Our Mission
Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. (FINWR), has about 150 members and is a nonprofit corporation organized by volunteers dedicated to supporting the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) via fundraising, education, enhancement and preservation of the refuge and its wildlife. The group does not have any paid staff and relies on volunteer help, donations, sponsorships and sales from the Flyway Nature Store in the refuge Visitors Center.
Our Goals
To increase awareness of the refuge and its mission
To generate and then allocate funds to support the refuge
To support the refuge programs and projects
To advocate for the refuge locally, statewide, and nationally.
History
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, which is operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, was established in 1958 primarily for nesting, resting, feeding, and staging area for migratory waterfowl. The refuge was one of the first Important Bird Areas (IBA) identified in New York state. This designation was prompted by the significant diversity of bird species supported by refuge habitats, especially wetlands. The varied habitats of the refuge include a total of 10,828 acres of forested wetlands, marshland, upland forests, grasslands, and shrublands. They support approximately 266 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, plus reptiles, fish, amphibians, and insects.
The refuge’s name comes from the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy, a powerful and enduring alliance that has thrived for centuries. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is composed of six nations: the Cayuga, Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, and Tuscarora. These nations have a rich history, vibrant traditions, and a profound connection to the land, which is reflected in the names of many of our nature trails and overlooks. It is important to recognize that the culture of the Haudenosaunee people remains strong, their communities resilient, and their voices vital in preserving both their heritage and the environment we all share. We encourage visitors to take the time to learn about the Haudenosaunee’s deep cultural traditions, their contributions to the stewardship of the natural world, and their ongoing legacy
FINWR was officially incorporated as a New York state 501(3)c nonprofit corporation on Feb. 23, 2000.
Projects completed or initiated by Friends of Iroquois NWR
- Provided new camera equipment so that the public and staff can view a bald eagle nesting pair.
- Continued work on the pollinator garden at the Cayuga Overlook, which is turning what was a parking lot into a meadow, and the gardens around the Visitors Center. In 2024, volunteers placed 120 stepping stones; put 1,470 plants of 33 different species in the ground; removed 98 wheelbarrows of weeds; and used 17 cubic feet of mulch, 8 cubic yards of topsoil and 14 cubic yards of stone.
- In 2024, the bluebird nesting program monitored 97 boxes, 90 of which were successful nests. There were 388 birds fledged.
- Also last year, the purple martin program provided 148 gourds, 126 of which fledged at least one bird. A total of 500 purple martins were banded.
- Donated $25,000 to assist INWR with an educational trailer, which is used for outreach.
- Swallow Hollow Nature Trail completed and dedicated. FINWR provided partnerships, financing, planning and volunteer hours to complete this $500,000 project, which is now used for pleasure and educational programs. There is also a Guide-by-Cell opportunity along this trail.
- Partnership funding with the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for a new Handicap Fishing Dock.
- Provided benches, interpretive signs and rehabilitation for Kanyoo Trail so that visitors can view wildlife and nature. Partnered with the Boy Scouts, Iroquois Job Corps, and HSBC for this project.
- FINWR continues to support the new Headquarters Trail behind the Visitor Center.
- Water control structure purchased and installed on Cayuga sub-impoundment to enhance shore bird habitat and wildlife viewing and supported Ducks Unlimited with the Seneca Pool Restoration.
- Funded drilling of a well that monitors groundwater levels and MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System.
- Volunteers generally contribute several thousand hours of service each year.
- FINWR continues to support special events such as the Youth Fishing Derby, the Spring Spectacular Open House, special programming, and various outreach events.
- The Flyway Nature Store provides nature-related gifts and books, with profits supporting the projects and mission of the refuge.
President’s message
When I started walking the trails at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge decades ago, I wasn’t thinking about how the refuge was managed or how it was maintained. I just wanted a way to relax and take a break from stress at work.
There’s a growing body of evidence now that my choice of leisure activity was right in ways I wasn’t even aware of when I started. National Geographic and others have conducted and reported on studies that show being in nature can help lower blood pressure and contribute to an improved sense of well-being. Fresh air and the light exercise of a short hike, not to mention the scenery and wildlife, can do wonders for your soul.
But it takes hard work to preserve and protect the refuge. I eventually learned about the Friends group and became a member. I came to understand the lack of federal funding many refuges have to cope with. And while the refuge’s paid staff is a hard-working group of dedicated individuals, there’s no way they can do it all themselves.
That’s one of the main reasons FINWR was created: to support the refuge staff in carrying out its duties. We raise money – because they are federal employees, refuge staff can’t do that – to fund projects like the new bald eagle nest camera. And we provide volunteer hours to help the refuge, in addition to helping plan programming and other activities.
I would like more people in Western New York and beyond to know what a gem this refuge is. Many local inhabitants know this area as the Alabama swamps, but it is so much more than that. I encourage anyone who is interested in sharing this journey with us — through volunteering, becoming a member or making a donation — to reach out to me at heron@finwr.org.
– Dick Moss
FINWR Officers
Richard Moss
President
Emma DeLeon
Vice President
Betsy Black
Treasurer
Melissa Mance
Secretary
FINWR Board of Directors
Betsy Black
Bernadette Clabeaux
Emma DeLeon
Timothy Elliott
Chris Hollister
Marvin Jacobs
Jill Klotzbach
Garner Light
Judy Light
Pamela Reed Sanchez
Staff Interviews
Logan Sauer loves job, nature and art
By Patti Singer Logan Sauer spent summers in his middle-school years roaming the forest near his Virginia apartment complex with his friends, collecting rocks and holding frogs. He’d go on hikes with his mom, but mostly on paved trails. “We weren’t really outdoorsy...
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