By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — Volunteer positions are available for a variety of ages and experience at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
It promises to be an exciting year at the refuge, which includes nearly 6,000 acres of natural wildlife habitats that was established in 2001.
Last fall ground was broken on the long-awaited Visitor’s Center at Hamburg Marsh by a joint effort involving the city of Trenton, Wayne County, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and friends from Canada.
Volunteer positions are available in biology, habitat restoration, education and visitor services, community outreach, maintenance and office administration. Positions are available with flexible work schedules.
Prospective volunteers and community members interested in the history of the area are also invited to a free showing at 7 p.m. Tuesday — Earth Day — of “Freshwater Seas: The Great Lakes,” sponsored by the city, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance and Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the event at Trenton Village Theatre, 2447 W. Jefferson Avenue. Director Lindsey Haskin will be on hand and available for questions after the film.
The Wildlife Refuge spans 48 miles of shoreline and formerly housed a Chrysler plant that ceased operations in 1990. Restoration of the remaining brownfield was a project taken on by environmentalists and conservationists, with both public and private funding.
The restored refuge shelters 29 species of waterfowl, 23 species of raptors, 31 species of shorebirds and more than 400 fish and bird species.
For information on volunteer opportunities or to learn more about the Refuge and in-progress Visitor’s Center go to www.fws.gov.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)