship and communications.
Annual Photo Contest 2024-2025
Photos taken at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Basom, New York, between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, are eligible. Winners will be chosen by a group of professional photographers from the Rochester area in adult (18 and older) and youth (17 and younger) divisions in three categories: birds, other wildlife, and landscapes, and a total of $1,000 in prizes will be awarded.
Make a Donation
Support FINWR by making a donation or becoming a sponsor today! Donations fund conservation, education, trails, docks, and many other projects at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
Conservation
Some of the projects funded by FINWR, like the pollinator meadow and the nesting programs, directly benefit the refuge’s varied wildlife. For instance, in 2024 the purple martin program provided 148 gourds, 126 of which fledged at least one bird, and a total of 500 purple martins were banded.
Become a Volunteer
FINWR and the refuge are always in need of volunteers in a variety of areas, including the Flyway Nature Store, staffing at various events, information technology, trail maintenance and improvement, eagle nest camera moderators, nesting/banding programs, gardening and weeding, sponsorship and communications.
15th Annual Photo Contest 2024-2025
Photos taken at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Basom, New York, between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, are eligible. Winners will be chosen by a group of professional photographers from the Rochester area in adult (18 and older) and youth (17 and younger) divisions in three categories: birds, other wildlife, and landscapes, and a total of $1,000 in prizes will be awarded.
Conservation
Some of the projects funded by FINWR, like the pollinator meadow and the nesting programs, directly benefit the refuge’s varied wildlife. For instance, in 2024 the purple martin program provided 148 gourds, 126 of which fledged at least one bird, and a total of 500 purple martins were banded.
Make a Donation
Support FINWR by making a donation or becoming a sponsor today! Donations fund conservation, education, trails, docks, and many other projects at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Richard Moss, President
Happy birthday to us!
The very first meeting of what was to become Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge occurred Dec. 7, 1999, when 12 people gathered to discuss ways to help the refuge. Meetings to draw up the bylaws happened in the following weeks, from January 18, 2000, to February 15, 2000. On Feb. 23, 2000, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge was officially incorporated as a 501(3)c by New York state, which makes this coming February the 25th anniversary of our founding. FINWR’s first annual meeting was held the following year, on Nov. 17, 2001.
Visit Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) has over 100,000 public trail visits each year. Come see the wild animals and enjoy the beauty of nature at the refuge. We have fun events and activities that bring you closer to the outdoors. Click the link to see what’s happening soon: Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Events. Join us for an exciting day out!
Staff interview: EMILY KELLY, PARK RANGER
Emily is the newest member of the refuge’s paid staff. Her most recent posting was with the Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Basom.